[Editor’s note: This is a speech kindly given by my late father‘s colleague Maarten Wevers, who also later became New Zealand’s Ambassador to Japan and a senior civil servant helping to build Asia-Pacific relationships, at a public funeral held at Old St Paul’s, Mulgrave Street, Wellington, on 5 November 2025. It draws on Maarten’s personal experience working with Richard and their other close colleagues, and a printout of Richard’s oral history that is being made publically available through the National Library.]

Kia ora tatou katoa.  Good morning everyone. 

Thank you, Luke, Andrea and Hunter, for inviting me to speak about Richard’s professional life.  I am humbled to be standing before you all today. 

I am a former colleague of Richard’s.  He had an enormous influence on my own career at Foreign Affairs, and therefore on my family’s life.  Louise and I will always be indebted to him.

Richard studied history and economics at the University of Canterbury.  This was made possible because, as the son of a returned serviceman, he applied, successfully, for a Charles Upham Scholarship.  Upham himself was at the interview. 

Richard’s MA thesis was on Chinese and Japanese politics and drew heavily on the unread Tokyo War Crimes archive at Canterbury.   Before he finished studying, Richard was given an introduction to Frank Corner at the Department of External Affairs in Wellington, who encouraged him to keep in touch.  Richard joined the Department in late 1962, aged 23. 

He started in the Property Division.  When he mentioned to Alister McIntosh, the departmental head, that he had been awarded a scholarship that would take him to Oxford, McIntosh told him ‘‘‘you have to take it up’ but you need to know more about the department before you go” – and promptly made Richard his executive assistant.   Richard has recounted how, over the next eight months, he saw every piece of paper that went across McIntosh’s desk, and thus, ended up with an invaluable understanding of the work of the Department. He also got to know many of the senior staff.  

At Oxford, Richard was tutored by a renowned expert on Japan, Prof. Richard Storry.  He was quite overwhelmed at the experience, describing Oxford as stunning.  In 1965, armed with a shiny new post-graduate degree, he “went down the road” to the New Zealand High Commission in London, to start work.  Heather accompanied him, as they had been married in Oxford. 

Richard’s first job was Commonwealth affairs.  In January 1966, he joined a four-person NZ Delegation attending a Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Lagos, on the Rhodesia issue. He was the “commonwealth expert”.  The experience of participating in such a key international conference was unforgettable. 

Two further such Commonwealth meetings followed, both in London, one later in 1966 and the other in 1969.  Both delegations were led by Prime Minister Holyoake.  Richard was again fully involved, at close quarters.

I mention this because Richard’s early years demonstrate how, as a very junior, new member of staff, he was closely involved with the leaders of New Zealand’s Foreign Ministry of the time.  He was also exposed to senior politicians, including the PM, and the issues they were having to deal with.  This all rubbed off on the young Mr Nottage. 

In late 1969, Richard and Heather, and by now, Luke, as well, returned to Wellington where Richard had a stint in the former External Aid Division.  The role including trying to open doors for New Zealand engineering firms, in the main, so that they could participate in large infrastructure projects in Asia that were being funded by international development agencies.  

Then, in 1971, completely unexpectedly, Richard was asked to go to Korea to open New Zealand’s first resident diplomatic mission.  He went as the number 2, because in those days, the Ambassador was still based in Tokyo.  This was a very steep learning curve – finding office space and residential accommodation, hiring local staff, getting to understand Korea, making the necessary connections.  And all without any Korean language.  Not an easy time. But it was Richard’s first posting in Asia, it was new and exciting, and made a deep impression.  The family, enlarged by now with the arrival of Andrea, returned home in early 1973. 

In Wellington, Norman Kirk was the new Prime Minister, and his new Government, and the new Foreign Affairs Secretary, Frank Corner, wanted the Ministry to place more emphasis on national identity, and on better understanding our place in the world.   Richard was working in information and cultural affairs.  

Just before Christmas, Frank Corner asked Richard to join Merv Norrish as one of just two Ministry officials who would accompany the Prime Minister on a three-week visit to Asia.   Travelling in an RNZAF Hercules, the first stop was Papua New Guinea where Mr Kirk met Michael Somare.  The PM then undertook official visits to Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, India, and Bangladesh, meeting his counterparts in each place.   This was an unprecedented programme and a game-changer in re-setting New Zealand’s understanding of, and engagement, with Southeast Asia.

In 1975, Corner said it would be good for Richard to broaden his experience, so he was sent to the New Zealand Embassy in Washington to cover the political and liaison roles. The family decamped once again, this time with Hunter in tow as well.   But living in the US proved to be a short-lived exercise.  Within a year, a cross-posting to Brussels as Deputy Head of Mission came up.  Unexpected, to say the least. 

The role in Brussels gave Richard his first real engagement in trade policy work, and trade negotiations – particularly over access for New Zealand sheepmeat and apples into the EEC market. A tough gig in those days.  “Constant, effective persuasion” was what was required Richard said.   Brussels also provided Richard with his first exposure to the intricacies of the GATT.  He was assiduous in building up invaluable connections with the New Zealand producer Boards and trade official counterparts in Brussels and across Europe.

After four years, the family was looking forward to returning home, but there was another change of plan – his first Head of Mission posting, to Jakarta.  Richard had three weeks to get there, because Prime Minister Muldoon was going to arrive on an official visit.  Heather and the children joined him three months later.  

Richard was delighted to be in Indonesia, where New Zealand expertise was being deployed to develop geothermal resources, and there was growing economic and political confidence in the region following the conclusion of the Viet Nam war.   

In 1982, Richard left Jakarta, because he was appointed Assistant Secretary of Economic and European Affairs in Head Office – which proved to be the ideal starting point for his next posting, in 1984, as Ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, and Ambassador to the GATT.   This period covered the launch of the Uruguay Round of GATT negotiations, in 1986 – an intense period of economic diplomacy in which New Zealand was seeking major changes to the rules governing international trade.  Richard was a key member of the team supporting the energetic new Trade Minister, Mike Moore.  

In 1987, Richard was thrilled to be appointed as Ambassador to Japan. As he said in his oral history ‘after 25 years, the dream comes true!”   Richard commented later that he had expected to be there for four years, “that it would be a marvelous place, and that the Ministry could forget about me and just let me get on with it”.  Not to be.  Only a year or so after presenting his credentials to the Emperor, he was encouraged by Merv Norrish, now Secretary, to apply for the role of Deputy Secretary, Economic and Trade Relations.  He duly did so, taking up this critical appointment early in 1988.   Returning home from Tokyo early would have meant mixed emotions I’m sure. 

This was the time of the Lange government.  As part of their reform programme, a new Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade had just been created, bringing together parts of the former Department of Trade and Industry with Foreign Affairs.  The Trade Minister, Mike Moore, was ambitious for the new agency, and drove things at a fast clip. 

In 1986, New Zealand became a founding member of the Cairns Group of Agricultural Free Traders – an initiative launched by the Australians.  Mike Moore and Richard participated in the first meeting.  The work of the Cairns Group, and the Uruguay Round, were critical priorities in the new Ministry’s work, at home and abroad. 

Then in 1989, a group of Ministers of Trade and Foreign affairs from the Asia Pacific region came together in Canberra to advance the growing economic interdependence of East Asia and the Pacific.   The discussions were held against a backdrop of difficulties within the GATT negotiations.  This gathering was the first meeting of APEC, which has since become the pre-eminent high-level forum of our region, meeting annually.  Richard Nottage was there at the birth of APEC as well and travelled to Seattle four years later with Prime Minister Jim Bolger for the very first APEC Leaders’ Meeting.

In 1991, Richard was appointed Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. He served for eight years. He succeeded to the job that McIntosh, Corner, and Norrish had held before him.  Richard was the right person for the job at that time. 

Richard’s term as Chief Executive was marked by close and productive working relationships with Ministers – led by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Rt. Hon. Sir Don McKinnon.  Sir Don would very much have liked to have been here today and has asked me to pass on his condolences and respect to you, Luke and Hisae, Andrea and Roy, and Hunter and Sara, and your families.  

He remembers Richard as a positive leader of the Ministry, “who had the ball at his toe” for the time he was in office, largely because of his previous service in Geneva, Tokyo and Jakarta.  He understood Asia, and international trade.  Both topics were critically important for New Zealand at the time.  As Sir Don said, “as a country, we needed to do much better.  We were very far behind where we should have been in terms of political and economic relations with Asia”. Ministers were of the view that the newish Ministry, under Richard’s leadership, had a big part to play in addressing this state of affairs.  Richard understood that.

The former Minister of Trade, The Hon. Philip Burdon, recalls clearly that Richard was a strong advocate of the need for New Zealand to become more engaged in our region.  “Richard was deeply conscious of the emerging authority of Asia, and its significance for us” he said.  Mr Burdon observed that Richard reorganized the Ministry to give greater effect to its wider trade and economic mandate, to make it more relevant to the real needs of New Zealanders and better connected to the aspirations of the business and exporting communities. That was long overdue.   Mr Burdon especially welcomed Richard’s inclusive approach to Asia, including within New Zealand.

Both Ministers said that Richard had a knack for surrounding himself with smart people, at home and in missions abroad, who he backed to do their job.   He was a good delegator, a generous mentor, and managed with a light touch. 

As a former colleague put it – “If he trusted you, he trusted you completely, and gave you the rope you needed”. 

Others have remarked on his acute understanding of issues, his knowledge of those on the other side of the table, and their concerns, and his ability to analyse a situation and map a way forward.    He was happy to receive competing advice, and be challenged, and was open to new ideas.   Another colleague remembered that he always behaved as a professional public servant, with a sense of clarity and purpose.  And he was empathetic.

As the leader of the Ministry, Richard was respected and liked by his fellow Chief Executives in Wellington, who viewed him as constructive and collaborative.  He had a wide network of relationships with Ministers and officials, and former colleagues, overseas.   He was also a strong advocate for the Ministry and its purpose, at a time of pressure on the public purse.

During Richard’s term, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade brought stronger trade and international linkages to the heart of government policy decision making. The agency also broadened its connections to domestic constituents and diversified its staff profile and recruitment processes.  It strengthened links with te ao Maori, and made important steps to lift engagement with iwi organisations, as the Treaty settlement process became established.

One of Richard’s most valuable contributions was undoubtedly in support of the then Government’s efforts to lift community engagement with and understanding of Asia, within New Zealand, through the establishment of the Asia2000 Foundation, now the Asia New Zealand Foundation.  It has been commented that, in both the external and internal environments, Richard spearheaded and talked up engagement with Asia. 

Richard’s legacy can be seen as well in how much broader and stronger our international trading networks have become.  In 1991, we had only one free trade arrangement, with Australia, the CER Agreement.  Now, more than 80% of our trade is governed by such mechanisms. Although many of the more recent deals were concluded after Richard retired, he led the team when this direction of travel became embedded.  

Perhaps the convening of the APEC Leaders’ Meeting in Auckland in September 1999, held just after Richard stepped down, is the best symbol of how much things had changed over his career.  The Leaders of the countries that are most important for New Zealand’s future all came together, in our place, for the first time ever, and committed to work together for a better, common future.  He was just thrilled.

Looking back, I can’t help but reflect that it was actually that Charles Upham scholarship, offered to a boy who didn’t see his father for the duration of the Second World War, that turned out to be the key that opened the door to Richard’s incredible successes. What an amazing gift from one of New Zealand’s greatest heroes.

I want to conclude by recording that Richard was always a grounded, relatable, and positive person.  He had a wit and humour about him, was always a natty dresser, and with his beloved Heather, seemed always to be enjoying the fullness of what was a very rich life.   They were an amazing couple, and it is so sad that we have had to say goodbye to both of them within this year.  

It has been a hard year for everyone in the family, especially for the three children, and their partners, and the wonderful grandchildren.   Richard and Heather were always so proud of you.

I hope that you are comforted by the knowledge that so many of the people who worked with or knew Richard in in those energetic, bygone years are mourning with you as well.

Thank you.