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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
World
Henry Cooke

Blunt, passionate and sometimes reckless, New Zealand’s newest ambassador has rarely been diplomatic

Trevor Mallard New Zealand Ireland
Trevor Mallard walks through doors of parliament
‘Mallard leaves parliament undoubtedly a better place than he found it.’ Photograph: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images

It is hard to find someone in New Zealand who does not have a strong opinion about Trevor Mallard.

The man just appointed ambassador to Ireland will take up the post with a long list of controversies to his name, after decades as an MP and five years as speaker of New Zealand’s house. Ireland can expect an envoy not cut from the usual bland diplomat mould – someone deeply loyal to his friends but recklessly impulsive with his enemies.

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