Frank Corner

Frank Corner, CMG, FRSA, (b. Napier, 1920) distinguished New Zealand diplomat. Corner served as New Zealand's Ambassador to the United Nations and the United States, before becoming New Zealand's third Permanent Secretary of Foreign Affairs.

Early life

Corner was educated at Napier Boys' High School and Victoria University of Wellington, where he graduated in 1942 with a Master of Arts (First Class) in history, under the guidance of Professor J.C. Beaglehole.

Corner joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1943, being recruited as one of its earliest foreign policy officers by then Secretary Alister McIntosh, who was in the process of building a professional foreign service. Corner was posted first to Washington in 1948, as First Secretary, and then to London in 1952 as Deputy High Commissioner. In 1958, Corner returned to New Zealand as Deputy Secretary of Foreign Affairs.

Diplomatic career

In 1961, Corner became New Zealand's Ambassador to the United Nations, where he chaired the Trusteeship Council for two years, and served on the United Nations Security Council. Corner was the leading proponent of decolonisation of Pacific territories under New Zealand control. Corner provided the leading intellectual arguments in favour of decolonisation of Tokelau, the Cook Islands, Niue, and Western Samoa.

In 1967, Corner moved to Washington, as New Zealand's Ambassador to the United States, succeeding George Laking, who had become Secretary of Foreign Affairs; he held this post until 1972 when he returned to Wellington to succeed Laking again as Secretary. The principal themes during his time in Washington was the US' involvement in Vietnam, and New Zealand's expanding trade relations with the US leading up to Britain's entry into the European Union. During his time as Ambassador, Corner oversaw a state visit to New Zealand by President Lyndon Johnson in 1967, and a state visit by Prime Minister Keith Holyoake to Washington. Corner later described this as "the high point of United States-New Zealand relations".

Corner was considered to be very close to Prime Minister Norman Kirk in arguing and advocating for an independent New Zealand foreign policy. Throughout this period, Corner promoted closer political relations with China, an expansion of New Zealand interests in North and Southeast Asia, and a greater role for New Zealand in the South Pacific.

Retirement

Corner retired from the Foreign Secretary post in 1980. In retirement, he has been active in arts administration, and spent six years on the Council of Victoria University. Corner was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Laws in 2005.

References

*"An eye, an ear and a voice: 50 years in New Zealand’s external relations" edited by Malcolm Templeton (1993, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Wellington NZ) ISBN 0477037259
*"Undiplomatic Dialogue: Letters between Carl Berendsen and Alister McIntosh 1943-1952" edited by Ian McGibbon (1993, Auckland University Press, Auckland NZ) ISBN 1 86940 095 X
*"Unofficial Channels: Letters between Alister McIntosh and Foss Shanahan, George Laking and Frank Corner 1946-1966" edited by Ian McGibbon (1999, Victoria University Press, Wellington NZ) ISBN 0 86473 365 8