Alister McIntosh

Sir Alister Donald Miles McIntosh (29 November 1906 – 30 November 1978) was a New Zealand diplomat. McIntosh was New Zealand's first secretary of foreign affairs serving as the principal foreign policy adviser to Prime Ministers Peter Fraser, Sidney Holland, Keith Holyoake, and Walter Nash. He is widely considered to be the father of New Zealand's independent foreign policy and architect of the former Department of External Affairs, now the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, in New Zealand.

Early life

McIntosh was born in Picton, the eldest of four children of Caroline Margaret Cowles (née Miles) and Henry Hobson McIntosh, a telegraphist.

He was educated at Marlborough College from 1920 to 1924, where he undertook the first section of a BA degree.

McIntosh worked and was close to such intellectuals as Dr William Sutch, Frank Corner, and eminent historian J.C. Beaglehole.

Prime Minister's Department In February 1935, Carl Berendsen, the new head of the Prime Minister's Department, arranged for McIntosh to be as seconded to his department as a research officer. At the eleventh hour Keith Holyoake, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, was approached by British security officials. They appear to have advised that McIntosh was a security risk as his homosexuality would make him susceptible to blackmail. As a result, the British government was not prepared to support his candidacy. McIntosh subsequently withdrew his candidacy claiming ill-health (he had issues with his inner ear, which affected his hearing and balance). In the 1957 New Year Honours, he was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George, in recognition of his services as permanent head of the Prime Minister's Department and secretary of external affairs. He was elevated to Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George, for devoted public service, in the 1973 Queen's Birthday Honours.