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Malcolm Templeton

1924 – 2017

New Zealand diplomat

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About Malcolm Templeton

Lived 1924 – 2017 (aged 93). Malcolm Templeton was a New Zealand diplomat.

Malcolm James Campbell Templeton (12 May 1924 – 11 September 2017) was a New Zealand public servant and diplomat. He held a number of senior positions, including permanent representative to the United Nations, and deputy secretary of foreign affairs under secretary Merwyn Norrish.

Templeton was a supporter of the Halt All Racist Tours (HART) movement that opposed New Zealand's sporting contact with South Africa during the apartheid era, and was an opponent of French nuclear testing in the South Pacific.

The world needed another nuclear power like a hole in the head" – referring to the French nuclear testing at Moruroa atoll (recorded in interview as played in a BBC4 programme "Blowing Up Paradise: Liberty, Equality and Radioactivity

Templeton wrote a number of books and publications on New Zealand's foreign relations and defence.

In the 1997 Queen's Birthday Honours, Templeton was appointed a Companion of the Queen's Service Order for public services.

Templeton's brothers are veteran press gallery journalist Ian Templeton, and former diplomat and Minister Hugh Templeton.

Publications Standing Upright Here: New Zealand in the Nuclear Age 1945–1990. (2006. Victoria University Press / New Zealand Institute of International Affairs, Wellington) Protecting Antarctica (2002) A Wise Adventure: New Zealand and the Antarctic 1923–1960 (2001) Human Rights and Sporting Contacts: New Zealand Attitudes to Race Relations in South Africa (1998, revised edition(?) 1999) Ties of Blood and Empire: New Zealand's Involvement in Middle East Defence and the Suez Crisis 1947–57 (1994) Defence and Security: What New Zealand Needs (1986) 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)

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Nationality
Positions held
Permanent Representative to the United Nations
Awards
Companion of the Queen's Service Order
Also known as
Malcolm James Campbell Templeton

People in Malcolm Templeton's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Malcolm Templeton's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Malcolm Templeton?

New Zealand diplomat

When was Malcolm Templeton born?

Malcolm Templeton was born on 12 May 1924 in Dunedin.

When did Malcolm Templeton die?

Malcolm Templeton died on 11 September 2017.

What was Malcolm Templeton's occupation?

Malcolm Templeton was a diplomat.

What nationality was Malcolm Templeton?

Malcolm Templeton was New Zealand.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Malcolm Templeton

· Wikidata: Q15489654

· DBpedia: Malcolm Templeton

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Malcolm Templeton. https://biography.guide/malcolm-templeton/

MLA: "Malcolm Templeton." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/malcolm-templeton/.

Chicago: "Malcolm Templeton." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/malcolm-templeton/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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