New Zealanders Helping The Government's Apec Planning

  • Jenny Shipley
Prime Minister

Former All Black captain Sean Fitzpatrick, former world squash champion Dame Susan Devoy and author Alan Duff are among the nine
members of the Prime Minister's APEC Advisory Council announced today.

The council would help communicate the benefits of APEC and advise the Government on its plans for the year, Prime Minister Jenny Shipley
said.

"These people will give valuable feedback and practical advice. Thanks to the work this council and others have already done, we've made good
progress putting together a programme for the year that will do New Zealand proud."

The council members are offering their services voluntarily. The members are:

  • Former Trade Minister and APEC Business Advisory Council Chairman Hon Philip Burdon, 
  • Council of Trade Unions Secretary Angela Foulkes, 
  • Comalco Managing Director Kerry McDonald, 
  • Company director and former Wilson and Horton Chief Executive John Maasland, 
  • Research economist and New Zealand Pacific Economic Cooperation Council Chairperson Kerrin Vautier, 
  • Carter Holt Harvey Chairperson Sir Wilson Whineray, 
  • Sean Fitzpatrick, 
  • Dame Susan Devoy, 
  • Alan Duff.

Some council members will help with an APEC education programme in schools. Others will be talking with business and other groups.

The council will complement the work of two other groups advising the Prime Minister on APEC matters:

The Prime Minister's APEC Art and Culture Advisory Group

The Prime Minister's APEC Spouses' Programme Advisory Group The Spouses' Programme Advisory Group is putting together a programme
for the spouses of visiting APEC Leaders and Ministers.

Its members are Burton Shipley, Clare de Lore and Heather McCaskey, the spouses of the Prime Minister, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and
Trade and the Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade respectively. The fourth member is Lance Bickford, Chief Executive of Tourism Auckland.

"It is important that we prepare a programme for the spouses that showcases the best we have to offer," Mrs Shipley said.

The membership of the Arts and Culture Advisory Group, chaired by Jenny Gibbs, was announced earlier this year.

The members of all three groups are unpaid.

Inquiries: John Goulter (04) 471-9719 (025) 232-4303

Note: Biographical information on the APEC Advisory Council members is attached.

Biographical Information: APEC Advisory Council members

Hon Philip Burdon

Chairman, Asia 2000 Foundation and Chairman, APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC). Company director. Formerly Minister of Trade
Negotiations, Commerce, and Industry 1990-96, MP for Fendalton from 1981 until retirement from politics in 1996.

Dame Susan Devoy

Former squash professional, British Open Champion and world number one 1984-90, three times world champion, NZ Sportsman of the Year
1985, Dame Companion of the NZ Order of Merit 1998.

Alan Duff

Writer, columnist for several newspapers, author of Once Were Warriors, One Night Out Stealing, State Ward, Maori: The Crisis And The
Challenge, What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted?

Sean Fitzpatrick

Former All Black Captain. All Black 1986-97, most-capped All Black - played 92 tests, 51 as Captain. Currently Consultant to NZRFU.

Angela Foulkes

Secretary, NZ Council of Trade Unions since 1988. Chair, Superannuation 2000 Taskforce.

Kerry McDonald

Company director. Managing Director, Comalco New Zealand; Chairman, Bank of New Zealand; Member, Prime Minister's Enterprise Council.

John Maasland

Recently retired Chief Executive, Wilson and Horton Group; Chairman, APEC CEO Summit, Inc.

Kerrin Vautier

Research economist, company director, Chair, NZ Committee, Pacific Economic Cooperation Council; Trustee, Asia 2000 Foundation;
Auckland University commercial law senior lecturer.

Wilson Whineray

Company Director. Chairman, Carter Holt Harvey; All Black 1957-65, Captain 1958-65.