Graham Fortune, New Zealand diplomat and public servant, Dead

  Politician

Graham Charles Fortune was born in 1941 and died on March 19, 2016.
He was a New Zealand diplomat and public servant.
Graham served as New Zealand’s High Commissioner to Australia from 1994 to 1999, and Secretary of Defence from 1999 until 2006.
Following his leave from the university, Mr.Fortune joined the South Pacific and Antarctic Affairs Division of the Department of External Affairs, and was involved with the administration of New Zealand’s science and exploration programme in the Ross Dependency and the development of Scott Base.
Overseas he had a few postings, including to the Cook Islands in 1965, five years in Ottawa, and three years in Papua New Guinea.
Following his second trial to the State Services Commission from 1977 to 1980, he was a senior administrator in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for six years before being appointed the deputy secretary of Foreign Affairs.
Graham served as New Zealand’s permanent representative to the United Nations in Geneva, (1987 to 1990), and he was High Commissioner to Australia between 1994 and 1999.
He also served as Secretary of Defence from 1999 until his retirement in 2006.
After Fortune served as a board member of Antarctica New Zealand and undertook various consultancy roles for the New Zealand government in the areas of policy and management.
During the 2007 New Year Honours, he was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for public services.
Graham Charles Fortune passed away in 2016.