Hamish MacMaster

The Honourable Hamish MacMaster
New Zealand Ambassador to Iran[1]
In office 24 August 2004 – 19 February 2009
Prime Minister	Helen Clark John Key
Preceded by	Niels Holm
Succeeded by	Brian Sanders[2]
New Zealand Ambassador to Saudi Arabia[3]
Incumbent
Assumed office 19 July 2013
Prime Minister	John Key Bill English Jacinda Ardern
Preceded by	Rod Harris
Personal details
Born	1960/1961
Nationality	New Zealand
Residence(s)	Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Occupation	Diplomat

Hamish MacMaster is a New Zealand diplomat. He is currently serving as New Zealand's ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Early life

MacMaster attended St. Andrews College from 1966 until 1979, indicating Years 1 through to 13.^[4]

Career

Pre 2004

MacMaster first joined the public service in 1988 when he attained a job within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. It has been noted that he has been posted to Ankara, and to Riyadh, for minor roles, before 2004.^[1]

In 2004 MacMaster was the Deputy Director of the Middle East and Africa Division.

Ambassador roles

MacMaster was announced New Zealand's ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Iran in 2004. During his time in Tehran, MacMaster was also accredited to Afghanistan and Pakistan.^[1] After being recalled from his position as Ambassador to Iran in 2009, McMaster resettled in Wellington.^[2]

In 2013, MacMaster was announced as the new Ambassador to Saudi Arabia. During his tenure he will also be cross-credited to Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman.^[3]

On 9 April 2015, MacMaster met with Prince Al-Waleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to discuss the issues between New Zealand and Saudi Arabia in relation to investment and investment economics.^[5]

On 13 January 2016, MacMaster met with Mufleh Al-Qahtani, Chairman of the National Society for Human Rights of Saudi Arabia. He discussed capital punishment, including the death penalty, and other human rights-related topics.^[6]

Works

MacMaster has been accredited to authoring multiple catalogs/books, including;

• The Modern Commemorative Medal in New Zealand: Mirror to the Nation’s Soul (2009)^[7]
• New Zealand challenge coins : a catalogue (2011)^[8]
• New Zealand Commemorative Medals : 1941–2014 (2014)^[9]
• New Zealand Challenge Coins : a Catalogue (2nd Ed) (2016)^[10]

References

1. Goff, Phil (14 August 2004). "Goff names new Ambassador". beehive.govt.nz. Beehive New Zealand. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
2. McCully, Murray (19 February 2009). "McCully names new Ambassador to Iran". beehive.govt.nz. Beehive New Zealand. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
3. McCully, Murray (19 July 2013). "McCully appoints Ambassador to Saudi Arabia". beehive.govt.nz. Beehive New Zealand. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
4. Triegaardt, Kim. "Regulus 9.13" (PDF). St Andrews College Regulus: 47. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
5. Altubaishi, Ahmed (9 April 2015). "Prince Alwaleed Receives New Zealand Ambassador". Kingdom Holding News Division. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
6. Ahmed, Al-Mahmoud (13 January 2016). "The Chairman of the Society receives the Ambassador of New Zealand". National Society for Human Rights. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
7. "The 2014 International New Zealand Numismatic Conference and Fair". www.rnsnz.org.nz. Royal Numismatic Society of New Zealand. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
8. New Zealand challenge coins : a catalogue. OCLC World Cat Books. OCLC 773696429. Retrieved 1 August 2017 – via worldcat.org.
9. "New Zealand Commemorative Medals : 1941–2014". wheelers.co.nz. Wheelers Books. Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
10. "New Zealand Challenge Coins : a Catalogue (2nd Ed)". wheelers.co.nz. Wheelers Books. Archived from the original on 1 August 2017. Retrieved 1 August 2017.