Mike Moore

By Paloma Migone of NZPA

Wellington, Jan 20 NZPA - Mike Moore, the man who once headed the World Trade Organisation (WTO), will now lead the charge on getting a trade agreement with the United States as New Zealand's ambassador in Washington.

Former Labour prime minister Mr Moore said making progress on the US joining the Trans Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership (TPP) would be a priority in his agenda.

"I think there is a job to be done here for New Zealand and I'd like to do it, and I'd do it with everything I've got, 24/7. Our interests are at stake," he said.

"New Zealand's vital interests don't change with the government. Their interests are internal and we'll be building on a platform that successive governments have built in terms of the relationship."

Mr Moore's appointment was announced today by Foreign Minister Murray McCully.

"As a former prime minister of New Zealand, director-general of the World Trade Organisation and co-chair of the US-NZ Partnership Forum, Mr Moore is the best possible candidate for this important role," Mr McCully said.

His trade background will be valuable as New Zealand seeks to make progress on TPP. If successful that agreement would enable New Zealand to have a trade deal with the US along with partners Brunei, Chile and Singapore.

"Somebody who has held the senior rank not just domestically but internationally that Mike Moore has held is obviously going to give us a very powerful voice in Washington," Mr McCully said.

Mr Moore, who turns 61 next week, said he took a little bit of convincing to take the job. He was persuaded in a visit to Washington where he saw the mood in the last NZ-US Business Council meeting had changed.

"I felt this could be do-able. I was very impressed with the senior American officials, all the levels that turned. I think this is a tribute to the government and to previous governments ... that things have moved up a bit.

"I like to do deals and if we can do this, or advance, this will be good for the country."

Mr Moore will replace Roy Ferguson in the role in July or August.

Labour leader Phil Goff welcomed the appointment, saying Mr Moore had the experience, skills and contacts for the job.

"He will be following in the footsteps of former prime ministers Bill Rowling and Jim Bolger, both of whom were respected ambassadors for New Zealand," he said.

Mr Moore entered Parliament in 1972 when he was elected to represent Mt Eden in Auckland. He later represented seats in Christchurch.

In government he held several ministerial positions and was involved in trade negotiations. In 1990 he became leader of the Labour Party and was prime minister for a few months, replacing Geoffrey Palmer. Labour lost the next election and Mr Moore was Opposition leader for three years.

In 1999 he was elected director-general of the World Trade Organisation. However, he served only half the usual six-year term -- finishing up in 2002 under a deal reached at the start of his term with his successor, Supachai Panitchpakdi.