ENVOY TO INDONESIA

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30390, 14 March 1964, Page 14

ENVOY TO INDONESIA

Dr. Lochore Is N.Z. Minister (N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, March 13. Dr. R. A. Lochore has been appointed New Zealand Minister to Indonesia. The appointment was announced today by the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake). "Dr. Lochore, who is at present Deputy High Commissioner in the New Zealand High Commission at New Delhi, is admirably qualified and suited to this new appointment,” Mr Holyoake said. “He has served in all but one of New Zealand’s Asian posts, either as deputy or in charge, and thus has a broad experience and understanding of the problems of the area and the aspirations of its peoples,” Mr Holyoake added. Mr Holyoake said that New Zealand’s representation in Indonesia dated from 1957 when a Colombo Plan mission was established at Djakarta. In 1961 a Consul-tate-General was established under the charge of the late Mr Duncan Rae as ConsulGeneral. In January, 1963. to take account of the gradually increasing range and importance of New Zealand's relations with Indonesia, the status of the ConsulateGeneral was raised to that of a Legation and Mr Rae became Charge d’Affaires, a position he occupied until his retirement last year. Mr Holyoake said that Dr. Lochore’s appointment as Minister to Indonesia reflects the importance New Zealand attaches to its relations with Indonesia, one of its closest and biggest neighbours.