Ambassador John Wood
New Zealand: First to See the Light
Dr Wood was born in Kaikoura and gained a BA Hons and MA Hons from the University of Canterbury before being awarded a BA Hons in Politics, Philosophy and Economics and later an MA Hons from Balliol College, Oxford. In 2006, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Canterbury Council.
Dr Wood had a distinguished career in diplomatic service taking up Ambassador-level appointments to Iran, Pakistan, Turkey and twice to Washington DC. He was also New Zealand’s principal external trade and economic advisor and negotiator under successive governments. He is Chief Crown Negotiator for Ngai Tuhoe and for the Whanganui River negotiations.
In 2004 Dr Wood was awarded the Eugene Crawford Memorial Peace Pipe Award for service to Indigenous People, by Americans for Indian Opportunity. The following year he was named a Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International for the furtherance of better understanding and friendly relations among peoples of the world.
Dr.Wood has been the chancellor of the University of Canterbury since January 2012.