John Wood (diplomat)

Lionel John Wood CNZM QSO (born 1944) is a former New Zealand diplomat and a former chancellor of the University of Canterbury.

[1] He was Deputy Secretary of Foreign Affairs,[2] and served two separate terms as New Zealand's Ambassador to the United States in Washington.

[3] Born in Kaikōura,[1] Wood was educated at the University of Canterbury, graduating with an MA (first class honours) in 1964.

He then worked as Prime Minister Robert Muldoon’s Foreign Policy adviser, and served as deputy chief of Mission at the New Zealand Embassy in Bonn.

[4][7] In the 2015 Queen's Birthday Honours, Wood was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to tertiary education and Māori.

Wood (left) is congratulated by the governor-general, Sir Jerry Mateparae , after his investiture as a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit at Government House, Wellington , on 8 September 2015