Later that year, he was posted to Washington, D.C., as political counsellor, and the New Zealand intelligence liaison officer to the United States.

In 1991, State Services Commissioner Don Hunn appointed Murdoch to the post of Secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.

[3] In the 2009 Queen's Birthday Honours, Murdoch was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for public services, lately as Secretary of Foreign Affairs.

[4][5][2] In 2010 he conducted a review of New Zealand intelligence agencies, and for two periods before and after the appointment of Lt Gen Sir Jerry Mateparae, he was acting chief executive and director of the GCSB.

During his second stint in the position he presided over the illegal surveillance of Kim Dotcom, but left weeks before the raid was carried out on 20 January 2013.