Connections: Christchurch

Nicola Leslie

Current location: Wellington
Telephone: 04 439 8595
Email: nicola.leslie@mfat.govt.nz

My grandfather was born in Mackenzie country and claims to have been one of the first to have skied on Mt Hutt – the skis which he made to do so are now held at Canterbury Museum.  After hearing stories of jet boating in Darfield and holidays in Sumner growing up, I spent much of my university years tramping and skiing in the South Island and love to get to Canterbury and Otago as often as I can to see family and friends living there.

I spent five years living in Dunedin while completing my LLB / BA at the University of Otago.  I then spent six months studying in France and then 3 ½ years practising in civil litigation at Russell McVeagh in Wellington, before joining the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in January 2010. 

I currently work in the Oceans & Environment section of the Legal Division.  I provide the legal advice for New Zealand on all of our Antarctic engagement, so I am keen to visit Antarctica New Zealand’s headquarters in Christchurch soon.   I also advise on New Zealand’s position at the international climate change negotiations.

As Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade contact for Christchurch I will:

• Be a contact point within MFAT for Christchurch residents with international interests, whether business, services, arts or other areas;
• Provide relevant information, both to and from the Ministry, on topics that I know to be of interest to my contacts in Christchurch;
• Maintain an interest in Christchurch throughout my career and bear in mind its interests while I am posted abroad; and
• Visit Christchurch at least once every year while I am based onshore, before leaving to go on posting, and during leave to New Zealand while based offshore.

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