Colin Bell served his entire working career in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. His first posting was to Jakarta, Indonesia then followed by Ottawa, Canada. In 1970 he was a member of the team that established New Zealand’s first High Commission in Suva, Fiji.
On his return to Wellington in 1973 he joined the External Aid Division of The Ministry with responsibility for New Zealand Official Development to the Pacific. That position was followed by responsibility for ODA Planning and Evaluation and later became Deputy Director of the Division. In 1987 he was appointed Director of the External Aid Division. During his years in the Division he participated in and lead numerous bilateral aid missions in the Pacific, South East Asia and Southern Africa and attended various international meetings on bilateral and multilateral aid. In 1990 Colin was appointed New Zealand High Commissioner to Singapore where he served for four years. That assignment was followed in 1995 by appointment as Ambassador to the Philippines. He retired in 1998.
