Thu 31 Oct 2013 In: New Zealand Daily News View at Wayback View at NDHA
Huebner (right) with husband Duane McWaine at the GABA auction (picture: Andrea) David Huebner’s departure from New Zealand is all but sealed, with US President Barack Obama nominating a former major league baseball player to replace him as the US Ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa. Banking executive, Democratic Party fundraiser and former Chicago White Sox player Mark D. Gilbert is the man set to take over from Huebner. The openly-gay Ambassador made it clear he is sad to be leaving the post, in his speech at this month’s Gay Auckland Business Association charity auction in Auckland. Huebner said he was ‘deliriously lucky’ he was sent to New Zealand and was grateful to have shared the experience with his husband of nearly 24 years, Duane McWaine. “We were warmly accepted in New Zealand as a gay couple representing the US.” He is leaving a legacy behind in the form of seed money which will allow the first-ever lgbti youth leadership forum in New Zealand, which will happen during next year’s Auckland Pride.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Thursday, 31st October 2013 - 9:15am