List of High Commissioners from New Zealand to Kiribati
Encyclopedia
The High Commissioner from New Zealand to Kiribati is New Zealand
's foremost diplomatic representative
in the Republic of Kiribati
, and in charge of New Zealand's diplomatic mission
in Kiribati.
The High Commission is located in South Tarawa
, Kiribati's capital city. New Zealand has maintained a resident High Commissioner
in Kiribati since 1989. The High Commissioner to Kiribati is concurrently accredited
to the Marshall Islands
, the Federated States of Micronesia
, and Palau
.
As fellow members of the Commonwealth of Nations
, diplomatic relations between New Zealand and Kiribati are at government
al level, rather than between Heads of State
. Thus, the countries exchange High Commissioners, rather than ambassador
s.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
's foremost diplomatic representative
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
in the Republic of Kiribati
Kiribati
Kiribati , officially the Republic of Kiribati, is an island nation located in the central tropical Pacific Ocean. The permanent population exceeds just over 100,000 , and is composed of 32 atolls and one raised coral island, dispersed over 3.5 million square kilometres, straddling the...
, and in charge of New Zealand's diplomatic mission
Diplomatic mission
A diplomatic mission is a group of people from one state or an international inter-governmental organisation present in another state to represent the sending state/organisation in the receiving state...
in Kiribati.
The High Commission is located in South Tarawa
South Tarawa
South Tarawa is the official capital of the Republic of Kiribati on Tarawa Atoll. The meaning of Teinainano is "down of the mast", alluding to the sail-shape of the atoll...
, Kiribati's capital city. New Zealand has maintained a resident High Commissioner
High Commissioner
High Commissioner is the title of various high-ranking, special executive positions held by a commission of appointment.The English term is also used to render various equivalent titles in other languages.-Bilateral diplomacy:...
in Kiribati since 1989. The High Commissioner to Kiribati is concurrently accredited
Dual accreditation
Dual accreditation is the practice in diplomacy of a country granting two separate responsibilities to a single diplomat. One prominent form of dual accreditation is for a diplomat to serve as the ambassador to two countries concurrently...
to the Marshall Islands
Marshall Islands
The Republic of the Marshall Islands , , is a Micronesian nation of atolls and islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, just west of the International Date Line and just north of the Equator. As of July 2011 the population was 67,182...
, the Federated States of Micronesia
Federated States of Micronesia
The Federated States of Micronesia or FSM is an independent, sovereign island nation, made up of four states from west to east: Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae. It comprises approximately 607 islands with c...
, and Palau
Palau
Palau , officially the Republic of Palau , is an island nation in the Pacific Ocean, east of the Philippines and south of Tokyo. In 1978, after three decades as being part of the United Nations trusteeship, Palau chose independence instead of becoming part of the Federated States of Micronesia, a...
.
As fellow members of the Commonwealth of Nations
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
, diplomatic relations between New Zealand and Kiribati are at government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
al level, rather than between Heads of State
Head of State
A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
. Thus, the countries exchange High Commissioners, rather than ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
s.
Non-resident High Commissioners to Kiribati, resident in Fiji
- Michael Powles (1980–1982)
- Lindsay Watt (1982–1985)
- Rod Gates (1985–1988)
- Brian Absolum (1988–1989)
Resident High Commissioners to Kiribati
- Brett Lineham (1989–1991)
- Mel Taylor (1991–1993)
- Brian Marshall (1993–1996)
- John Mills (1996–1999)
- Neil Robertson (1996–2002)
- John Goodman (2002–2006)
- Craig Rickit (2006 - )