New High Commissioner for South Africa   26 Oct 2016

Hon Murray McCully
Minister of Foreign Affairs

26 October 2016

New High Commissioner for South Africa

Foreign Minister Murray McCully today announced the appointment of diplomat Michael Burrell as High Commissioner to South Africa.

"New Zealand is placing increasing priority on our relations with Africa," Mr McCully says.

"Our relationship with South Africa is based on our shared Commonwealth history, respect for democracy, strong links between our people, and close sporting ties.

“We are also continuing to grow our trade and investment links, and a significant aspect of the High Commissioner’s role is to support New Zealand business develop export markets in South Africa.”

Mr Burrell is currently the Director Sustainable Economic Development at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and before that was CEO of Aquaculture New Zealand.

Mr Burrell will also be accredited to Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Lesotho, Angola, Malawi, Zambia and Tanzania.

New Ambassador to the Netherlands announced

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has appointed diplomat Lyndal Walker as New Zealand’s new Ambassador to the Netherlands, to be based in The Hague.

“The Netherlands is an important partner for New Zealand in Europe and The Hague is the seat of multilateral institutions like the International Court of Justice,” Mr McCully says.

“The Netherlands is our fifth largest trading partner in the European Union, and is a strong source of foreign investment into New Zealand.

“In addition to these economic ties, more than 25,000 Dutch tourists visit New Zealand annually and over 150,000 people of Dutch descent now live in New Zealand,” Mr McCully says.

Ms Walker is currently the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Consular Division and has served as Counsellor and Consul General in Washington DC. Ms Walker will also be accredited to Denmark, Finland, and Norway, and manage New Zealand’s relationship with the International Court of Justice and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.

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