Envoys from Italy, Spain, Denmark and Cyprus present credentials

The Ambassadors of Italy, Spain, Denmark and the High Commissioner of Cyprus present credentials to Governor-General Hon Anand Satyanand at Government House tomorrow (Tuesday 12 February) at 11am.

The Royal New Zealand Airforce will provide the Maori Ceremonial Challenge and the Guard of Honour.

Mr Gioacchino Carlo Trizzino is the Ambassador of the Embassy of Italy.  Mr Trizzino has enjoyed a lengthy career with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  Among his postings he has served in Lima, Tripoli and Tokyo.  In 2001 he served as Ambassador to Costa Rica.  In 2005 he was appointed the Deputy Director for the Italians abroad and for Migration Policies with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Rome. 

Spains' new Ambassador is Mr Marcos Gomez Martinez.  Mr Martinez has served in Moscow, Buenos Aires and Geneva.  In 2005 he took up the position of Advisor in the International Department within the Prime Ministers Office. 

Mrs Susanne Wagner Hoffmann Shine is the new Ambassador of Denmark.  Previous postings have included Dublin, Ottawa and Lesotho.  Mrs Shine is Denmarks' first Ambassador to be based in Canberra and cross accredited to New Zealand following the recent change in Denmarks' cross accreditation from Singapore to Australia.

Mr Filippos Kritiotis is the High Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus.  Mr Kritiotis has previously been posted to Egypt, Germany, Bulgaria and Hungary.  Prior to taking up his current posting Mr Kritiotis worked in the Multilateral Relations & International Oganisations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

Both Ambassador Trizzino and Ambassador Martinez are based in Wellington while Ambassador Shine and High Commissioner Kritiotis are cross accredited to New Zealand from Canberra. 

For further information please contact: Emma  Reilly, Media Adviser, MFAT on 04 4398777.  Media wishing to attend the ceremony should contact Antony Paltridge, Public Affairs Officer, Government House on 04 382 0827 or 021 470 583.