One of the Governor-General's constitutional roles is to receive the credentials of new Ambassadors and High Commissioners to New Zealand. A credential is the formal letter from an Ambassador or High Commissioner’s Head of State appointing them as their diplomatic representative.
This morning at Government House Auckland, Dame Cindy received the credentials of three new diplomatic Heads of Mission to New Zealand: HE Mr Rogelio Cucalón García, Ambassador of the Republic of Panama; HE Mr Clifford Borg-Marks, High Commissioner of the Republic of Malta; and HE Ms Samija Šerifa, Ambassador of the Republic of Latvia.
To view images from the ceremony, go to this link Credentials ceremony 2 February 2026.
