For more photographs, click here.
Envoys for Chile, Samoa, Senegal, Ireland and Rwanda will presented their credentials to the Governor-General, Lt Gen Rt Hon Sir Jerry Mateparae, at Government House in Wellington on Tuesday 17 April.
The ceremony included a Māori ceremonial challenge, and a military guard of honour provided by the New Zealand Army.
The Ambassador of Chile, HE Mr Isauro Torres, was Director of the Division for North America, Central America and the Caribbean Affairs in the Chilean Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 2009 to January this year. Mr Torres is based in Wellington.
The High Commissioner of Samoa, HE Mr Leasi Papali’i Tommy Scanlan, has had a long career with the Treasury and Central Bank of Samoa and was the first Samoan to head the Bank. Mr Scanlan is based in Wellington.
The Ambassador of Senegal, HE Mr Bouna Sémou Diouf, has had a lengthy career with the United Nations family of organisations. He is currently Senegal’s Ambassador to Japan and Australia and is based in Tokyo.
The Ambassador of Ireland, HE Mr Noel White, was Director of Press and Information with the Department of Foreign Affairs prior to his appointment. He has also had a long involvement with the European Union. He is based in Canberra.
The High Commissioner of Rwanda, HE Dr Charles Murigande, was a researcher and academic, serving as Assistant Professor and Head of the Biostatistics Division of the Howard University Cancer Center in Washington DC until 1994. Since then he has served in the Rwandan Government in a number of roles, including most recently as Minister of Education. Dr Murigande is also Rwanda’s Ambassador to Japan and Australia and is based in Tokyo.