Throughout the year, the Governor-General welcomes new foreign ambassadors and high commissioners to the country in a ceremony with a distinctively New Zealand character. Following a cultural welcome by members of the New Zealand Defence Force, heads of mission then move inside Government House to formally present their credentials (a letter from their head of state appointing them as diplomatic representative) to the Governor-General.
On this beautiful Wellington morning, Dame Cindy received the credentials for three new heads of mission, marking the start of their mandates:
HE Mr Jorge Andrés Iglesias Mori, Ambassador of the Republic of Chile
HE Jacquelien Nienhuis, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
HE Ms Samina Naz, High Commissioner of the People's Republic of Bangladesh
You can view more images from the ceremony here: Credentials ceremony 9 September 2026 AM.