The Chancery is located in the Maritime Tower, a modern seventeen storey office building overlooking the Wellington Harbour. The building was completed in 2006.[1] Until 2009 the location had been on Panama Street. The Residence is a historical building in Woburn, Lower Hutt, 15 kilometers from the Wellington city center.
Around 7,000 Swiss citizens live in New Zealand and the embassy offers the whole range of consular services to this population.[4] It is supported in its consular and diplomatic work by subordinate posts led by Honorary Consuls, the Consulate of Switzerland in Auckland,[5] the consulate general in Suva, Fiji,[6] the consulate general in Apia, Samoa,[7] and the consulate general in Nuku'alofa, Tonga.[8]
History
The first representation of Switzerland in New Zealand was a Consulate established in 1912, initially located in Auckland but relocated to Wellington in 1937. Walter Schmid was from 1937 the first career consular officer heading the post. In 1955, the representation was upgraded to a Consulate General and diplomat Pierre Aubaret became the first Consul General. After having established diplomatic relations with New Zealand in 1962, the representation became an Embassy. Jean-Pierre Weber was its first Chargé d'affaires from 1963. In 1966, the Consulate in Auckland was reopened with an honorary consul in charge. Max Corti was the first Swiss resident Ambassador to New Zealand from 1969.[9]
In 2007 (Samoa), 2012 (Fiji) and 2017 (Tonga) Switzerland extended its representative network in the region by opening Consulates General with an honorary consul general heading the post.[9]
After the establishment of diplomatic relations with New Zealand,[10] Switzerland took this step in 1985 with the Kingdom of Tonga,[11] in 1987 with Western Samoa, today Samoa,[12] in 1989 with the Republic of Fiji,[13] in 2005 with Tuvalu[14] and in 2010 with the Cook Islands, a self governing territory in free association with New Zealand.[15]
Swiss representatives
The current Ambassador of Switzerland in Wellington is Michael Winzap. He also serves as Consul General of Switzerland to American Samoa, a United States Territory.[16]
The following Swiss representatives have served in New Zealand, Fiji, Samoa and Tonga.
Of particular historical interest is Sir John Allum CBE who served as Mayor of Auckland from 1941 to 1952 and is remembered as father of the famous Auckland Harbour Bridge.
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