High Commissioner of New Zealand to Australia | |
---|---|
Incumbent since 22 April 2024Mr Andrew Needs | |
Style | His Excellency |
Appointer | Governor-General of New Zealand |
Term length | At His Majesty's Pleasure |
Inaugural holder | Carl Berendsen |
Formation | 27 February 1943 |
The high commissioner of New Zealand to Australia is New Zealand's foremost diplomatic representative in the Commonwealth of Australia, and in charge of New Zealand's diplomatic mission in Australia.
The high commission is located in Canberra, Australia's capital city. New Zealand has maintained a resident high commissioner in Australia since 1943.
As fellow members of the Commonwealth of Nations, diplomatic relations between New Zealand and Australia are at governmental level, rather than between heads of state. Thus, the countries exchange high commissioners, rather than ambassadors.
The following individuals have held the office of high commissioner to Australia resident in Canberra: [1]
No. | Name | Portrait | Term of office | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Carl Berendsen | 27 February 1943 | 5 April 1944 | |
2 | Jim Barclay | 5 April 1944 | 31 August 1950 | |
3 | Lisle Alderton [2] | 31 August 1950 | 1 April 1958 | |
4 | Fred Jones | 1 April 1958 | 31 May 1961 | |
5 | Syd Johnston | 31 May 1961 | 10 May 1963† | |
6 | Jack Shepherd (acting) | 11 May 1963 | 11 April 1964 | |
7 | Luke Hazlett | 11 April 1964 | 10 August 1970 | |
8 | Arthur Yendell | 10 August 1970 | 9 May 1973 | |
9 | Eric Chapman | 9 May 1973 | 2 August 1976 | |
10 | Sir Laurie Francis | 2 August 1976 | 29 January 1985 | |
11 | Graham Ansell | 29 January 1985 | 31 May 1989 | |
12 | Ted Woodfield | 31 May 1989 | 13 June 1994 | |
13 | Graham Fortune | 13 June 1994 | 3 March 1999 | |
14 | Simon Murdoch | 3 March 1999 | 21 September 2002 | |
15 | Kate Lackey | 21 September 2002 | 9 November 2006 | |
16 | John Larkindale | 9 November 2006 | 4 May 2011 | |
17 | Martyn Dunne | 4 May 2011 | 21 November 2013 | |
18 | Chris Seed [3] | 21 November 2013 | 7 December 2018 | |
19 | Dame Annette King | 7 December 2018 | 22 December 2023 |
Fiji has experienced many coups recently, in 1987, 2000, and 2006. Fiji has been suspended various times from the Commonwealth of Nations, a grouping of mostly former British colonies. It was readmitted to the Commonwealth in December 2001, following the parliamentary election held to restore democracy in September that year, and has been suspended again because of the 2006 coup, but has been readmitted a second time after the 2014 election. Other Pacific Island governments have generally been sympathetic to Fiji's internal political problems and have declined to take public positions.
The foreign relations of New Zealand are oriented chiefly toward developed democratic nations and emerging Pacific Island economies. Until the late 20th century, New Zealand aligned itself strongly with the United Kingdom and had few bilateral relationships with other countries. From the latter half of the 20th century, Australia has been New Zealand's most important cultural, economic and military partner. Today, the country participates in several multilateral political organisations, including Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, the Pacific Community, and the Pacific Islands Forum. New Zealand has been described as an emerging power; however, such a claim needs to be considered in the context of its medium-sized economy and limited military capability. The country's major political parties have generally agreed on the broad outlines of foreign policy, and the government has been active in promoting free trade, nuclear disarmament, and arms control.
The foreign policy of Solomon Islands as of 2008 was described by the Solomon Islands government as a "look north" policy, aimed as strengthening diplomatic and economic relations with Asian countries for development purposes.