The high commissioner of New Zealand to Kiribati is New Zealand's foremost diplomatic representative in the Republic of Kiribati, and in charge of New Zealand's diplomatic mission in Kiribati.
The high commission is located in South Tarawa, Kiribati's capital city. New Zealand has maintained a resident high commissioner in Kiribati since 1989. The high commissioner to Kiribati is concurrently accredited to the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and Palau. [1] [2]
As fellow members of the Commonwealth of Nations, diplomatic relations between New Zealand and Kiribati are at governmental level, rather than between heads of state. Thus, the countries exchange high commissioners, rather than ambassadors.
In the Commonwealth of Nations, a high commissioner is the senior diplomat, generally ranking as an ambassador, in charge of the diplomatic mission of one Commonwealth government to another. Instead of an embassy, the diplomatic mission is generally called a high commission.
Michael Walsh is a New Zealand diplomat. Walsh was appointed the High Commissioner of New Zealand to Kiribati in August 2011 to replace former High Commissioner Robert Kaiwai. Walsh also serves concurrently as the Ambassador of New Zealand to the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and Palau..
Michael John Powles is a retired New Zealand diplomat. He served as Permanent Representative to the United Nations from 1996 to 2001 and as President of UNICEF in 1998.