Media release – 29 August 2005

Samoan, Holy See, Philippines and Israeli envoys present credentials, Papua New Guinea and Canadian reps formally welcomed

Ambassadors from Samoa, The Holy See, Philippines and Israel present credentials to Governor-General Dame Silvia Cartwright at Government House tomorrow (30 August, 11am).

New high commissioners from Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Canada will also be formally welcomed to Government House.

Samoa’s new ambassador is Asi Tuiataga James Faafili Blakelock. Prior to taking up a diplomatic posting, Mr Blakelock enjoyed a career with the Samoan police and most recently was Commissioner of Police, Prisons and Fire Services.

Archbishop Charles Daniel Balvo represents the Holy See as Apostolic Nuncio to New Zealand. An American by birth, Archbishop Balvo has represented the Holy See in Ghana, Ecuador, Chile, the Czech Republic, Jordan and most recently Lithuania. He is cross-accredited from New Zealand to much of the Pacific.

Dr Bienvenido V Tejano is the Philippines new Ambassador. He has been Ambassador for the Philippines in Papua New Guinea since 1989.

Naftali Tamir is Israel’s Ambassador to New Zealand. A career diplomat, he has held senior positions within the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mr Tamir is cross accredited to Papua New Guinea and Fiji.

Papua New Guinea’s new High Commissioner is Bernard Mullu Narokobi. He had a legal background until entering politics in 1987 and has since held a number of senior Government ministerial positions.

Senior civil servant Penny Reedie is Canada’s new High Commissioner. In the 1980s Mrs Reedie researched criminal law policy at Victoria University in Wellington.

All reside in Wellington except Mr Tamir who is Canberra-based.

ENDS

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