Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More
Parliament

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | Video | Questions Of the Day | Search

 

New High Commissioner To Samoa

New Zealand's next High Commissioner to Samoa will be Dr Penelope Ridings, Foreign Minister Phil Goff announced.

"Relations between New and Samoa are very close and are based on historical, cultural and family ties," Mr Goff said.

The bilateral relationship is underpinned by the Treaty of Friendship, which was signed by New Zealand and Samoa in 1962, the same year that Samoa became fully independent.

"Next year will mark the 40th anniversary of the Treaty of Friendship which will provide the opportunity to celebrate our enduring partnership with Samoa.

"An estimated 120,000 Samoans now live in New Zealand, making up around 50% of the Pacific population in this country. Four government MPs are of Samoan descent," Mr Goff said.

Samoa is New Zealand's fifth largest export market in the region and New Zealand exports to Samoa totalled $50m to June last year.

Dr Ridings joined the Ministry in 1988 after a number of years spent in the Pacific studying and working. Since joining the Ministry, she has served in Bonn and more recently as Deputy High Commissioner in Apia. Since 1998 she has been Deputy Director of the Ministry's Legal Division.

Dr Ridings takes up her position in April 2001, replacing Mac Price.

ENDS


Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.