Israeli Speaker of the House visits New Zealand

The Speaker of the Knesset, H.E. Mr Reuven “Rubi” Rivlin will pay an official nine day visit to New Zealand from Sunday the 3rd of April. Since the visit of President Chaim Herzog in 1986 this is the first official visit to New Zealand in 25 years by a leading Israeli figure.

As the guest of his New Zealand colleague Dr The Right Hon Lockwood Smith (who visited the Knesset this earlier this year), The Speaker of the Knesset will hold official meetings with the Minister of Foreign Affairs the Hon Murray McCully, the Minister of Defence and Minister for Science and Technology the Hon Dr Wayne Mapp and the Governor General His Excellency the Right Hon. Sir Anand Satyanand.

Accompanying the Speaker will be Member of Knesset Chaim Katz, chairman of the labour, welfare and health committee and a member of the parliamentary New Zealand-Israel friendship group. The two countries treat this visit with great importance, a visit that will strengthen the bilateral relations with New Zealand, especially with the renewed work of the Israeli embassy last year and will enhance trade, political and cultural opportunities.

During his visit Mr Rivlin and his New Zealand colleague Dr Lockwood Smith will also sign the working holiday scheme which will allow Israeli tourists to work in New Zealand for a period of three months without the need for further visas. Added to this, both the New Zealand and Israeli Speakers will inaugurate the new permanent Embassy offices which re-opened its doors since its closing in 2002.
After his visit to Wellington Mr Rivlin will experience some of New Zealand’s local culture in Rotorua after which he will fly up to the Kingdom of Tonga to meet with its leaders and to deliver a large shipment of medical aid to the local hospital.

The Speaker will conclude his visit to New Zealand with a visit to Christchurch where he will meet with Mayor Bob Parker, members of Chabad (A Religious Jewish association), and will attend a ceremony of solidarity for the memory of the three Israeli lives lost in the tragic earthquake.

ENDS

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