New Zealander Receives Mexican Government’s Highest Honour for Foreigners

During the Sixth Mexican Honorary Consuls Meeting held in Mexico City from 16 to 20 of this month, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Antonio Meade Kuribreña, presented Denis McNamara, Honorary Consul of Mexico in Auckland, with the Order of the Aztec Eagle (Spanish: Orden Mexicana del Aguila Azteca), the highest decoration awarded to foreigners in Mexico.

The award recognises the fact that Mr McNamara has carried out this role in an exceptional and highly professional manner, working to promote culture and tourism between our two countries and providing an outstanding level of consular attention to the local Mexican community since 2001.

Mexico has 160 Honorary Consuls worldwide and approximately 102 of these from 57 countries attended the Meeting, during which they met President Enrique Peña Nieto and the Ministers of the Economy, Finance, Tourism and Culture as well as the Director-General of ProMéxico (the Mexican agency equivalent to New Zealand Trade & Enterprise).

The Honorary Consuls were updated on the state of the Mexican economy (currently ranked 14th in the world) and were briefed on strategies for the promotion of culture and tourism.

Biographical information:
Denis McNamara completed an honours degree in law at Auckland University and commenced his legal career with the firm originally known as Simpson Coates & Clapshaw that eventually became Simpson Grierson. As the firm grew, so did Mr McNamara’s experience in specialist areas including commercial law, corporate advisory, banking, energy and commercial property. He has frequently held Board positions for overseas investors in New Zealand entities. Mr McNamara’s experience as a director also includes two terms with Genesis Energy. He retired from Simpson Grierson at the end of 2010 and joined Lowndes Associates. As well as being the Honorary Consul for Mexico, Mr McNamara is also Deputy Chairman of NZ PECC (Pacific Economic Cooperation Council). In addition, he is actively engaged in a number of hospitality/tourism related projects throughout the Pacific region.

ENDS

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