The Embassy of New Zealand, one of the oldest in the Diplomatic Quarter, built in 1985, magnificently celebrated its reopening. The restored and modernized building is intertwined with the best traditions of New Zealand architecture and heritage. The evening started with a haka pōwhiri (a Māori welcoming ceremony), performed by the New Zealand cultural group Ngati Koraha, accompanied by traditional singing and cuisine. Ambassador H.E. Barney Riley, Council Mrs. Jacqui Goodall, and the embassy staff, spared no effort to transfer the guests to the realm of New Zealand.
The opening speech was delivered by H.E. Barney Riley, who expressed his sincere gratitude to the staff and colleagues of the embassy. “During this long and complex building project, we were supported by one constant force – the people who brought this idea to life and stayed with us until the very end, including the staff, fellow diplomats, and heads of missions.”
H.E. Riley concluded by saying that the new embassy is a tribute to the years of strong bilateral ties between Saudi Arabia and New Zealand, laying foundations for more promising achievements and cooperation. In turn, representatives of the educational and business sectors of New Zealand spoke about the common desire of the two countries to strengthen and develop shared views and opportunities for cooperation.
Ahmad Zakkout, Trade Commissioner of Middle East and Africa, expressed his joy at witnessing the lavish celebration of the reopening of the New Zealand embassy. “This celebration, framed with the authentic tradition of New Zealand, shows that Saudi Arabia and New Zealand share a focus on heritage and culture for future generations. At the same time, it is exciting to see how Saudi and New Zealand specialists from different fields are cooperating, including business, education, food and beverages, and construction projects. New Zealand is following with interest the progress and achievement of Saudi Vision 2030.”
Bronwyn Shanks, Senior Advisor – Special Projects, Europe and Middle East Education New Zealand, appreciated ambassador H.E. Riley and embassy staff for their commitment to promote educational exchange opportunities between Saudi Arabia and New Zealand, which is particularly important to achieve Vision 2030. “New Zealand’s education system and universities can provide expertise in areas important to Saudis to prepare for the future. The best example is the latest news about the first Saudi woman in space, Rayyana Barnawi, who received her bachelor’s degree in biomedical science from the University of Otago, New Zealand.”
Originally perceived as an embassy reopening ceremony, the evening opened the doors not only to the new building of the New Zealand embassy, but to new prospects and endeavors for bilateral cooperation and partnership between Saudi Arabia and New Zealand. The event was attended by the representatives of the New Zealand community, diplomats, heads of the missions, business, education, and science sectors, among other guests. What better way to uphold and promote the best traditions of diplomacy and foreign policy!
