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Foreign Minister Murray McCully today announced the appointment of diplomat Michael Burrell as High Commissioner to South Africa.

"New Zealand is placing increasing priority on our relations with Africa," Mr McCully says. 

"Our relationship with South Africa is based on our shared Commonwealth history, respect for democracy, strong links between our people, and close sporting ties.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully will welcome today Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop to New Zealand, for the second of their twice-yearly Foreign Ministers’ Consultations. 

“These Consultations are an opportunity to discuss issues and share views across a range of foreign policy issues,” Mr McCully says. 

“Our talks will focus on bilateral issues ahead of the annual Australia – New Zealand Leaders’ Meeting early next year, as well as our ongoing work together in the Pacific.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has welcomed Papua New Guinea’s Foreign Minister Rimbink Pato to New Zealand for formal foreign policy talks today.

“PNG is an important partner for New Zealand in the Pacific and our second largest trading partner in the region,” Mr McCully says.

“During Minister Pato’s visit we will discuss PNG’s plans for the hosting of APEC 2018 and how New Zealand can best support this undertaking. Our talks will also focus on regional trade and political issues.”

Foreign Minister Murray McCully today announced that New Zealand will provide $1 million to help meet the humanitarian needs of people affected by the military campaign to liberate Mosul from ISIL control. This funding will be provided through the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

New Zealand will also support the United Nations’ work to coordinate the humanitarian response in Mosul, by funding an information management and mapping specialist to help track the flows of internally displaced persons. 

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has announced Don Higgins as New Zealand’s next High Commissioner to Solomon Islands.

“New Zealand has a close relationship with the Solomon Islands, characterised by regular political dialogue, a strong development partnership, and growing links between our populations,” Mr McCully says.

“We are proud of New Zealand’s ongoing contribution to security in Solomon Islands through the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI).

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has named diplomat Wendy Matthews as New Zealand’s new Ambassador to Viet Nam.

“In recent times, relations between New Zealand and Viet Nam have gone from strength to strength,” Mr McCully says.

“Cooperation between our two countries is expanding in areas such as agri-business, clean technologies and disaster management, aviation, tourism, defence and education.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully today announced diplomat Lucy Duncan as New Zealand’s first resident Ambassador to Colombia.

“New Zealand’s relationship with Colombia is growing fast, and the establishment of an Embassy in Bogota will allow us to expand our links into Latin America,” Mr McCully says.   

Foreign Minister Murray McCully will travel to China this weekend for discussions with his Chinese counterpart Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

“New Zealand attaches major importance to our relationship with China, as one of our largest export markets and as a partner in the Asia-Pacific region,” Mr McCully says. 

Foreign Minister Murray McCully will travel to Brussels this week for the signing of a new partnership agreement with the European Union and to attend a conference on the future of Afghanistan.

“The Partnership Agreement on Relations and Cooperation (PARC) commits the EU and NZ to co-operation and dialogue across a broad range of issues,” Mr McCully says.

“The PARC represents a significant step forward in New Zealand’s relationship with the EU and it is the precursor to a free trade agreement.”

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has expressed his appreciation for the thorough work of the independent investigation into the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in July 2014, saying it is an important step towards accountability. 

“The downing of the flight cost 298 lives, including a New Zealand citizen and a New Zealand resident. We remain committed to ensuring there is accountability for this tragic incident,” Mr McCully says.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully travels to New York this evening to support New Zealand’s Presidency of the United Nations Security Council.

“September is an important month for New Zealand as President of the Council, with meetings over the next two weeks on the Middle East Peace Process, Colombia, Afghanistan, Libya, South Sudan and aviation security,” Mr McCully says.

“In addition to these meetings, New Zealand will be co-hosting an event in support of small island developing states, with a focus on renewable energy.  

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has welcomed the announcement by US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov that agreement on a ceasefire in Syria has been reached.

“The agreement is a breakthrough but the coming days will be crucial as we wait to see if the ceasefire holds," Mr McCully says.

"A halt to the fighting is an important first step and we urge all parties to return to negotiations on a permanent end to the war and a political transition without delay.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully says North Korea’s nuclear test is a dangerous affront to the international community and a serious threat to regional security.

“This latest nuclear test is highly provocative and deeply concerning, especially as it comes on the back of a series of ballistic missile launches by North Korea recently” Mr McCully says.

“This is the fifth nuclear test conducted by North Korea, and it directly defies the UN Security Council which has demanded that North Korea stop nuclear testing.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully says that New Zealand condemns yesterday’s multiple missile launches by North Korea.

“The United Nations Security Council has repeatedly demanded that North Korea not launch ballistic missiles,” Mr McCully says

“Yesterday’s launches and the other tests conducted this year by North Korea are a serious challenge to the security of the Asia-Pacific region. 

“New Zealand again urges North Korea to adhere to previous Security Council resolutions and to refrain from further tests. 

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has named Peter Marshall as New Zealand’s new High Commissioner to the Cook Islands.

“New Zealand and the Cook Islands have a special relationship, based on historical ties and shared citizenship,” Mr McCully says.

“Last year marked the Cook Islands’ fiftieth anniversary of self-government in free association with New Zealand and year-long celebrations culminated in reciprocal prime ministerial visits.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully has named new Consuls-General in Guangzhou, Los Angeles and Honolulu.

Rachel Maidment will be New Zealand’s next Consul-General Guangzhou. Following a 10 year career as a diplomat, she established a leading Asia consultancy, Navigate, providing services to a wide range of government and private sector clients.

“Guangzhou is one of China’s largest and most prosperous cities, and is now the centre for politics, business, innovation and culture in South China,” says Mr McCully.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully has announced Michael Upton as New Zealand’s next High Commissioner to Kiribati.

“New Zealand and Kiribati have a strong relationship and we work closely in areas of sustainable economic development, fisheries cooperation, water and sanitation, climate change, and maritime safety,” Mr McCully says.

“The High Commissioner will be responsible for overseeing New Zealand’s aid programme in Kiribati, which will total around $17 million this year.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has welcomed the announcement by Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos of the conclusion of a peace agreement between the Colombia Government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People’s Army (FARC) guerrilla movement.

“This is an important development for Colombia and for the region, that will afford the people of Colombia greater stability and prosperity in the years to come,” Mr McCully says.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully will travel to Europe next week to visit the United Kingdom, Slovakia, France, Hungary, and Russia. 

“Slovakia is the current European Union President and this visit is an opportunity to meet with Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajčák, and gain his perspective on the early discussions around Brexit,” Mr McCully says.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully will travel to Suva tomorrow for the Pacific Islands Forum Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.

“The Foreign Ministers’ Meeting is an important opportunity to discuss regional priorities such as climate change, fisheries, and economic integration,” Mr McCully says.

“The Ministerial level meeting will also help inform the agenda for the Pacific Forum Leaders Meeting which will take place in the Federated States of Micronesia later this year.”

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has named diplomat Stephen Payton as New Zealand’s next ambassador to Japan.

“New Zealand has long-standing and strong ties with Japan, underpinned by a close network of personal and business relationships,” Mr McCully says.

“A major focus for the Ambassador will be on helping to promote New Zealand interests in the areas of food and agriculture, security, and energy.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully travels to Laos next week to attend the ASEAN-NZ Ministerial Meeting, the East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and the 23rd ASEAN Regional Forum.

“New Zealand has long-standing ties with ASEAN and we enjoy close cooperation with member states across a range of regional issues,” Mr McCully says.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has called on all parties to respect the Arbitral Tribunal ruling on maritime rights in the South China Sea.

“While New Zealand does not take a position on the various territorial claims in the South China Sea we have consistently stated that the differing interests in the region should be managed peacefully and in accordance with international law,” Mr McCully says.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully will travel to Mongolia this week to attend the 11th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit.

“The ASEM Summit brings together representatives from 53 European and Asian nations to foster closer relations between the two regions,” Mr McCully says.

“The membership includes some of New Zealand most important trading partners and represents nearly 60 per cent of the world’s GDP and population.