Appointments

Peter Ryan announced as Ireland’s first ever resident Ambassador to New Zealand

By Business & Finance
29 August 2018

Former Consul General to Hong Kong Peter Ryan heading the first resident Mission in Wellington from August 2018

Ambassador Ryan has served as Second Secretary and Deputy Head of Mission at the Irish Embassy in Seoul, Korea, before moving to the Embassy of Ireland, Singapore and working for the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources covering ICT, science and energy policy in the Asia-Pacific Region. After that, he was appointed Director of the Asia-Europe Foundation in Singapore before moving to New York as Deputy Consul General for three years. He served four years as Consul General of the Consulate General, Hong Kong, before taking up his current role as resident Ambassador to New Zealand.

New Zealand

Speaking on his appointment and the similarities between Ireland and New Zealand, he said:

Ireland is fortunate to enjoy special ties of kinship and history with New Zealand and with the many New Zealanders of Irish heritage. Our small island nations share many values, as reflected in our long-standing commitment to the United Nations where we work together and with other like-minded nations to advance fundamental freedoms, the rule of law and respect for human rights. Our countries are to be found in the frontline of global efforts on disarmament, peacekeeping and assistance to our partner developing countries.

He continued:

“Ireland and New Zealand also share similarities in terms of our economic development, as small island states with open, export-driven low regulation economies. While trade in goods and services between our countries is growing, I believe we can further increase this figure in the coming period, particularly against the backdrop of the trade negotiations between the European Union and New Zealand. We will work closely with our trade promotion agencies, their New Zealand partners and the business community to help to facilitate increased trade and to build closer business links.”