Reinforcing diplomatic ties: New Zealand appoints Pati Gagau as new envoy to Kiribati

New Zealand has appointed Pati Gagau as its next High Commissioner to Kiribati.

The announcement follows a cancelled ministerial visit and a review of development aid that strained diplomatic ties earlier this year.

In a statement, Foreign Affairs Minister Vaovasamanaia Winston Peters reaffirmed New Zealand’s commitment to the region.

“Nowhere is this truer than in the Pacific, where we strive to work with our Pacific partners to forge a more secure, more prosperous and more resilient future for our region,” he says.

Earlier this year, Peters initiated a review of New Zealand’s development programme with Kiribati, which is valued at $102 million.

The review was prompted by concerns over the lack of high-level engagement with Kiribati, particularly after a ministerial visit was cancelled due to the unavailability of the leadership in Tarawa.

The visit, scheduled for 21-22 January, was set to be the first by a New Zealand Minister in over five years and aimed to help Peters understand the region’s priorities and ensure that future development assistance is well-targeted over the next three years.

The review’s initial findings have been shared with the Kiribati government for further discussion.

Peters and Gagau in Tuvalu during Peters' Melanesian mission. Photo/Winston Peters X

Peters remains open to visiting Kiribati, pending an invitation to meet with his counterpart and the President.

Gagau has been a seasoned diplomat with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) since 2003.

Listen to to Kiribati MP Ruth Cross Kwansing speak about the review

He has served as the Deputy Head of Mission in Sāmoa, managed development programmes, and worked on various bilateral relationships in the Pacific.

Most recently, he was the lead adviser for Pacific Polynesia and the French Pacific.

Gagau replaces Andre Van Der Walt, who has held the position since 2022.

Outgoing High Commissioner to Kiribati, Andre Van Der Walt. Photo/MFAT

Van Der Walt previously served as the deputy head of mission at New Zealand’s High Commission in Niue. He was the principal development manager for the Pacific development group at MFAT.