The Diplomat
Diplomat Tara Morton will be the new New Zealand ambassador to Spain, replacing Nigel Donald Fyfe, who has held the post since the end of 2018.
The announcement of the change at the head of the New Zealand Embassy was made by the country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nanaia Mahuta, and Tara Morton is expected to take up her post in the first months of 2023.
Tara Morton, who has been a career diplomat for 18 years, will also be accredited as Ambassador to Andorra, the Holy See and Morocco and as High Commissioner to Malta.
She recently held the post of Director of the Middle East and Africa Division of the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and has held various overseas posts throughout her career. She was based in Cairo, Chargé d’Affaires at the New Zealand Embassy in Baghdad, and head of the sanctions team at New Zealand’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York.
Announcing her appointment, the Foreign Minister stressed: “Spain is one of our key partners in Europe. As the fourth largest economy in the Eurozone and a key member of the European Union, we share a warm relationship in the areas of trade, climate change, gender and human rights.”
“New Zealand and Spain recently upgraded the relationship between our countries to a Strategic Partnership, reflecting a commitment to strengthen our future collaboration,” added Nanaia Mahuta.
She also recalled that “in the face of global challenges, Spain supported New Zealand by providing 274,000 doses of COVID 19 vaccine during our 2021 vaccination roll-out“, and assured that her Government appreciates Spain’s continued support for the conclusion of the Free Trade Agreement between New Zealand and the European Union.
