Happy New Year! I can’t believe 12 months have passed since I took up my role as New Zealand High Commissioner. I arrived at Lunar New Year just in time to be introduced to the distinctly Singaporean Lo Hei!
Time has flown. I have loved getting to know Singapore – its places, people, and food, but also its history, heritage, and culture. From great museums to my local hawker market, there is so much to enjoy.
Our work at the High Commission has focused on advancing our Enhanced Partnership with Singapore. We’ve hosted New Zealand ministers, ships and officials, our universities, researchers and students. We have helped promote New Zealand wine, dairy, seafood, meats, kiwifruit, apples, edutech, health tech, other tech, and a host of other brilliant Kiwis, businesses and products.
A big plus for me has been meeting the New Zealand community here, working with the NZ Chamber and ANZA, celebrating successes with students and staff at AIS, and getting to know expats such as Tony Keepa and other members of our Singapore-based Māori community.
As 2024 begins, we have plans for another busy, impactful year. Our new government ministers are keen to engage on priority areas like supply chain resilience and the green economy, and we’ll keep working with our Singaporean colleagues on policy challenges and people-to-people links.
It won’t all be hard work though. After a holiday season that saw our team members enjoying time with family and friends in New Zealand, Australia, and Vietnam, the “summer” break has allowed us to return to Singapore feeling refreshed and ready for what 2024 has in store.
Thanks to AIS and the Chamber we’re kick starting the new year with another great Waitangi Day afternoon celebrating in true Anzac spirit over a barbeque and some slip-and-slide fun at the Australian International School.
From all of the team at the New Zealand High Commission, we wish you a happy, healthy, and prosperous new year.
