New Zealand has appointed Michael Upton as New Zealand's next High Commissioner to Kiribati.
The New Zealand Foreign Minister, Murray McCully, says his government is working closely with Kiribati in the areas of sustainable economic development, fisheries cooperation, water and sanitation, climate change, and maritime safety.
He says a major focus is working to address the impacts of overcrowding in South Tarawa, where about half of Kiribati's population live, and improving waste management, water and sanitation.
Mr McCully says New Zealand is looking at major programmes, alongside other donors, to address the issues arising from climate change and to help the people of Kiribati some protection against rising sea levels and king tides.
