19 Jul 2013

New ambassador to Saudi Arabia named

12:03 pm on 19 July 2013

Career diplomat Hamish MacMaster is to be New Zealand's new ambassador to Saudi Arabia.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully said Saudi Arabia is New Zealand's most significant market in the Middle East, with more than four-thousand students coming here each year.

He said Mr MacMaster will work with both Saudi Arabia and the states of the Gulf Cooperation Council to implement New Zealand's recently launched strategy for the region.

Mr MacMaster, who has previously served in Saudia Arabia, Turkey and Iran, will also be cross-credited to Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman.

Mr McCully also named Joanna Kempkers as the new High Commissioner to the Cook Islands.