17 Feb 2011

Posthumous honour for NZ diplomat

6:01 pm on 17 February 2011

France has posthumously bestowed New Zealand diplomat Tia Barrett with the Legion of Honour to recognise his contribution to relations between the countries.

Mr Barrett died in 2009 while serving as New Zealand's high commissioner to the Cook Islands, Radio New Zealand International reports.

He had become the most senior Maori in New Zealand's diplomatic service, with postings as a high commissioner to Solomon Islands and Fiji after serving in New Caledonia and France.

At a ceremony in Wellington, French ambassador Francis Etienne presented the Knight of the Legion of Honour to Mr Barrett's widow Theresa Barrett.