17 Oct 2013

Niue Premier welcomes new High Commissioner from NZ

6:53 am on 17 October 2013

The premier of Niue, Toke Talagi, says he is looking forward to working with Superintendent Ross Ardern as the New Zealand High Commissioner to Niue.

Mr Ardern, currently the New Zealand police liaison officer for the South Pacific, will be replacing Mark Blumsky, and continuing the work of focussing on economic development, particularly in the tourism sector.

Toke Talagi says he's very pleased with the appointment.

"Ross was here previously as the former chief of police and he did an excellent job. We're looking forward to him coming as the new New Zealand High Commissioner, he'll be called 'excellency' instead of 'chief.' I believe that what he will do is continue on with the work that we have done with the current high commissioner, Mark Blumsky, he's done an excellent job, we are building a very strong economy driven by tourism."

The premier of Niue, Toke Talagi.