The Trade Commissioner for the Auckland-based office of Pacific Islands Trade and Invest has resigned, after a tumultuous year for the organisation.
Adam Denniss spent three years leading the re-branded trade arm of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, which receives funding from New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
The office faced major problems this year when the Ministry withheld funding, prompting the intervention of Prime Minister John Key.
The PIFS Director of Economic Governance, Shiu Raj, says Mr Denniss will be missed.
"Yes we had some difficulties earlier this year but we have overcome that in a very collegial and constructive manner. We've got very firm commitments from the Government of New Zealand. It's a big loss for us with Adam Denniss's departure but there is no such issues at all with respect to any insinuations that he was dissatisfied with the work or anything of that sort."
Mr Raj says the new commissioner must be able to manage all the stakeholders, and most importantly the private sector organisations in the Pacific.
