Rarotonga, Cook Islands, 18 October 2023 - Te Kauono Tutara e te Mana Tiaki - the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration (MFAI) this morning facilitated a virtual Presentation of Credentials (POC) Ceremony of two Wellington-based High Commissioners and one Ambassador based in Suva.
The Ceremony was held in partnership with the office of the Head of State, the Cook Islands High Commission in Suva, and the Cook Islands High Commission in Wellington.
POC ceremonies allow for the accreditation of diplomatic representatives to the Cook Islands, with MFAI receiving formal requests from the Government of the Republic of Fiji, the Government of the Republic of India, and the Delegation of the European Union to the Pacific.
The ceremonies were hosted via online video conferencing platform ‘Zoom’ from the support office of the Honourable Mac Mokoroa, Minister for Education, Justice, Youth, and Sports, with King’s Representative, His Excellency Sir Tom Marsters, virtually receiving letters of credence from His Excellency Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, the first High Commissioner to the Cook Islands for the Republic of Fiji; Her Excellency Neeta Bhushan, High Commissioner for the Republic of India; and Her Excellency Barbara Plinkert, Ambassador for the European Union.
“We are pleased to be able to conduct this virtual Presentation of Credentials Ceremony for the Republic of Fiji, the Republic of India, and the European Union,” said MFAI Director of the International and Trade Division, Mackenzi Wichman.
“The hosting of this virtual POC Ceremony and the prioritisation of these High Commissioners and Ambassador allow them to fully support their delegation’s participation as a Forum Member country and Dialogue Partners within the margins of the 52nd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting, and related meetings to be held in the Cook Islands in November.”