September 8, 2024, marks the end of term of High Commissioner (HC) Tui Dewes service in the New Zealand High Commission in the Cook Islands.
Appointed by the former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Tui assumed the role High Commissioner in 2020. Under the tenure of HC Dewes, and in collaboration with Cook Islands Government (CIG) the Cook Islands and New Zealand bilateral relationship brought to fruition a number of initiatives – Quarantine Free Travel Arrangement, Cook Islands-New Zealand Travel Bubble and the Waka Hourua/Vaka Purua Joint Statement of Partnership.
In her farewell meeting last week, Foreign Secretary, Ms Tepaeru Herrmann took the opportunity to thank the exiting High Commissioner Dewes for her contributions in advancing the Cook Islands-New Zealand bilateral relationship and wished her well in her future endeavours.
Ms Catherine Graham succeeds Ms Tui Dewes as New Zealand High Commissioner to the Cook Islands with residence in Rarotonga – her first day in post was today and she met with Secretary Herrmann this morning. Ms Graham called on Cook Islands High Commissioner to New Zealand Kairangi Samuela in Wellington earlier in the month as part of her pre-posting to Rarotonga preparations.
Ms Graham holds degrees in International Relations & Politics and Commerce, Economics & Public Policy from Victoria University. In the late 1990s, Ms Graham was a Cook Islands Desk Officer with New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) in Wellington. She assumes High Commissioner to Cook Islands responsibilities having most recently served as the Divisional Manager in the Americas Division of MFAT and was previously posted to Moscow.
“We acknowledge with appreciation the services of HC Dewes and her contributions to the Cook Islands relationship with New Zealand. On the eve of our 60th year of self-governing in free association with New Zealand, we look forward to working closely with HC Graham to further deepen our cooperation and evolve our relationship in a manner that continues to support our shared and separate aspirations,” said Secretary Herrmann.
As part of settling into her role, HC Graham will present her letter of introduction to Prime Minister Mark Brown and pay courtesy calls on the Minister of Foreign Affairs & Immigration Tingika Elikana and various Heads of Ministry.
Queries regarding this media release to be directed to MFAI.media@cookislands.gov.ck
Source and photo credit: MFAI, Cook Islands
