Embassy of Switzerland in New Zealand

The Embassy is responsible for diplomatic relations between Switzerland, New Zealand, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu and the Cook Islands. It represents Swiss political, consular, economic, financial, legal, scientific and cultural interests.[2] The Embassy is also consular representation for Niue and American Samoa, the Ambassador serving as Consul General in this United States territory.[3]

Around 7,000 Swiss citizens live in New Zealand, the highest proportion in any country in the world. The Embassy offers the whole range of consular services to this population.[4] It is supported in its consular and diplomatic work by subordinate posts lead by Honorary Consuls, the Consulate of Switzerland in Auckland,[5] the Consulate General in Suva, Fiji,[6] the Consulate General in Apia, Samoa,[7] and the Consulate General in Nuku'alofa, Tonga.[8]

The following table shows the numbers of Swiss citizens living in these countries.

(Source: website of the Swiss Confederation[9])

The first representation of Switzerland in New Zealand was a Consulate established in 1912, initially located in Auckland but relocated to Wellington in 1937. Walter Schmid was from 1937 the first career consular officer heading the post. In 1955, the representation was upgraded to a Consulate General and diplomat Pierre Aubaret became the first Consul General. After having established diplomatic relations with New Zealand in 1962, the representation became an Embassy. Jean-Pierre Weber was its first Chargé d'affaires from 1963. In 1966, the Consulate in Auckland was reopened with an honorary consul in charge. Max Corti was the first Swiss resident Ambassador to New Zealand from 1969.[10]

In 2007 (Samoa), 2012 (Fiji) and 2017 (Tonga) Switzerland extended its representative network in the region by opening Consulates General with an honorary consul general heading the post.[10]

After the establishment of diplomatic relations with New Zealand,[11] Switzerland took this step in 1985 with the Kingdom of Tonga,[12] in 1987 with Western Samoa, today Samoa,[13] in 1989 with the Republic of Fiji,[14] in 2005 with Tuvalu[15] and in 2010 with the Cook Islands, a self governing territory in free association with New Zealand.[16]

The current Ambassador of Switzerland in Wellington is Michael Winzap. He also serves as Consul General of Switzerland to American Samoa, a United States Territory.[17]

The following Swiss representatives have served in New Zealand, Fiji, Samoa and Tonga.

John Webber (1751-1793), Thomas Brunner (1821–1874) and Jakob Lauper (1815-1891) are notable New Zealand pioneers of Swiss descent. John Webber was the first Swiss who ever set his foot on New Zealand soil. He accompanied Captain James Cook on his third and final Pacific (1776–79) voyage as the expedition's Artist.[18] London-born Swiss explorer Thomas Brunner arrived in New Zealand in 1841. He is known for his extensive expeditions on the west coast of the South Island.[19] The town of Brunner, Lake Brunner, Mount Brunner and Brunner Mine were all named after him. Lauper Stream, Lauper Peak and Lauper Bivouac, all situated on the upper Rakaia River on the South Island, remember Jakob Lauper (1815-1891),[18] gold prospector and explorer, who, together with John Henry Withcombe, had been in 1863 the first European to cross the Southern Alps. The first Swiss farmer who settled in Taranaki in 1870 was Felix Hunger (1837-1918).

There are five Swiss clubs in New Zealand, in Auckland,[20] in Hamilton,[21] in Taranaki,[22] in Wellington[23] and in Christchurch. The first four clubs are situated on the North Island and form the Swiss Society of New Zealand which publishes its own magazine "Helvetia" since 1935.[24]

• Foreign relations of Switzerland
• List of diplomatic missions of Switzerland
• List of diplomatic missions in New Zealand
• List of Ambassadors and High Commissioners to and from New Zealand

• Embassy of Switzerland in New Zealand
• Consulate of Switzerland in Auckland
• Consulate General in Suva
• Consulate General in Apia
• Consulate General in Nuku'alofa
• Swiss Society of New Zealand
• Swiss Embassy in Wellington (1963-) in the Dodis database of the Diplomatic Documents of Switzerland
• Swiss Consulate General in Wellington (1959-1963) in the Dodis database of the Diplomatic Documents of Switzerland
• New Zealand Foreign Affairs and Trade, Switzerland