The Embassy of Switzerland in New Zealand is the official diplomatic mission of Switzerland in New Zealand and in a number of Pacific island countries.

The Chancery is located in the Maritime Tower, a modern seventeen story office building overlooking the Wellington Harbour. The building was completed in 2006.Maritime Office Tower. Warren and Mahoney. Accessed 28 October 2016. Until 2009 the location had been on Panama Street. The Residence is a historical building in Woburn, Lower Hutt, 15 kilometers from the Wellington city center.

Tasks of the embassy

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.Embassy of Switzerland in New Zealand – The Tasks of the Embassy. Website of the Swiss Confederation. Accessed 28 October 2016. The embassy is also consular representation for Niue and American Samoa, the Ambassador serving as Consul General in this United States territory.Embassy of Switzerland in New Zealand. Website of the Swiss Confederation. Accessed 28 October 2016.

Around 7,000 Swiss citizens live in New Zealand and the embassy offers the whole range of consular services to this population.Switzerland – Our relationship with Switzerland. New Zealand Foreign Affairs and Trade. Accessed 31 October 2016. It is supported in its consular and diplomatic work by subordinate posts led by Honorary Consuls, the Consulate of Switzerland in Auckland,Embassy of Switzerland, Wellington, New Zealand – Staff Details. New Zealand Foreign Affairs and Trade. Accessed 31 October 2016. the consulate general in Suva, Fiji,Honorary Consuls in Fiji – Switzerland. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Fiji. Accessed 31 October 2016. the consulate general in Apia, Samoa,Overseas Honorary Consuls in Samoa – Switzerland. Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Samoa. Accessed 31 October 2016. and the consulate general in Nuku'alofa, Tonga.Swiss representation in Tonga – Switzerland. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Fiji. Accessed 24 October 2017.

History 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.Embassy of Switzerland in New Zealand – History. Website of the Swiss Confederation. Accessed 28 October 2016.

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.

After the establishment of diplomatic relations with New Zealand,Bilateral relations Switzerland–New Zealand – History of bilateral relations. Website of the Swiss Confederation. Retrieved 3 November 2016. Switzerland took this step in 1985 with the Kingdom of Tonga,Bilateral relations Switzerland–Tonga – History of bilateral relations. Website of the Swiss Confederation. Accessed 28 October 2016. in 1987 with Western Samoa, today Samoa,Bilateral relations Switzerland–Samoa – History of bilateral relations. Website of the Swiss Confederation. Accessed 28 October 2016. in 1989 with the Republic of Fiji,Bilateral relations Switzerland–Fiji – History of bilateral relations. Website of the Swiss Confederation. Accessed 28 October 2016. in 2005 with TuvaluBilateral relations Switzerland–Tuvalu – History of bilateral relations. Website of the Swiss Confederation. Accessed 28 October 2016. and in 2010 with the Cook Islands, a self governing territory in free association with New Zealand.Bilateral relations Switzerland–Cook Islands – History of bilateral relations. Website of the Swiss Confederation. Accessed 28 October 2016.

Swiss representatives 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.Curriculum Vitae David Vogelsanger. Website of the Swiss Confederation. Accessed 28 October 2016.

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

Representatives in Wellington Name Term Rank Walter Schmid 1937–1946 Consul Ernst Theiler 1946–1949 Consul Henri Blanchard 1949–1955 Consul Pierre Aubaret 1955–1959 Consul General Oscar Rossetti 1959–1963 Consul General Jean-Pierre Weber 1963–1967 Chargé d'affaires Paul Erb 1967–1969 Chargé d'affaires Max Corti 1969–1974 Ambassador Fritz Adams 1975–1979 Chargé d'affaires Walter Sollberger 1979–1982 Chargé d'affaires Ivan Etienne 1982–1987 Chargé d'affaires Fridolin Wyss 1987–1989 Chargé d'affaires Michael von Schenk 1989–1993 Ambassador Ernst Thurnheer 1993–1996 Ambassador Walter Simmen 1996–2000 Chargé d'affaires Sylvie Matteucci 2000–2005 Ambassador Beat Nobs 2005–2010 Ambassador Marion Weichelt 2010–2014 AmbassadorDavid Vogelsanger 2014–2019 Ambassador Michael Winzap 2019–2022 AmbassadorViktor Vavricka 2022– Ambassador (Source: website of the Swiss Confederation)

Representatives in Auckland Name Term Rank Georg Streiff 1912–1917 Honorary Consul Walter John Pugh 1917–1918 Honorary Consul John Andrew Charles Allum 1926–1933 Consular Agent Albert Blau 1933–1936 Consular Agent Ernest Merz 1966–1970 Consular Agent Arthur Müller 1970–1994 Honorary Consul Peter Deutschle 1994–2018 Honorary Consul Adrian Blaser 2019– Honorary Consul (Source: website of the Swiss Confederation)

Of particular historical interest is Sir John Allum CBE who served as Mayor of Auckland from 1941 to 1952 and is remembered as father of the famous Auckland Harbour Bridge.

Representatives in Suva, Fiji Name Term Rank Rolf Gfeller 2012– Honorary Consul General (Source: website of the Swiss Confederation)

Representatives in Apia, Samoa Name Term Rank Marco Kappenberger 2007–2012 Honorary Consul General Sylvie Salanoa 2013– Honorary Consul General (Source: website of the Swiss Confederation)

Representatives in Nuku'alofa, Kingdom of Tonga Name Term Rank Carl Henry Sanft 2017– Honorary Consul General (Source: website of the Swiss Confederation)

See also 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

References

External links 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

New Zealand Foreign Affairs and Trade, Switzerland