PH Ambassador Presents Credentials to Niue Premier  

Philippine Ambassador Kira Christianne D. Azucena presented her credentials as the first Philippine Ambassador to be accredited to Niue on 18 June 2024. The Philippines’ diplomatic relations with Niue were established in October 2022. (Wellington PE photo)

NIUE 09 July 2024 – After formally establishing diplomatic relations in 2022, Ambassador Kira Christianne D. Azucena became the first Philippine Ambassador to the island state of Niue when she presented her credentials to Premier Dalton Emani Makamau Tagelagi in ceremonies last 18 June 2024.

In her remarks, Ambassador Azucena conveyed the Philippines’ keen intent to further foster friendship and deepen cooperation with Niue towards the fulfilment of the shared aspirations.

“The Philippines is keen to work with Niue on capacity building efforts to help address existing and future challenges, and we are ready to know more about the priority areas of Niue where the Philippines can provide support and contribute to the latter’s development efforts,” Ambassador Azucena said.

In his response, Premier Tagelagi said he looked forward to growing Niue’s relationship with the Philippines.

“Niue is opening itself to the world, and we welcome the presence of friends and partners to learn from, develop our capacities and adapt to the evolving challenges that face the ‘big rock in the middle of the ocean’”, he said.

After presenting her credentials, Ambassador Azucena met separately with the Niuean Ministers for Natural Resources, Finance & Infrastructure and Social Services. In these meetings, she discussed the challenges shared by the two countries and explored areas of cooperation, such as biodiversity protection and conservation, labor mobility including in education, and in the health and justice sectors.  All ministers underscored the important role of Filipinos working in the island-state in economic development.

While in Niue, Ambassador Azucena also met with the 50-strong Filipino community there, who work as teachers, engineers, and in the hospitality industry.  Ambassador Azucena assured them of the Embassy’s commitment to attend to their needs, including through the establishment of mechanisms between the governments of the Philippines and Niue.  She also pledged to conduct a consular outreach mission there before the year-end to provide consular services, such as passport renewals and civil registry registration.

Ambassador Azucena is set to represent President Marcos in Niue’s Constitution Day celebration in October, to which the heads of state of about 30 countries with whom Niue has established diplomatic relations have been invited.

The Republic of the Philippines and Niue formally established diplomatic relations with the signing of a Joint Communiqué by President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. and Premier Tagelagi on 27 September 2022 in Malacañan Palace.

Niue is an island country in the Pacific Ocean in a state of free association with New Zealand. While it is not a member of the United Nations, iIt is a member of UNESCO, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF). It is also a signatory to several international treaties and conventions, such as the Biodiversity Convention, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), and United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its Kyoto Protocol.

To date, over 51 Filipino migrant workers in various professional fields live in Niue.  END

Philippine Ambassador to New Zealand Kira Azucena (left) with Premier Dalton Tagelagi (right). (Wellington PE photo)

For more information, visit https://www.wellingtonpe.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.philembassy.org.nz, or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinNZ/.