BIO/4726

New Permanent Representative of New Zealand Presents Credentials

(Based on information provided by the Protocol and Liaison Service)

The new Permanent Representative of New Zealand to the United Nations, Gerard van Bohemen, presented his credentials to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today.

Until his appointment, Mr. van Bohemen had been a Deputy Secretary at the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, responsible for multilateral and legal affairs, since June 2010.  From June 2005 to June 2010, he was Director of the Ministry’s Legal Division and New Zealand’s International Legal Adviser.

Mr. van Bohemen’s career combines service with the Minister and private legal practice in Auckland and Wellington.  He has served his country’s Mission to the United Nations in New York twice, the second time as Deputy Permanent Representative during New Zealand’s last term on the Security Council.

He has a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Bachelor of Laws from Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand.

For information media. Not an official record.