Wellington, 26th November 2015.— The Ambassador of Cuba to New Zealand, HE Mr. Mario Alzugaray Rodriguez, presented his Letter of Credence to the Governor-General, Lt Gen Rt Hon Sir Jerry Mateparae, in a ceremony conducted at the Government House in Wellington that, following local protocol procedures, started with a traditional Maori welcome.
Both sides concurred on the mutual interest in strengthening the ties between the two nations, highlighting the opportunities that the process of updating the Cuban model presents to encourage exchanges and business dealings in various fields. Governor-General Mateparae also praised Cuba’s cooperation with the Pacific Islands, restating his country's interest in the implementation of joint actions for the development of this cooperation.
Cuba and New Zealand established diplomatic relations on February the 7th, 1999. The Cuban Embassy in Wellington was established in 2007.