Niue and Australia celebrate 10 years of diplomatic relations

Premier Dalton Tagelagi and Australia’s High Commissioner to Niue Her Excellency Louise Ellerton hosted an event at the Scenic Matavai Resort yesterday evening, 28 March, to mark the 10th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Niue and Australia since it was established on 27 February 2013.

In 2014, Australia’s first High Commissioner to Niue was Michael Potts who was based in Wellington. 

In 2018, the Australian government announced that it will establish a mission in several Pacific nations including Niue. 

In August 2020, Susan Allen arrived in Niue as Australia’s first resident High Commissioner to Niue. H.E. Louise Ellerton is the second resident Australia High Commissioner to Niue. 

In his remarks last night, Hon. Dalton Tagelagi thanked the Australian High Commissioner for the enduring friendship between the two nations as he recalled the day the first resident Australia High Commissioner presented her credentials to him and Cabinet. 

In her remarks at the event last night, Australia’s High Commissioner Louise Ellerton said that the establishment of diplomatic relations and our in-country presence are a testament to the growing importance of the relationship. 

“You are here tonight, because all of you are important to the relationship between Niue and Australia. You are custodians of a shared history, and it is our connections that make the relationship so special. It is the links between our people that will continue to enable our relationship to prosper for decades to come,” says Ellerton. 

High Commissioner Ellerton said that she is confident that during the coming decades Australia and Niue will continue to enjoy friendly relations.

A recorded message from Australia’s Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Hon Pat Conroy was very well received with applause by those in attendance. 

Australia is only the second diplomatic mission to be established in Niue after New Zealand.