NEW ZEAL A N D HIG H C OM M IS SION
SEEING THE YEAR OUT WITH HIGH COMMISSIONER JO TYNDALL It may not have been the year we all wanted or expected, but 2021 has taught us resilience, teamwork, and the importance of taking steps, no matter how small they seem.
T
he past year has been filled with uncertainty and change, and loss of connection, freedom and lives. No doubt all of us, myself included, hoped that 2021 would bring us back to some sense of normalcy. But things rarely go as planned, or as hoped. 2021 has seen us move from one version of lockdown to another, both in Singapore and New Zealand. And with that has come a considerable strain on all of us. Yet, this year has shown me how resilient we are as communities and countries. I have proudly watched the community in Singapore (and more recently New Zealand) coming together to achieve the vaccination rates we need to protect one another from serious Covid-19 illness. The innovation and creativity I’ve seen – for example in the way that New Zealand has hosted a completely virtual APEC year – has been astounding to witness. Most heartening of all has been the regular engagement between our two countries continuing despite the pandemic. Ministers and officials at all levels and different ministries have stayed in contact over the year, with the very first minister to travel since the onset of the pandemic, Minister Damien O’Connor, making Singapore his first stop. A key highlight in Minister O’Connor’s stop was his session with the New Zealand Chamber of
New Zealand High Commission Singapore
Commerce, where he was able to directly hear the experiences of the NZ whānau here. Indeed, it has been vital for us to understand how we as a High Commission can better support you all as we begin to make our way forward in a Covid-19 endemic world. No, life is not “back to normal” and it seems like our progress towards reopening may no longer be as ambitious or as quick as we would like it to be. But if the pandemic has taught us anything it is this – even a small step in the right direction is a step worth taking. So let’s keep moving forward with hope, and as a unified team.
Here’s wishing everyone a Meri Kirihimete me te Hape Nū Ia (Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year), from all of us here at the High Commission. We look forward to coming together in 2022. Please note that the New Zealand High Commission office will be closed for the holiday period between Friday, 24 December and Friday, 31 December. We will re-open on Monday 3 January 2022. New Zealanders needing urgent consular assistance can call +64 99 20 20 20.
MEET THE TEAM
Say hi to staff on the ground in Singapore.
One George Street, Level 21-04 Singapore 049145 Tel 6235 9966 Fax 6536 8180 nzhc.sin@mfat.govt.nz
Hannah Adams, S econd Se New Zeala cretary, nd High C Kia ora whā ommissio nau! Hailin n
STAY CONNECTED Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/ NewZealandinSingapore Register when travelling: safetravel.govt.nz Find out more: mfat.govt.nz/singapore
12 anza
g from the Lower Hut great metro t in Te Wha polis of nganui-a-T and I only ara, my hu arrived in sband Shan Si ngapore in e missing New mid-Augus Zealand’s la t, narrowly test lockdo the city-sta w n, te without and slipping quarantine into New Zealan . Since then d High Com , as part of m is the si on the trad on team I’v e side of th e been focu e shop. Life sing spent adap he re so far ha ting to wea s been ring masks in shopping in the heat malls, and , getting lo enjoying ha st baby Charlie wker meals recently jo . Our fur ined us, so exploring na w e’ re ture walks and dog ru I hope to m ns. eet many of you soon. U then, Meri ntil Kirihimete me te Hap (Merry Ch e Nū La ristmas an d a Happy New Year).
on es, Educati Ben Burrow Director al n d Regio New Zealan an end; (Asia) 21 is almost at
think that 20 that’s It’s strange to cting on a year t alone in refle no I’m ans which pl d I’m sure lai stbe d Zoom calls an last now a haze of t flown since ed. Having no at tu en with ev re ite fo never qu e than ever be spent more tim in re he ed riv March, I have ar e. I first re in Singapor New Zealand n my family he io at uc Ed worked with cy is 2008 and have vernment agen years. Our go e fiv st pa education – l na for the io at rn te r promoting in ng lately responsible fo oved challengi ’s certainly pr at th ng hi e! If there’s tiv va somet no in e or to be much m nnect and caused us been able to co it’s that we’ve g, in the lin th r wi ve ns one sil our institutio students and u can yo pe ho I New Zealand . re d befo we never coul d. Āwhinatia world in ways e festive perio th er ov k ea kind. Be all enjoy a br , rs othe atawhai. Help ētahi atu. Kia
November/December 2021
NZ_HighComm_NovDec21.indd 12
20/10/2021 3:04:53 PM
