Muanpuii Saiawi has been named India's next high commissioner to New Zealand Photo: X / Muanpuii Saiawi
The Indian government has appointed Muanpuii Saiawi to be its next high commissioner to New Zealand at a time when New Delhi and Wellington are seeking to deepen bilateral trade ties.
The appointment was announced on Monday.
Saiawi, a 2005-batch Indian Foreign Service officer, has been serving as joint secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi.
She is expected to take up her posting in Wellington shortly.
During her diplomatic career, Saiawi has served in a range of roles at Indian missions overseas, including as first secretary (political) at the Indian Embassy in the Republic of Korea, first secretary (information, education and culture) in Japan, and counsellor (press, information, culture and tourism) in Israel.
She has received the Ambassador Bimal Sanyal Memorial Gold Medal for best officer trainee and Silver Medal for best dissertation, as well as being named best probationer of the 2005 batch of Indian Foreign Service officers.
Saiawi has also held key roles in cyber diplomacy and new and emerging strategic technologies in the Ministry of External Affairs.
At the time of her appointment, she is serving as joint secretary for disarmament and international security affairs.
She is poised to succeed Neeta Bhushan, who has served as India's high commissioner to New Zealand since 2022.
Saiawi hails from the northeastern Indian state of Mizoram.
