The United Kingdom has announced Thorhilda Abbott-Watt will be the new British High Commissioner to Tonga in an appointment which marks the return of the diplomatic office to the islands after a 14-year absence.
The new UK High Commissioner to Tonga, Thorhilda Abbott-Watt Photo: Foreign Office
Ms Abbott-Watt will take up her residence next week.
The British High Commission is reopening in Nuku'alofa after closing in 2006.
Ms Abbott-Watt most recently served as the Ambassador to Turkmenistan. She has also served as Ambassador to Armenia and Mongolia.
Robin Ord-Smith was originally appointed to the post in Tonga last year but is now Kyrgyzstan's Business Ombudsman.