Trevor Matheson has been appointed New Zealand's High Commissioner to Samoa, with accreditation to American Samoa.
New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters said as a long-serving diplomat Dr Matheson is more than suitably qualified for the role.
He said Dr Matheson has more than three decades experience and is currently New Zealand's Ambassador to Indonesia.
He has previously served in Italy and Saudi Arabia and has been Permanent Representative of New Zealand to the UN in Rome.