Former High Commissioners

Historical List of India’s Diplomatic Representatives in New Zealand

In 1950, Mr. B. K. Sanyal was appointed as India’s first resident Trade Commissioner based in Wellington. In 1951, the Government of India decided to give concurrent responsibility to High Commissioner in Canberra. Mr. K.S. Duleepsinghji became the first High Commissioner to New Zealand resident in Canberra. He presented his credentials to the Governor General of New Zealand in April 1952. With the opening of a non-resident High Commission, Mr. B. K. Sanyal was redesignated as First Secretary (Commercial) and headed the High Commission as Cd'A, with High Commissioner serving from Canberra. The Office in Wellington started consular services in 1955. The full- time resident High Commissioner was appointed in 1963. Available records indicate that the Trade Commission was first housed at 49, Willis Street in Wellington when it opened in 1950. The High Commission moved to its permanent, Government-owned premises at 72, Pipitea Street in Wellington in June 2022.

Name	Years
Trade Commissioner Mr. B. K. Sanyal	1950 to 1952
High Commissioners (Non-Resident) During 1952 to 1963, High Commissioners of India based in Canberra were concurrently accredited to New Zealand.
H.E. Mr. K.S. Duleepsinghji	1952 to 1954
H.E. Mr. Gen. (Rtd) K.M. Cariappa	1954 to 1956
H.E. Mr. K. R. P. Singh	1956 to 1958
H.E. Mr. P. Achutha Menon	1958 to 1961
H.E. Mr. Samar Sen	1960 to 1963
High Commissioners
H.E. Mr. V.K. Ahuja	August 1963 - December 1964
H.E. Mr. S.N. Chopra	April 1966 - August 1969
H.E. Mr. P.S. Naskar	September 1969 - April 1973
H.E. Mr. L.N. Ray	May 1973 - December 1976
H.E. Mr. B. Devarao	December 1976 - December 1979
H.E. Mr. A.K. Budhiraja	May 1980 - April 1983
H.E. Mr. Adm. (Rtd.) O.S. Dawson	August 1985 - August 1987
H.E. Mr. C.R. Balachandra	May 1988 - November 1991
H.E. Mr. S.J. Singh	November 1991 - August 1993
H.E. Mr. K.M. Meena	August 1994 - May 1998
H.E. Mr. S. Kipgen	May 1998 - April 2002
H.E. Mr. Bal Anand	May 2002 - November 2003
H.E. Mr. Harish K. Dogra	September 2004 - April 2006
H.E. Mr. K.P. Ernest	April 2006 - April 2009
H.E. Mr. Adm. (Retd) S.Mehta	December 2009 -December 2011
H.E. Mr. Avanindra K. Pandey	July 2012 - August 2013
H.E. Mr. Ravi Thapar	December 2013 - June 2015
H.E. Mr. Sanjiv Kohli	March 2016 - May 2019
H.E. Mr. Muktesh K. Pardeshi	July 2019-July 2022