Mr Fyfe was until recently Deputy Secretary – Lead Negotiator, Office of Treaty Settlements at the Ministry of Justice. Before that, he was employed at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade as Director of the Trade Negotiations Division, Director Legal Division and Ambassador to Chile, Peru and Colombia.

“New Zealand has a strong relationship with Spain,” said Mr Peters. “We are close economic partners, with a growing number of New Zealand businesses in Spain, particularly in the health, IT, maritime and agritech sectors.

“Spain has given great support in New Zealand’s pursuit of an FTA with the EU, and we are both focused on promoting gender equality, prioritising climate change and a progressive trade agenda.

As Ambassador to Spain Mr Fyfe will also be responsible for diplomatic relations with Andorra, the Holy See, Morocco and Malta.