Patrick John Rata, designated as the New Zealand High Commissioner to India, brings a wealth of diplomatic experience to his new role. He presented credentials to the President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu at a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan on May 31, 2024.
Prior to this appointment, Patrick has held various significant positions, including Acting High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, Ambassador to Italy (with accreditation to nine other countries), and Permanent Representative to key Rome-based United Nations agencies - FAO, IFAD, and WFP.
Throughout his career, Patrick has been deeply involved in multilateral affairs. He has served at the New Zealand Permanent Mission to the UN in New York, where he engaged in Security Council matters and was elected Vice Chair of the Third Committee. His diplomatic journey also led him to London, where he focused on Commonwealth issues.
Patrick's expertise extends to trade, where he spent a decade as a senior official at the World Trade Organization in Geneva. Notably, he served as Chef de Cabinet in the Director-General's office in 2002, showcasing his leadership and strategic capabilities in this realm.
