Ms Celie says the role of the Belgian Honorary Consul is an essential part of the consular network.
“Honorary consuls are designated by the Belgian government to look after the affairs of Belgian citizens, whether they live here or are travelling in our consular jurisdiction. An honorary consul can help with selected legal documents, issue provisional passports and provide humanitarian aid in case of an accident, natural disaster, hospitalisation, death, and legal issues, for example,” she says.
“Another pillar of the role is to help promote and strengthen cultural and economic relations between Belgium and New Zealand, and keep the Belgian Embassy in Canberra, Australia updated on important events and consular issues involving Belgians. We have the advantage of being closer to Belgians in need than the embassy and our local network and connections prove very useful for the embassy when assisting Belgian nationals and when defending their or the country’s interests. Lastly, we represent the Belgian government at diplomatic and other New Zealand community events where the Belgian ambassador cannot attend.”
Ms Celie was sworn in by the Belgian Ambassador His Excellency Mr Michel Goffin on 6 April for an initial term of five years.
“It coincided with my first official duty, attending the Credentials Ceremony of the Belgian Ambassador at Government House. Credentials are letters from an Ambassador’s Head of State appointing them as their diplomatic representative. These letters were officially handed over to Governor-General The Right Honourable Dame Cindy Kiro in a constitutional and ceremonial welcome event, which included a very moving pōwhiri. While my swearing-in ceremony was much less formal, attending the Ambassador’s credentials ceremony and meeting with Dame Cindy Kiro made for an unforgettable day.”
When considering the challenges of the role, she says assisting people in need during a natural disaster would be top of the list.
“This would be the most demanding aspect of my new role. At the time of the Canterbury earthquakes, the honorary consul Lieve Bierque worked tirelessly to support the Belgian community by regularly checking in with more than 100 people living there, trying to find missing Belgian travellers and liaising with their worried families back in Belgium, assisting with provisional passports to replace lost travel documents and supporting fellow Belgian’s welfare as much as possible for some months after the events.”
Ms Celie is honoured to be representing her country, here in Aotearoa New Zealand.
“Finally, let me make a plug for Belgium. Next time you visit Europe, I suggest you make a stop there and stay for a while. Nestled between The Netherlands, Germany and France, Belgium is a small country, and not unlike New Zealand, we punch above our weight. With a rich heritage of beautifully restored medieval towns, fine arts and architecture, pristine natural areas, historic battlefields and touching war memorials, there is something for everyone. Also our famous fashion scene, fine foods and world-renowned beer culture are worth discovering.
“Put the country’s elegant cities of Bruges, Brussels or Ghent on top of your list, and if you have more time, do visit Antwerp, Ypres, Dinant, Durbuy or Spa. If nature is more your thing, Belgium’s countryside offers dense forests, rolling hills, and lush valleys. Explore the Sonian Forest in Brussels, the Ardennes National Park and the Caves of Han, or the Zwin Nature Reserve to name a few. Belgium’s capital city Brussels is home to the headquarters of the European Union and NATO. The official languages in Belgium are Dutch, French and German, but English is widely spoken, making your days there easy and enjoyable.”
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