Nepalese ambassador makes special visit to Bay

Lucky Sherpa and husband Ngwang Sonam Sherpa meet with members of the Nepalese BOP Association at Papamoa Community Centre. Photo/Andrew Warner

The Nepalese ambassador to Australasia made a special visit to Tauranga to spend time with members of the local Nepalese community during her inaugural visit to New Zealand.

About 30 members of the Nepalese Bay of Plenty Association welcomed Lucky Sherpa to the city at the Papamoa Community Centre on Friday.

This was her first visit to New Zealand after being appointed the ambassador for Australia and New Zealand by Nepal's president Bidya Devi Bhandari on May 18 this year.

During her short trip, Ms Sherpa also visited with Lady Hillary, spent time in Rotorua on Saturday, and today meets with officials from Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

She also spent time at a Matamata dairy farm owned by Nepalese BOP Association member Lekhnath Bhandari and got the chance to milk some of his 680 cows.

Tomorrowthe Ambassador will "present her credentials" to the New Zealand Government and visits Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy at Government House before flying back to Canberra on Wednesday.

Omokoroa resident Peter Gibbs, who runs the Nepalese Consulate Office in New Zealand, said he was delighted to be able to bring Ms Sherpa to Tauranga.

"It's also a great chance to show her and her family just a little taste of New Zealand."

Nepalese BOP Association chairman Bhakta Siwahang said only about 30 of the 300 members were asked to attend the function because of the ambassador's tight schedule.

"It's honour and privilege to be able to welcome her and her family to Tauranga. It is exciting for us as it is not often dignitaries of her prestige come here," he said.

Ms Sherpa, who was accompanied by her husband Ngwang Sonam Sherpa and sons Tashi, 13, and Ang Furi, 10, said the main aim of her trip was to explore tourism, trade and educational opportunities between Nepal and New Zealand, plus help to promote the growth of Sir Ed Hillary's legacy which had established close ties between the two countries. It was "fantastic" to visit with Lady June Hillary, she said.

Ms Sherpa said visiting the Bay of Plenty region was an important part of her trip, particularly because lots of Nepalese worked in the kiwifruit industry.

Not only did their efforts contribute to the local economy but these workers also sent money back to their families in Nepal which helped Nepal's economy, she said.

Some of Lucky Sherpa's credentials:

First indigenous women to be appointed as an ambassador from the Government of Nepal to Australia and New Zealand on May 18.

From 2008 to 2012 was elected member of the Constituent Assembly and Parliament of Nepal, and legislative member of International relations and human right committee.

Led the Parliamentarians Network on the Environment for GLOBE Nepal.

First female graduate from the indigenous Sherpa community to hold a Master's Degree in Economics and was top student for 2001 from Patan Campus of Tribhuvan University.

International Steering Committee member for the Climate Vulnerable Countries network.

Recipient of many awards from a variety of national and international organisations.

Including 'Youth Ambassador for Peace' for 2007' and Young Women Human Rights Leader' by the World Youth Federation for Peace, Korea and MADRE.