H.E Paul Ballantyne
Matron
Based in Warsaw, Paul Ballantyne has served as New Zealand’s Ambassador to the Republic of Poland since March 2025. In addition to Ukraine, he is also cross-accredited to Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, and Georgia.
Prior to this role, Paul served as Private Secretary (Foreign Affairs) to New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs. In Wellington, he has held a range of roles at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, including in the United Nations, Middle East and Africa, and Consular divisions, and has also been seconded to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Offshore Paul’s roles have included Deputy Head of Mission at New Zealand’s Embassy in
Abu Dhabi, and at the New Zealand Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York. He has also undertaken short-term assignments at New Zealand’s Embassies in Tehran and Baghdad.