Membership

Her Excellency Manahi Pakarati

Republic of Chile

Curriculum vitae Manahi Pakarati

Ambassador Manahi Pakarati is the only diplomat of Polynesian Rapanui ancestry in the Chilean Foreign Service. Her home, Rapa Nui (Easter Island), is the eastern corner of the Polynesian Triangle and a Special Territory of Chile since 1888 according to the "Agreement of Wills”, signed by the chiefs of the island and the Government of Chile.

She is a Librarian graduated from the Metropolitan Technological University of Chile (UTEM), has studied Journalism at the University of Chile and holds a Master’s degree in International Relations from Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand.

In 1997 she was admitted to the Diplomatic Academy “Andrés Bello” and through her 27 years of experience within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs she has held positions as Consul of Chile in New Zealand (2001 – 2006), multilateral diplomat at the Permanent Mission of Chile to the United Nations in New York (2009 – 2014) and as a bilateral diplomat at the Embassy of Chile in Mexico (2016 – 2021). Among her assignments in Santiago, she has work for the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Office, the General Division of Consular Affairs and other geographical divisions such as Asia - Pacific, Europe, North America, Central America and The Caribbean.

In several opportunities, she has served in the General Division of Ceremonial and Protocol where she was the chief of staff of the first woman Chief of Protocol of Chile (2014 – 2016), and Director of Presidential Official Visits Abroad (2021 – 2022). In 2022, she was appointed as Chief of Protocol by H.E. President Gabriel Boric becoming the first indigenous woman to take this position. In this capacity, Ambassador Pakarati worked closely with President Boric, as she was responsible for organizing his state visits abroad and official visits to Chile by presidents, prime ministers, ruling monarchs and other foreign leaders. She was also responsible for relations between the Government and diplomatic and consular missions, as well as international organizations resident in Chile (100).

In 2024, she was appointed as Ambassador of Chile to New Zealand. Her main goal is to continue strengthening the long term friendship between New Zealand and Chile, and to enhance the cultural ties between Rapa Nui, Māori and Pacific peoples. She is also designated as non-resident Ambassador to the Cook Islands, Fiji, Samoa, the Kingdom of Tonga and Niue.

 Ambassador Manahi Pakarati comes from a very traditional family of artists. She grew up surrounded by music, dance and performing arts, and nowadays they are still an important part of her life. She also enjoys a fit lifestyle and daily exercise and love spending time with her family and friends.