Olena Grabb Appointed as Honorary Consul for Ukraine
Olena Grabb has been appointed as Ukraine's Honorary Consul in Dunedin, New Zealand. This appointment follows the opening of Ukraine's most distant consulate, located roughly 18,000 kilometers from Kyiv, one month ago. Grabb, an art consultant and co-founder of Magenta Art Books publishing, will focus on fostering institutional cooperation, countering Russian disinformation, and supporting the Ukrainian community in New Zealand. This diplomatic move strengthens Ukraine's presence in the Pacific region, an area of growing strategic importance.
The role of honorary consul is a voluntary, unpaid position. Olena Grabb stated she will concentrate on developing institutional cooperation at the level of state bodies. She emphasized the critical need to explain the war's impact on the Pacific region, particularly in the context of Russian disinformation campaigns targeting Māori and Pacific Island communities.
“I explain how this war affects the Pacific region” - Olena Grabb
Olena Grabb graduated with honors from the Law Faculty of Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, specializing in constitutional and administrative law. She also received a British Council grant and studied international commercial arbitration at the University of Edinburgh. Her expertise will be instrumental in implementing plans for Dunedin, which include forging partnerships with Ukrainian UNESCO Cities of Literature and the Ukrainian Book Institute, as well as realizing large-scale projects and grants.
Cultural Initiatives and Community Support
Dunedin is a UNESCO City of Literature, and Olena Grabb intends to leverage this designation to promote Ukrainian culture in New Zealand. She stressed that the new generation should have an alternative to the influence of classic authors like Dostoevsky and become acquainted with Ukrainian writers, including Gogol, whom she considers a 'profoundly Ukrainian writer'.
Olena Grabb and her family experienced the full-scale invasion while in Germany, relocating to New Zealand in early 2025. Her appointment as honorary consul was signed by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha. The first Honorary Consul of Ukraine in New Zealand was Oleksandr Kyrychuk, appointed in 2021, but he was dismissed from the position at the start of the full-scale invasion.
Olena Grabb also highlighted the importance of supporting the Ukrainian community in New Zealand, noting that “all my Ukrainian friends who went to war did so as volunteers—both in 2014 and in 2022.” She emphasized that New Zealanders serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine are volunteers, as “with the level of salaries in New Zealand, you can only go to war in Ukraine out of conviction.” Grabb added that “we pay the rent from our family budget, so it really is a second home—open and hospitable.”
The new consul's tasks include countering the wave of Russian disinformation, seeking business partners across various sectors from defense to agriculture, and supporting members of Ukrainian communities. Olena Grabb's plans encompass establishing institutional links, implementing large-scale projects and grants, and recommending Ukrainian authors such as historians Yaroslav Hrytsak and Serhii Plokhy. Her active involvement during the Maidan and after the full-scale invasion, including aiding refugee reception and rescuing artists, demonstrates her commitment to the cause.
The appointment of Olena Grabb as Honorary Consul in Dunedin marks a significant step in strengthening Ukraine's position in the Pacific region and supporting its community in New Zealand. It opens new avenues for cultural exchange, promoting the development of Ukrainian culture, and combating disinformation that can influence perceptions of the war abroad. The consulate's activities in Dunedin could become a vital stage in shaping international support for Ukraine during the ongoing conflict.
As Ukraine expands its diplomatic reach, the recent establishment of its most remote consulate in New Zealand marks a significant step in international relations. This initiative not only highlights the growing importance of the Pacific region but also underscores the efforts to combat misinformation. For more insights on how this new consulate will operate and its broader implications, read more about Ukraine's latest diplomatic initiatives in New Zealand.