Diplomat's debt: MFAT now wants immunity waived

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it has asked the European Union delegation to waive immunity for a diplomat caught up in a tenancy dispute.

The ministry said today that it only intervened in the Tenancy Tribunal matter to fulfil its legal obligations, and it had no position on the facts of the case.

The tribunal ruled against EU deputy head of mission Eva Tvarozkova last month, saying she was liable for $20,000 in unpaid rent and damaged property at a rental property in Wellington.

"In this case, the Ministry was not notified by any of the parties prior to the Tribunal's hearing," an MFAT spokesman said.

"Once notified, in accordance with our legal obligations, the Ministry advised the Tribunal to consider the issue of immunity because at the time of the Tribunal hearing, it was unaware that diplomatic immunity was an issue.

"Once alerted to this fact, the Tribunal ordered a formal hearing to consider the effect of the diplomatic immunity on the case."

A hearing has been scheduled for next month.

The MFAT spokesman it has asked the EU to consider waiving diplomatic immunity.

"But, New Zealand cannot waive diplomatic immunity for another country. This is a decision for the European Union."

One of the landlords of the Karaka Bays property, Matthew Ryan, was angry at the way the case had unravelled and was concerned that he would not get his money back.

"I just don't feel like it's cricket. For them to step in and for her to hide behind some sort of immunity."

Ryan said he had expected a high-ranking diplomat to be a reliable tenant.

"I thought I had the security of a three-year tenure but they left [after eight months] with rent arrears, they caused some damage to the property before they left, gave me no notice of leaving.

"And so effectively I was left high and dry. I thought the Tenancy Act would at least allow me to recover the rental shortfall and the damage.

"And so it's pretty disappointing to hear that when you lease to a diplomat you effectively have none of the provisions that you would normally have it [it were] a normal member of the community."

Earlier today, a spokeswoman for the EU mission said it would not comment on the matter.

According to Tvarozkova's CV, posted online, she is from Slovakia and has been posted in New Zealand since 2014.

It says she speaks fluent English, German, French and Czech, and has a good knowledge of Russian.

She joined the EU in 2008. Before arriving in Wellington, she was political coordinator for relations with New Zealand and Australia in the European External Action Service HQ in Brussels.

Her CV lists her as the negotiations coordinator for the "Partnership Agreement on Relations and Cooperation between the EU and New Zealand".

She made headlines in 2016 with comments that EU farmers could not be blamed for low farmgate milk prices in New Zealand.