The foreign relations of New Zealand are oriented chiefly toward developed democratic nations and emerging Pacific Island economies. Until the late 20th century, New Zealand aligned itself strongly with the United Kingdom and had few bilateral relationships with other countries. From the latter half of the 20th century, Australia has been New Zealand's most important cultural, economic and military partner. Today, the country participates in several multilateral political organisations, including Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, the Pacific Community, and the Pacific Islands Forum. New Zealand has been described as an emerging power; however, such a claim needs to be considered in the context of its medium-sized economy and limited military capability. The country's major political parties have generally agreed on the broad outlines of foreign policy, and the government has been active in promoting free trade, nuclear disarmament, and arms control.
Rosemary Banks is a New Zealand diplomat who served as the Ambassador of New Zealand to the United States between 2018 and 2022. She is the first woman to hold the position.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) (Māori: Manatū Aorere) is the public service department of New Zealand charged with advising the government on foreign and trade policy, and promoting New Zealand's interests in trade and international relations.
Lionel John Wood is a former New Zealand diplomat and a former chancellor of the University of Canterbury. He was Deputy Secretary of Foreign Affairs, and served two separate terms as New Zealand's Ambassador to the United States in Washington.
Terence Christopher O'Brien was a New Zealand diplomat. He led New Zealand in 1993 to a seat on the United Nations Security Council and played a strong role in helping to reshape New Zealand's perceptions of itself as a small but fiercely independent nation in the South Pacific.
Roy Neil Ferguson,, is the former New Zealand Ambassador to the United States. He was replaced by former New Zealand Prime Minister and Director-General of the World Trade Organization Mike Moore in 2010. Ferguson replaced John Wood in the role in 2006. He was Director of the Americas Division in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade from 2002 to 2005, and has served on the Boards of the New Zealand-United States Council, Fulbright New Zealand, the Ian Axford Fellowships, and the New Zealand Centre for Latin American Studies. Ferguson previously served in Washington as Deputy Chief of Mission between 1991 and 1995. From 1999 to 2002 he served as the New Zealand Ambassador to South Korea and concurrently served as Ambassador to North Korea from 2001. He has also served in Manila and Canberra.
Brook Barrington is a New Zealand public servant and former diplomat. He was appointed chief executive of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC) in February 2019 and was previously chief executive of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT).
The New Zealand Aid Programme is the New Zealand Government's international aid and development agency. The New Zealand Aid Programme is managed by the Pacific and Development Group in the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT). Previously a semi-autonomous body known as the New Zealand Agency for International Development (NZAID), it was reintegrated back into MFAT as the International Development Group following a restructure in 2009. Its Māori name is Nga Hoe Tuputupu-mai-tawhiti – the paddles that bring growth from afar. The Head of the New Zealand Aid Programme is Jonathan Kings, a lawyer and public servant. According to the OECD, 2020 official development assistance from New Zealand decreased by 5.2% to US$531 million, representing 0.27% of gross national income.
New Zealand–Russia relations are the bilateral foreign relations between New Zealand and the Russian Federation. New Zealand has an embassy in Moscow and an honorary consulate in Vladivostok. Russia has an embassy in Wellington. Both countries are members of APEC.
New Zealand is party to several free trade agreements (FTAs) worldwide.
The Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement (TPSEP), also known as P4, is a trade agreement between four Pacific Rim countries concerning a variety of matters of economic policy. The agreement was signed by Brunei, Chile, Singapore and New Zealand in 2005 and entered into force in 2006. It is a comprehensive trade agreement, affecting trade in goods, rules of origin, trade remedies, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers to trade, trade in services, intellectual property, government procurement and competition policy. Among other things, it called for reduction by 90 percent of all tariffs between member countries by 1 January 2006, and reduction of all trade tariffs to zero by the year 2015.
Edward Richard Woods, is a New Zealand diplomat and public servant. He is currently Chair of the Board of the Environmental Risk Management Authority, a New Zealand Government Agency that ensures compliance with the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act – HSNO Act 1996. He took over as chairman on the retirement of Neil Walter.
Grzegorz Kowal is a Polish diplomat, who since 2020 is serving as the Polish ambassador to New Zealand.
Peter Kennedy was New Zealand Ambassador to South Korea from 1993 to 1995, following three years as foreign policy adviser to Prime Minister Jim Bolger. During this period Korean visitors to New Zealand jumped from 27,300 to 104,400. He was later New Zealand Ambassador to the EU, NATO, Belgium and Luxembourg from 2007 until August 2011. Whilst in Brussels, he was cross accredited as Ambassador to Romania and became New Zealand's first Ambassador to Bulgaria. In his NATO capacity he undertook an official visit to Afghanistan with other NATO/ISAF ambassadors in 2009. As Ambassador to the EU he was instrumental in beginning the process that led to the EU/NZ Free Trade Agreement concluded in June 2022. The New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Adern confirmed on 30 June 2022 that it "had taken 14 years” since the idea was first floated >//.
New Zealand–Ukraine relations are the foreign relations between New Zealand and Ukraine. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, New Zealand formally established diplomatic relations with Ukraine in March 1992. The two countries subsequently expanded diplomatic contacts and economic relations over the next three decades. Following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, New Zealand supported Ukraine by condemning Russia's actions and providing diplomatic and military assistance.
The Embassy of New Zealand in Warsaw is the diplomatic mission of New Zealand in Poland. The embassy is located in the city of Warsaw, Poland, at 51 Ujazdów Avenue. The current ambassador of New Zealand to Poland is Alana Hudson.
