List of diplomatic missions of New Zealand

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Countries hosting New Zealand diplomatic missions Diplomatic missions of New Zealand.png
Countries hosting New Zealand diplomatic missions

This is a list of diplomatic missions of New Zealand. New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (NZMFAT) is responsible for nearly fifty embassies and consulates globally. The country is particularly active in the South Pacific, as well as in Asia and South America where it is expanding its commercial reach.

Contents

As New Zealand is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, its diplomatic missions in the capitals of fellow member-states are called High Commissions, as opposed to embassies.

This listing excludes honorary consulates and trade offices, except for the New Zealand Commerce and Industry Office in Taipei, which serves as a de facto embassy to Taiwan.

History

New Zealand independence was a gradual process, and the establishment of an independent New Zealand diplomatic service was similarly gradual. At first, New Zealand's foreign affairs were handled by the United Kingdom, and the only diplomacy conducted by the colonial government in New Zealand were negotiations with the British authorities. Relations between New Zealand and Britain were handled by an Agent-General in London, with the first being appointed in 1871. The title was changed to High Commissioner in 1905, reflecting the increasing autonomy of New Zealand.

It was not until World War II, however, that New Zealand sent permanent diplomatic missions to other countries. To facilitate co-ordination of the war effort New Zealand established several posts in countries with which it was allied—the first was a legation in the United States in 1941. In 1942 and 1943, high commissions were opened in Ottawa and Canberra respectively, and in 1944, a legation was established in the Soviet Union. The latter was considered a striking departure from New Zealand's previous diplomatic activities—enthusiasm for the post was strongest in the governing Labour Party, and the opposition National Party later made its closure one of their campaign policies.

The opening of these posts prompted New Zealand to establish its own foreign ministry, the Department of External Affairs. Created by the External Affairs Act in June 1943, the new department incorporated an older office of the same name (dealing with island territories) and those sections of the Prime Minister's office which had previously co-ordinated diplomacy.

In 1947, a resident trade representative was appointed in Japan, followed by the establishment of legations in Paris (1949) and The Hague (1950). By the late 1950s, these three posts, along with Washington, had been upgraded to embassies. However, the Moscow post was closed in 1950 by the new National Party government. From 1955 to 1961, a string of new missions opened in Asia — Singapore, India, Thailand, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Indonesia. When Samoa obtained its independence from New Zealand in 1962, it became the first Pacific Island state to host a New Zealand diplomatic post.

The mid-1960s saw a cluster of new posts opening in Europe, with new missions in Belgium, Greece, Germany and Italy. A post was also opened in South Vietnam due to the ongoing conflict there, although this did not last beyond the end of the Vietnam War. A post was established in the Cook Islands after they obtained self-government from New Zealand, becoming New Zealand's second mission in the south Pacific.

The 1970s and 1980s were a time of continued expansion for NZMFAT. In 1973, the Labour government of Norman Kirk reopened its embassy in the Soviet Union and opened an embassy in the People's Republic of China. However it was in the Pacific where New Zealand's representation rapidly expanded as several countries gained independence, including Fiji, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Niue, Tonga, and Vanuatu. Frequently New Zealand was the first country to establish a mission in these states. New Zealand also expanded into the Middle East, Latin America, Africa, and elsewhere in Asia.

The early 1990s were a time of substantial reorganisation of New Zealand's diplomatic missions, and saw a number of closures. A substantial redistribution of New Zealand's European resources took place—posts in Greece and Austria were closed, while a new post was established in Spain. New Zealand's post in Iraq was closed due to the Gulf War, and the post in Bahrain was shut shortly afterwards—the post in Saudi Arabia assumed most of its duties, aided by a new post in Turkey. The end of apartheid in resulted in a decision to move New Zealand's post in Zimbabwe to South Africa. In South America New Zealand's embassy in Peru was also closed, but missions were opened in Brazil and Argentina.

In April 2008 it was announced that the budget for NZMFAT would be dramatically increased, and would include the opening of new missions in Stockholm and Brisbane. [1]

Current missions

Africa

Host countryHost cityMissionYear OpenedConcurrent accreditationRef.
Flag of Egypt.svg Egypt Cairo Embassy2006 [2]
Flag of Ethiopia.svg Ethiopia Addis Ababa Embassy2013
International Organizations:
[3] [4]
Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa Pretoria High Commission1996 [3] [5]

Americas

Host countryHost cityMissionYear OpenedConcurrent accreditationRef.
Flag of Argentina.svg Argentina Buenos Aires Embassy1998
Countries:
[6] [7]
Flag of Brazil.svg Brazil Brasília Embassy2001 [6]
São Paulo Consulate-General2022 [6]
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada Ottawa High Commission1942 [6]
Vancouver Consulate General2022 [6]
Flag of Chile.svg Chile Santiago de Chile Embassy1972
Countries:
[6]
Flag of Colombia.svg Colombia Bogotá Embassy2018
Countries:
[6]
Flag of Mexico.svg Mexico Mexico City Embassy1983 [6]
Flag of the United States.svg United States Washington, D.C. Embassy 1941 [6]
Honolulu Consulate-General2014 [6]
Los Angeles Consulate-General1935 [6]
New York City Consulate-General1947 [6]

Asia

Host countryHost cityMissionYear OpenedConcurrent accreditationRef.
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg China Beijing Embassy1973
Countries:
Guangzhou Consulate-General2013
Hong Kong Consulate-General1960
Shanghai Consulate-General1992
Flag of India.svg India New Delhi High Commission1957 [b]
Countries:
Mumbai Consulate-General2019
Flag of Indonesia.svg Indonesia Jakarta Embassy1961 [4]
Flag of Japan.svg Japan Tokyo Embassy1947
Flag of Malaysia.svg Malaysia Kuala Lumpur High Commission1959
Countries:
Flag of Myanmar.svg Myanmar Yangon Embassy2013
Flag of the Philippines.svg Philippines Manila Embassy1975
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Saudi Arabia Riyadh Embassy1985
Countries:
[2]
Flag of Singapore.svg Singapore Singapore High Commission1955
Flag of South Korea.svg South Korea Seoul Embassy1971
Countries:
Flag of Sri Lanka.svg Sri Lanka Colombo High Commission2022
Countries:
[8]
Flag of the Republic of China.svg Taiwan Taipei Commerce & Industry Office 1973 [9]
Flag of Thailand.svg Thailand Bangkok Embassy1956
Countries:
Flag of East Timor.svg Timor-Leste Dili Embassy2000
Flag of Turkey.svg Turkey Ankara Embassy1993 [2]
Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg United Arab Emirates Abu Dhabi Embassy2011
Countries:
[2]
Dubai Consulate-General2007
Flag of Vietnam.svg Vietnam Hanoi Embassy1995
Ho Chi Minh City Consulate-General

Europe

Host countryHost cityMissionYear OpenedConcurrent accreditationRef.
Flag of Austria.svg Austria Vienna Embassy1973 [10]
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium Brussels Embassy1967 [10]
Flag of France.svg France Paris Embassy1949
International Organizations:
[10]
Nouméa, New Caledonia Consulate-General1972 [11]
Flag of Germany.svg Germany Berlin Embassy 1966 [10]
Hamburg Consulate-General2022 [10]
Flag of Ireland.svg Ireland Dublin Embassy2018 [10]
Flag of Italy.svg Italy Rome Embassy1966 [10]
Milan Consulate-General [10]
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Netherlands The Hague Embassy1950 [10]
Flag of Poland.svg Poland Warsaw Embassy2004 [10]
Flag of Russia.svg Russia Moscow Embassy 1944 [c] [10]
Flag of Spain.svg Spain Madrid Embassy1991 [10]
Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden Stockholm Embassy2008 [d] [10]
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland Geneva Consulate-General1961 [12]
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom London High Commission 1871
International Organizations:
[10] [13]

Oceania

Host countryHost cityMissionYear OpenedConcurrent accreditationRef.
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia Canberra High Commission1943 [11]
Melbourne Consulate-General1905 [11] [14]
Sydney Consulate-General1905 [11] [15]
Flag of Fiji.svg Fiji Suva High Commission1970 [11] [5]
Flag of the Cook Islands.svg Cook Islands Avarua High Commission1965 [11]
Flag of Kiribati.svg Kiribati Tarawa High Commission1989 [11]
Flag of Niue.svg Niue Alofi High Commission1974 [11]
Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg Papua New Guinea Port Moresby High Commission1974 [11]
Flag of Samoa.svg Samoa Apia High Commission1962 [11]
Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg Solomon Islands Honiara High Commission1978 [11]
Flag of Tonga.svg Tonga Nukuʻalofa High Commission1977 [11]
Flag of Vanuatu.svg Vanuatu Port Vila High Commission1987 [11] [5]

Multilateral organisations

OrganizationHost CityHost countryMissionYear OpenedConcurrent accreditationRef.
Infobox ASEAN flag.svg Association of Southeast Asian Nations Jakarta Indonesia Mission1961 [16]
Flag of Europe.svg European Union Brussels Belgium Permanent Mission1967
International Organizations:
[17]
Flag of the United Nations.svg United Nations New York City United States Permanent Mission1955 [18]
Geneva Switzerland Permanent Mission1961
International Organizations:
[19]
WTO Logo.svg World Trade Organization Geneva Switzerland Permanent Mission1961 [20]

Closed missions

Africa

Host countryHost cityMissionYear closedRef.
Flag of Zimbabwe.svg Zimbabwe Harare Embassy1998 [21]

Americas

Host countryHost cityMissionYear closedRef.
Flag of Peru.svg Peru Lima Embassy1990 [21]
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada Toronto Consulate-General1982 [21]

Asia

Host countryHost cityMissionYear closedRef.
Flag of Afghanistan (2013-2021).svg Afghanistan Kabul Embassy2014 [21]
Flag of Bahrain.svg Bahrain Manama Embassy1991 [21]
Flag of Iraq.svg Iraq Baghdad Embassy2020 [21] [22]
Flag of Iran.svg Iran Tehran Embassy2025
Flag of Japan.svg Japan Osaka Consulate-General1999 [21]
Flag of South Vietnam.svg South Vietnam Saigon Embassy1975 [21]

Europe

Host countryHost cityMissionYear closedRef.
Flag of Greece.svg Greece Athens Embassy1991 [21]

Oceania

Host countryHost cityMissionYear closedRef.
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia Adelaide Consulate-General1990 [21]
Brisbane Consulate-General2010 [21]
Perth Consulate-General1990 [21]

See also

Notes

  1. Accredited as an observer mission.
  2. Closed between 1982 and 1985
  3. Closed between 1950 and 1973
  4. Closed between 2012 and 2018

References

  1. Young, Audrey (17 April 2008). "Foreign Ministry gets $621m boost". The New Zealand Herald . Retrieved 15 October 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Countries and Regions:Middle East". Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of New Zealand. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  3. 1 2 "Countries and Regions:Africa". Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of New Zealand. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  4. 1 2 "Minister of Foreign Affairs makes three diplomatic appointments". Beehive.gov.nz. 27 July 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  5. 1 2 3 "Minister of Foreign Affairs makes three diplomatic appointments". Beehive.gov.nz. 30 September 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "Countries and Regions:Americas". Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of New Zealand. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  7. "Misiones Diplomáticas Permanentes" (in Spanish). Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uruguay. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  8. "New Zealand High Commission to Sri Lanka". Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of New Zealand. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  9. Office, New Zealand Commerce and Industry. "Home". New Zealand Commerce and Industry Office.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 "Countries and Regions:Europe". Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of New Zealand. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "Countries and Regions:Australia and Pacific". Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of New Zealand. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  12. New Zealand Permanent Mission & Consulate-General in Geneva
  13. "Bede Corry appointed as next High Commissioner to United Kingdom". Devdiscourse. 7 November 2019. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  14. Trade, corporateName= Department of Foreign Affairs and. "The Department - About us - Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade". protocol.dfat.gov.au.
  15. Trade, corporateName= Department of Foreign Affairs and. "The Department - About us - Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade". protocol.dfat.gov.au.
  16. New Zealand Embassy and New Zealand Mission to ASEAN
  17. New Zealand Embassy to Belgium and Mission to the European Union
  18. Permanent Mission to the United Nations, New York
  19. Permanent Mission to the United Nations, and Conference on Disarmament, Geneva
  20. Permanent Mission to the World Trade Organisation, Geneva
  21. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "Our Story". www.mfat.govt.nz.
  22. "Foreign Affairs Minister announces embassy closure in Iraq". The Beehive. Retrieved 27 June 2021.