Canada-New Zealand relations
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Bilateral relations
New Zealand is an important, like-minded partner for Canada on a broad range of issues, including security and defence (notably through the Five Eyes); international trade; counterterrorism; human rights and humanitarian policy; Indigenous issues; international fisheries and oceans governance; and culture.
New Zealand has a strong commitment to multilateralism and is one of the first countries to which Canada turns when seeking support for priorities in the United Nations (UN); the Commonwealth; the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum; and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Regional Forum. These close links are further strengthened under the informal Canada-Australia-New Zealand (CANZ) co-operation arrangement within the UN.
In New Zealand, Canada is represented by the High Commission of Canada in Wellington. Canada also has a Consulate/Trade Office in Auckland. New Zealand is represented in Canada by a High Commission in Ottawa and a Consulate General in Vancouver.
Canada formally established diplomatic relations with the Cook Islands and Niue, both self-governing states in free association with New Zealand, through the formal exchange of diplomatic notes in 2023.
As a major player in the South Pacific, New Zealand assists Canada in understanding regional developments and providing practical support, as Canada does reciprocally in the Caribbean and Africa, where New Zealand has limited representation.
New Zealand’s Māori and Canada’s First Nations and Inuit Peoples share a special relationship and are engaged in a broad range of business and cultural exchanges.
According to the 2023 New Zealand census, 12,894 people who live in New Zealand were born in Canada. The 2021 Canadian census shows 17,755 people who live in Canada claimed ethnic origin from New Zealand.
Canadian and New Zealand institutions have numerous MOUs in the area of academic and student mobility. In 2023, there were 175 study permit holders from New Zealand in Canada.
Trade relations
New Zealand is a reliable and complementary trade partner for Canada, and the two countries cooperate closely in multilateral trade negotiations, notably as parties to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and members of the World Trade Organization (WTO), and through the Cairns group of agricultural exporters. In 2024, bilateral merchandise trade between Canada and New Zealand totaled $1.6 billion. Canadian exports to New Zealand were valued at $450 million, and top exports were machinery, electrical and electronic machinery and equipment, aircrafts and parts, and wood and wood articles. Imports were valued at $1.13 billion and top imports were meat, beverages, dairy & related, machinery, and fruits and nuts. Bilateral services trade in 2022 was valued at $459 million, with Canadian exports accounting for $319 million of that total. In 2023, Canadian direct investment into New Zealand totalled $844 million whereas New Zealand’s foreign direct investment into Canada was $713 million.
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Partnerships and organizations
To develop effective responses to today’s most pressing global challenges, Canada and New Zealand work closely in multilateral fora and through initiatives such as:
- Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
- Commonwealth
- Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
- Global Trade and Gender Arrangement
- Inclusive Trade Action Group (ITAG)
- Indigenous Peoples Economic and Trade Cooperation Arrangement (IPECTA)
- International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
- International Criminal Court (ICC)
- International Monetary Fund (IMF)
- Open Government Partnership (OGP)
- Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
- Pacific Alliance
- Pacific Islands Forum Dialogue Partner (PIF)
- Partners in the Blue Pacific (PBP)
- United Nations (UN)
- United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
- Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC)
- World Health Organization (WHO)
- World Trade Organization (WTO)
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