Japan-New Zealand Relations
Japan-New Zealand Relations (Basic Data)
As partners in the Asia-Pacific region who share fundamental values including democracy and a market economy, Japan and New Zealand have maintained good relations for many years. In particular, in 2013, the foreign ministers of Japan and New Zealand issued a joint statement on a Strategic Cooperative Partnership, laying the foundations for further strengthening the relationship between the two countries.
In July 2014, Prime Minister Abe paid a visit to New Zealand, the first visit to the country by a Japanese Prime Minister in 12 years. Prime Minister Abe and Prime Minister Key issued a joint press release on enhancing cooperation between the two countries, in which they confirmed that Japan would strengthen its bilateral cooperation with New Zealand, as strategic cooperative partner in the Asia-Pacific region, in areas including the economy, security and defence cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges, as well as cooperating on issues involving the region and the international community as a whole.
In April 2022, Prime Minister Kishida and Prime Minister Ardern concurred to further strengthen the Strategic Cooperative Partnership between Japan and New Zealand to realize a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific”, and launched formal negotiations for a Japan-New Zealand Information Security Agreement to enhance information sharing between the two countries. In June 2024, Prime Minister Kishida and Prime Minister Luxon welcomed the agreement in principle in the negotiations of the Information Security Agreement and concurred to strengthen cooperation in economic security, including addressing economic coercion and enhancing supply chain resilience.
History of Japan-New Zealand Exchange
| Year | Name |
|---|---|
| 1928 | Provisional Arrangement between Japan and New Zealand Concerning Commerce, Customs and Navigation (the first treaty signed by New Zealand since becoming a self-governing dominion). |
| 1938 | Japanese consulate established in Wellington. |
| 1952 | New Zealand legation established in Tokyo. |
| 1953 | Japanese legation established in New Zealand. |
| 1955 | Visit to Japan by Prime Minister Sidney Holland (the first by a New Zealand premier). |
| 1957 | Visit to New Zealand by Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi (the first by a Japanese premier). |
| 1958 | Agreement on Commerce between Japan and New Zealand. |
| 1963 | Convention between Japan and New Zealand for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income. |
| 1967 | Japanese consulate established in Auckland. |
| 1970 | Arrangement between the Government of Japan and the Government of New Zealand Concerning Reciprocal Waiving of Passport Visas and Passport Visa Fees. |
| 1971 | Japanese consular office in Auckland upgraded to consulate-general status. |
| 1978 | Agreement on Fisheries between the Government of Japan and the Government of New Zealand. |
| 1980 | Agreement between Japan and New Zealand for Air Services. |
| 1985 | Agreement between Japan and New Zealand for Working Holidays. |
| 2007 | Agreement between New Zealand and Japan on Petroleum Stocks Contracts. |
| 2008 | Authorised Economic Operator Mutual Recognition Arrangement. |
| 2009 | Agreement between New Zealand and Japan on Cooperation in Science and Technology. |
| 2013 | Joint statement on Strategic Cooperative Partnership issued. |
VIP Visits
| Year | Name |
|---|---|
| 1955 | Prime Minister Sidney Holland |
| 1959 | Prime Minister Walter Nash |
| 1960 | Prime Minister Keith Holyoake |
| 1965 | Prime Minister Keith Holyoake |
| 1968 | Prime Minister Keith Holyoake |
| 1970 | Prime Minister Keith Holyoake |
| 1976 | Prime Minister Robert Muldoon |
| 1981 | Prime Minister Robert Muldoon |
| 1990 | Prime Minister Geoffrey Palmer |
| 1993 | Prime Minister James Bolger |
| 1995 | Prime Minister James Bolger |
| 1996 | Prime Minister James Bolger |
| 1998 | Prime Minister Jenny Shipley |
| 1999 | Prime Minister Jenny Shipley |
| 2001 | Prime Minister Helen Clark |
| 2005 | Prime Minister Helen Clark |
| 2008 | Prime Minister Helen Clark |
| 2009 | Prime Minister John Key |
| 2010 | Prime Minister John Key |
| 2011 | Prime Minister John Key |
| 2012 | Prime Minister John Key |
| 2015 | Prime Minister John Key |
| 2017 | Prime Minister Bill English |
| 2019 | Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern |
| 2022 | Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern |
| 2024 | Prime Minister Christopher Luxon |
| Year | Name |
|---|---|
| 1957 | Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi |
| 1963 | Prime Minister Hayato Ikeda |
| 1967 | Prime Minister Eisaku Sato |
| 1971 | Prince and Princess Mikasa |
| 1973 | The Crown Prince and Princess (the current Emperor and Empress) |
| 1974 | Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka |
| 1980 | Prime Minister Masayoshi Ohira |
| 1980 | Prince Akishino |
| 1982 | Prince Katsura |
| 1985 | Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone |
| 1993 | Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa |
| 1997 | Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto |
| 2002 | Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi |
| 2002 | The Crown Prince and Princess |
| 2006 | The Crown Prince and Princess |
| 2014 | Prime Minister Shinzo Abe |
Bilateral Meetings
Japan and New Zealand hold consultations as required through ministerial-level visits and other contacts. They also conduct a variety of government-level forums, including foreign ministry consultations and economic consultations at senior official level.
Economic Relations
(1) Trade
In the area of trade, Japan is New Zealand's fourth largest trading partner after China,Australia, and the United States.
- (A) Japan's Exports to New Zealand
- Total exports in 2023: NZ$5,207 million
Principal export items:
Vehicles: $3,013 million
Mineral fuels and oils: $731 million
Mechanical machinery: $675 million
New Zealand miscellaneous provisions: $141 million
Electrical machinery and equipment: $124 million
(Statistics New Zealand, 2023)
- (B) Japan's Imports from New Zealand
- Total imports in 2023: NZ$3.793 million
Principal import items:
Dairy: $730 million
Aluminium: $572 million
Fruits and nuts: $501 million
Meat and edible offal: $359 million
Albuminoids, starches and glues: $334 million
(Statistics New Zealand, 2023)
(2) Investment
Japanese direct investment in New Zealand has reached a cumulative total of NZ$8.455 billion in the year to March 2024 (Statistics New Zealand, 2024).
(3) Tourism
The number of Japanese tourists visiting New Zealand was 51,976 in 2023. Meanwhile, 50,761 New Zealand tourists visited Japan in 2023 (Statistics New Zealand, 2023).
Number of Nationals Resident in Each Country
As of 2023 there were 20,620 Japanese nationals living in New Zealand(MOFA,2023). There were 3,441 New Zealanders registered as living in Japan as of 2023(MOJ, 2023).
Educational and Cultural Exchange, etc.
(1) Japan-New Zealand Cultural Exchange
The main channels for cultural and sporting exchange between Japan and New Zealand are the Japan Foundation, local governments and the private sector. Each year a variety of events are staged in New Zealand to introduce Japanese culture.
(2) The JET Program
The Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program is a joint project run by the Japanese Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs and Telecommunications, and Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and local government bodies. Its purpose is to bring young people from other countries to Japan to work as Assistant Language Teachers (ALT), Coordinators for International Relations (CIR) and in other capacities. 3599 New Zealanders have so far participated in the program as ALTs or CIRs since the beginning of the Program in 1987. The JET program has made an important contribution to the promotion of friendly relations between Japan and New Zealand in grassroots level.
(3) Japanese Language Teaching in New Zealand
In both New Zealand and Australia, Japanese is taught extensively at the secondary and tertiary levels of education. In 2020 approximately 12,000 primary and secondary students were studying Japanese, the most popular Asian language learned in New Zealand at the time (Ministry of Education, 2020). Japan Foundation activities in this area include the dispatch of Japanese teaching experts, study programs in Japan for New Zealanders working as Japanese teachers, the donation of teaching materials, and Japanese proficiency testing.
(4) Japanese Students Studying in New Zealand
The number of Japanese students studying in New Zealand, including short-term (less than three months) visitors attending language courses, is 6,894 in 2023 (Education New Zealand, 2023) . As a provider of foreign students, Japan ranks third place behind China and India.
(5) Sister Cities
The first sister-city relationship between the cities of Japan and New Zealand was formed between Christchurch and Kurashiki in 1973. Exchange activities at the regional city level have expanded considerably since that time, and at present there are 44 sister city relationships between Japan and New Zealand.
(6) The Asia New Zealand Foundation
The Asia New Zealand Foundation, succeeding the Asia 2000 Foundation originally established under the auspice of the New Zealand government in 1994, undertakes a variety of activities designed to inform New Zealanders about Asia and promote the acquisition of skills needed to foster mutual understanding and closer relations. Activities relating to Japan include the provision of subsidies to enable New Zealand business people in Japan to learn Japanese and financial assistance for research in New Zealand by Japanese scholars.