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New Zealand and the Maldives share an interest in small island states issues – New Zealand because of its South Pacific connections. Climate change is an increasingly important common concern.
The Commonwealth link between New Zealand and the Maldives is an important one, as it helps maintains the Maldives links with other small island states in the Caribbean and South Pacific.
Diplomatic relations between New Zealand and the Maldives were announced on 10 October 1974. The New Zealand High Commissioner in Singapore is accredited to the Maldives. The Maldives does not have any diplomatic representation in New Zealand.
On 1 May 2001 New Zealand appointed an Honorary Consul in the Maldives, Ahmed Saleem, a Maldivian architect/businessman who graduated from Auckland University in 1974.
A number of Maldivian Government Ministers have visited New Zealand over the years, the most recent being the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, Mohamed Hussain, in 2002.
The most recent senior visit from New Zealand to the Maldives was by then-Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon Phil Goff in 2005 (following the tsunami).
Land Area - 300 sq km over 1191 islands
Population - 300,000 (2006)
Capital City - Male'
Religion - Sunni Muslim
Language - Maldivian Dhivehi (dialect of Sinhala, a script derived from Arabic). English spoken by most government officials
Currency - Maldivian Rufiyaa (Rf)
Exchange Rate - US$1 = Rf 12.8 (2005) (pegged since 2001)
Political system - Republic with a parliamentary-styled government, but as a result of the referendum held in August 2007, this changed to a presidential system.
National legislature - Comprises the President and a unicameral People’s Council or Majlis (50 seats – 42 elected by popular vote, 8 appointed by President)
Last election - 28 October 2008 (Presidential)
Next election due - Majlis (parliamentary) elections in May 2009. Legislative Elections in 2010
Head of State - President Mohamed Nasheed (elected 2008)
Head of Government - President Mohamed Nasheed (the president is both the Head of State and Head of Government)
Key Ministers:
Defence – Ameen Faisal
Finance & Treasury – Ali Hashim
Home Affairs – Gasim Ibrahim
Foreign Affairs – Dr Ahmed Shaheed
Main political parties:
Dhivehi Raiyyethunge Party
Maldivian Democratic Party
Adhaalath (Justice) Party
Islamic Democratic Party
Maldivian Social Democratic Party
Maldivian National Congress
GDP (ppp)* - US$1.716 billion (2008 est)
GDP Per Capita (ppp)* - US$4,400 (2008 est)
Real GDP Growth* - 5.7% (2008 est)
Exports** - US$ 113 million (2008 est)
Major market - Thailand, United Kingdom, France and Italy (2008)
Imports** - US$ 1.276 billion (2008, FOB)
Major suppliers - Singapore - the United Arab Emirates - India - Malaysia - Thailand
Main exports - Tourism, fish and fish products, boatbuilding and shipping, coconut processing, handicrafts (2008) -
Main imports - Fuel, ships, food, clothing (2008)
Inflation - 12.8% (consumer prices, 2008 est)
*Figures from International Monetary Fund
**Current figures unavailable
NZ Exports (FOB)* - NZ$21 million (December 2008)
Products - Prefabricated buildings, iron and steel articles, wood products, dairies
NZ Imports (CIF)* - NZ$0 (June 2008)
*Figures from Statistics New Zealand
New Zealand and the Maldives have worked closely together at the United Nations on issues related to climate change and its relationship with human rights. The Maldives is particularly low-lying and faces climate change problems similar to those confronting small islands states in the Pacific.
New Zealand exports into the Maldives for the year to December 2008 totalled some NZ$21 million (up from $17 million in 2007).
Imports in the same year were officially negligible, but the true value of New Zealand origin goods exported to the Maldives may be more substantial in practice. Many products are imported into the Maldives from suppliers in Singapore, and to a lesser extent Sri Lanka, and are not captured in New Zealand’s export statistics.
Under the Colombo Plan, which started in 1951, students from the Maldives obtained tertiary and professional qualifications from New Zealand universities. Some of these students are now senior members of the Maldives Government.
The current relationship with New Zealand is focused mainly on development assistance, particularly education. Candidates from the Maldives are eligible for NZAID-funded New Zealand Development Scholarships (NZDS) and Commonwealth Scholarships schemes. All scholarships are postgraduate and are linked to NZAID priority sectors: sustainable rural livelihoods, basic education, primary health, governance, trade and development, conflict prevention and peace building. NZAID has awarded five scholarships to the Maldives this year.
Following the 2004 tsunami, the New Zealand Agency for International Development, NZAID, provided over $1.5 million for reconstruction and relief activities. This assistance included approximately $1 million to the Commonwealth Secretariat.
The New Zealand High Commission in Singapore administers a Head of Mission Fund that is used to fund small development projects in the Maldives. Grants from the fund are made to non-Government and community-based groups for projects such as the construction of pre-schools, installation of water tanks, purchase of library books, health awareness initiatives and language training.
The Safe Travel website provides a travel advisory for travellers to Maldives [external link].
