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Relations between New Zealand and the Philippines are friendly, and increasingly strong. The relationship has become more substantial in recent times with increasing migration and trade flows. The Philippines is an important source country for migrants to New Zealand. Two-way trade totals about NZ$860 million per year. A small but long-standing development assistance partnership adds strength to the bilateral relationship.
The Philippines is a founding nation of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), which New Zealand has been a dialogue partner with since 1975. New Zealand also has a close working relationship with the Philippines in regional and multilateral forums such as APEC, the WTO and the Cairns Group, the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), The ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus, the Forum for East Asia and Latin American Co-operation (FEALAC) and the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM).
The Philippines is one of New Zealand’s top 20 goods export markets, typically fluctuating from 12th to 14th as markets change. It’s currently at number 13, and two-way merchandise trade was about NZ$860million in the year to December 2010. The Philippines is about New Zealand’s third-largest export market for dairy products (behine China and the US and virtually tied with Australia and Japan), which continue to make up over 75 percent of our merchandise exports to the Philippines, with meat and forest products also significant. Key merchandise imports from the Philippines include bananas, other fruits and electronic parts.
The trading relationship is underpinned by cooperation at the official level. The Agreement establishing the ASEAN-New Zealand-Australia Free Trade Area (AANZFTA), which entered into force for trade between New Zealand and the Philippines on 1 January 2010, is facilitating bilateral trade and investment, and will focus further attention on areas of potential commercial opportunity.
Bilateral business councils have been established in both countries, and there have been several business missions in both directions.
Official development assistance is part of the bilateral relationship. The country allocation is currently NZ$4m annually and is focused on complementing ASEAN's community-building goals through the agreed flagship areas of scholarships, disaster risk management, fostering young business leaders and agricultural diplomacy. The embassy in Manila operates a Head of Mission Fund to support small activities that meet development needs in the Philipppines.
New Zealand is developing a strategy for its official development assistance across all ASEAN countries, that will serve as the guiding framework for delivering official development assistance in the Philippines.
A more liberal bilateral air services agreement came into force in April 2009, but are as yet there are no direct flights between New Zealand and the Philippines.
In 2010/11 financial year 806 Filipinos were given visa approval to be full-fee paying students in New Zealand, up from 218 in the previous financial year. There is growing interest in the Philippines towards New Zealand providers, as Filipinos are becoming increasingly aware of education opportunities available in other English-speaking countries outside of the USA.
New Zealand and the Philippines have significant, and growing, people-to-people links. The filipino population in New Zealand is now estimated at up to 35,000. Filipinos are well represented in industries such as dairy production, health care, IT, engineering and manufacturing. New Zealand and the Philippines have agreed to negotiate a working holiday scheme, which would be a first for the Philippines.
The lack of direct air links is a disincentive to Philippine tourists visiting New Zealand, but over time permanent migration can be expected to increase visitor numbers. 8,240 Filipinos visited New Zealand in the year to December 2010, up 9% on the previous year. 12,810 New Zealanders visited the Philippines over the same period - a 31% incerase from 2009.
A labour cooperation agreement between New Zealand and the Philippines entered into force in June 2009. Under the agreement New Zealand and the Philippines have agreed to cooperate on labour matters of mutual interest and benefit, and to undertake specific cooperative activities. Relevant agencies are currently in the process of identifying activities.
A bilateral environmental cooperation agreement entered into force in 2009. Under the agreement New Zealand and the Philippines have agreed to cooperate on environmental issues including sustainable management, air and water quality management and climate change. Relevant agencies are currently in the process of identifying specific activities. Relevant agencies are currently in the process of identifying activities.
A bilateral arrangement on enhanced cooperation between New Zealand and Philippine law enforcement was signed in 2007. A number of activities, funded through means such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade's Asian Security Fund and official development assistance (aid programme), have been undertaken under the arrangement. These include clandestine drug laboratory training and contributions to the Philippine National Police's "model police stateion" initiative.
The New Zealand Human Rights Commission recently completed a project supporting the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines to educate and reduce human rights abuses in three indigenous communities.
Name |
The Philippines |
Official name |
Republic of the Philippines |
Land area |
300,000 sq km |
Population |
98 million (2009 estimate), 12th in the world |
Capital city |
Manila |
Population growth rate |
1.96% (2009), but unofficially thought to be higher |
Life expectancy at birth |
71 (133rd in the world) |
Religion |
Roman Catholic (81%) Protestant and other Christian (11%) Muslim (5%) Other (3%) |
Language |
Filipino and English are the official languages but there are 8 other major and many minor dialects in everyday use. |
Currency |
Philippine peso |
Exchange rate |
NZ$1 = 32 Philippine pesos (September 2010) |
Political system |
Pluralist democracy modelled on the United States, with an executive presidency, a bicameral Congress and a Supreme Court that can rule on the constitutionality of government actions. |
National legislature |
Bicameral Congress - Senate and House of Representatives. |
National elections |
The May 2010 election was for the Presidency, the House of Representatives and one half of the Senate. Mid-term elections for the House of Representatives and one half of the Senate were held in May 2013. |
National government |
President Benigno S Aquino III won the May 2010 presidential election and was inaugurated on 30 June 2010 for a term of six years. |
Head of state |
President: Benigno S Aquino III |
Key ministers* |
Vice-President: Jejomar Binay Foreign Affairs: Alberto del Rosario Finance: Cesar Purisima National Defense: Voltaire Gazmin Justice: Leila de Lima Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process: Teresita Quinto-Deles Agriculture: Proceso Alcala Trade and Industry: Gregory Domingo Budget and Management: Florencio Abad |
*The Cabinet system is based on the US model. Departments are headed by Secretaries appointed by the President.
(Source: The Economist Intelligence Unit, March 2011)
GDP |
US$188.7 billion (2010) |
GDP per capita (PPP) |
US$ 3,504 (2010 estimate) |
Real GDP growth |
US$7.3% (2010) |
Exports of goods fob |
US$52 billion (2010 estimate) |
Main exports |
Semi conductors and electronic products, transport equipment, garments, copper products, petroleum products, coconut oil, fruits |
Main destinations of exports |
China , US, Japan, Hong Kong |
Imports of goods fob |
US$62 billion (2010 estimate) |
Main imports |
Electronic products, mineral fuels, machinery and transport equipment, iron and steel, textile fabrics, grains, chemicals, plastic |
Main origins of imports |
Japan, US, China, Singapore |
Current account balance |
US$8.2 billion (2009 estimate) |
Inflation |
4.1% (2009) |
New Zealand exports (FOB) |
NZ$729 million (for year ending December 2010) |
New Zealand’s top five goods exported |
Milk powder: $275 |
New Zealand imports (cif) |
NZ$131 million (for year ending December 2010) |
New Zealand’s top four imports from the Philippines |
Bananas: $58m |
Office location:
23rd floor, BPI Buendia Center, 360 Senator Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City, 1200
Postal address: PO Box 3228, MCPO, Makati City 1272
Office hours: Monday to Friday: 0800-1630
Tel:(+63) 2 891 5358
Fax:(+63) 2 891 5357
Email: nzemmanila@globelines.com.ph
New Zealand Embassy Manila, Philippines [external link].
50 Hobson Street, Thorndon
PO Box 12042
Wellington
New Zealand
Tel:(+64) 4 472 9848
Fax:(+64) 4 472 5710
Email: embassy@wellington-pe.co.nz
Embassy of the Philippines, Wellington [external link].
The Safetravel website provides a travel advisory for travellers to the Philippines [external link].
Enquiries may be directed to Consular Division at the following numbers:
Tel: +64 4 439 8000
Fax: +64 4 439 8532.
