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The New Zealand-Australia relationship is a uniquely close one, underpinned by geography, shared history, values, and institutions. Migration, trade, and other people-to-people linkages have helped shape a strong trans-Tasman sense of identity.
At a political level, the relationship that New Zealand has with Australia (and vice versa) is better developed and more extensive than with any other country. The Prime Ministers hold formal talks annually; Foreign Ministers meet twice yearly; and the Finance, Trade and Defence Ministers meet annually. Across a range of portfolios, New Zealand Ministers (and their senior officials) frequently participate in Australian Federal/State Ministerial Council meetings.
Australia and New Zealand work closely on a wide range of foreign policy and trade issues. This is particularly so in the South Pacific, East Asia and in multilateral organisations, such as the United Nations and the World Trade Organisation. There is ongoing consultation and coordination both between capitals and diplomatic posts overseas.
The fifth Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum was held in Wellington recently (June 2008), and attended by senior government ministers, business, media, academic and public sector representatives from both sides of the Tasman Sea.
The Leadership Forum plays a major role in bringing together key stakeholders from business, government, academia, and the media to sustain and invigorate the relationship, and to explore its future development.
The Forum was co-chaired by business leaders John Allen (New Zealand) and Rod McGeoch (Australia). Topics discussed included political and economic ties, climate change, changing demographics, trade and strategic issues affecting the two countries.
New Zealand and Australia work together very closely across a broad range of foreign, trade, aid, and security policy issues to promote shared interests, and to maximise our impact regionally and internationally.
At the political level, Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard led a large Australian delegation including six government ministers.
New Zealand’s ministerial delegation included Deputy Prime Minister Dr Michael Cullen, Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Trade Minister Phil Goff.
Prime Minister Helen Clark made a speech to the official Leadership Forum dinner at Government House:
As part of the programme, a wreath-laying ceremony was held at the National War Memorial.
The New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs supported the Leadership Forum in its capacity as forum secretariat.
For further information, see Minister Peters’ media release announcing the Forum [beehive.govt.nz].
For photos of Forum sessions see our Photo Gallery
The Australia- New Zealand Closer Economic Relationship Free Trade Agreement (ANZCERTA), commonly known as CER, has been described by the World Trade Organisation as the world's most comprehensive, effective and mutually compatible free trade agreement. Read the background to CER and related areas. more
CER has proved to be a remarkable success, but both governments have agered that the trade and economic relationship should continue in a dynamic way, adapting to the changing requirements of business in an increasingly inter-dependent world. In this light, the New Zealand and Australian Governments have committed to explore a long-term vision for a seamless trans-Tasman business environment – a Single Economic Market.more
Since 2004, Ministers, senior business representatives, academics and public sector and other community leaders from Australia and New Zealand have met annually at the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum. The 2008 Leadership Forum was held on June 13 and 14 in Wellington. more
Australia is New Zealand’s closest and most important security partner. The two countries have a long tradition of cooperation in defence, including in major conflicts and peace-keeping operations around the world. more
New Zealand and Australian Defence Ministers met most recently in Sydney in March 2007. Article by Hon Phil Goff [beehive.govt.nz]
A long history of arrangements, collectively known as the Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement, allow Australians and New Zealanders to visit, reside, and work in each other's countries without restriction. The New Zealand High Commission in Canberra provides comprehensive information for New Zealanders on travelling to and living in Australia more
New Zealand has a High Commission in Canberra. We also have Consulate-General offices in Sydney and Melbourne. The New Zealand Immigrations service, Passport office, Police, Customs, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise and Tourism New Zealand all have a presence in the Sydney office. A Consulate-General is to be established in Brisbane in the second half of 2008.
Read our travel advisory for Australia [external link].
