Austria

Bilateral relationship

New Zealand's relations with Austria, although not extensive, are good. New Zealand opened a full Embassy in Vienna in January 2011. The Embassy is co-located within New Zealand's existing Permanent Mission to the UN in Vienna.

Although the Austrian community in New Zealand has been small, it has left its mark in exploration (through place names given in the last century, eg Franz Josef Glacier) and in the early development of skiing.

New Zealand's trade with Austria is small, and heavily in Austria's favour. New Zealand is seen as a favourable market in Austria, and Austrian exporters have shown an increasing degree of interest in the New Zealand market as they attempt to diversify globally.

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Key facts

Geography/Demographics

Land Area - 83,859 sq km
Population - 8.2 million
Capital City  - Vienna
Language  - German

Political

Political system - Federal republic of nine independent states
National government - Grand Coalition of the Social Democratic Party (SPÖ - senior partner) and the Austrian Peoples' Party (ÖVP - junior partner)
National legislature - National Assembly (bicameral)
Last election - September 2008
Next election due - Federal: September 2013 Presidential: April 2010
Head of State - President Dr Heinz Fischer (since 8 July 2004)
Head of Government - Chancellor Werner Faymann (SPÖ) (since 2 December 2008)

Economic (2009 est)

GDP US$382.7 billion
Real GDP growth - 3.6%
Exports US$138.8 billion
Imports US$143.5 billion
Main exports Machinery, motor vehicles, chemicals, metal goods, oil and oil products, foodstuffs
Current account balance US$3 billion
Inflation 0.4%
Unemployment 5.0%

New Zealand Trade (year ended Dec 2009)

NZ Exports (FOB) NZ$28.733 million
Main Exports Meat, electrical machinery, pharmaceuticals
NZ Imports (CIF) NZ$161.129 million
Main Imports Machinery, vehicles, electrical machinery, beverages, pharmaceuticals

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Visits

New Zealand Ministerial Visits to Austria

• Hon Chris Finlayson, Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage and Attorney General, November 2010
• Hon Simon Power, Minister of Justice, June 2010
• Hon Murray McCully, Minister of Foreign Affairs, November 2009
• Rt Hon Winston Peters, Minister of Foreign Affairs, April 2006
• Hon Phil Goff, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, September 2003
• Hon Jim Anderton, Minister for Economic Development, April 2003
• Hon Simon Upton, Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, October 1998
• Dr Lockwood Smith, Minister for International Trade, April 1998

Austrian Ministerial Visits to New Zealand

• Dr Martin Bartenstein, Minister of the Environment, January 1999
• Dr Johann Farnleitner, Minister for the Economy, August 1997

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Representation

• The New Zealand Ambassador to Austria, resident in Vienna .

• The Austrian Ambassador to Australia is accredited to New Zealand.

Travel advice

The Safetravel website provides a travel advisory for travellers to Austria [external link].

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