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New Zealand and Finland have similar attitudes towards many international issues, including security, disarmament and the environment. The geographical distance between the two countries, however, as well as the different histories and friendships, meant that until recently political contact between the two countries was limited outside the United Nations and other international organisations such as the OECD. Finland's accession to the European Union in 1995 added a new dimension to the bilateral relationship, with Finland now a party to decisions affecting New Zealand's trade relations with the Union. As part of a concerted effort to expand their international connections, the Finns have been paying much more attention to the Asia-Pacific region in general. Although New Zealand's closest cooperation with Finland continues to be in international organisations such as the United Nations and the OECD, the bilateral relationship is also being strengthened across a number of areas, including science and technology in particular.
Land Area - 338,000 sq km, of which 6% agricultural, forest and other wooded land 68%, and inland waters 10%. Finland shares frontiers with Sweden, Norway and Russia. Population - 5.3 million (2008) - Capital City - Helsinki - Language - Finnish (93% of population), Swedish (6.1%). There is also a small Lapp population, indigenous language Sami
Political system - Parliamentary democracy with a republican constitution. - National government - 3-party coalition - National legislature - Unicameral parliament - Last election - March 2007 - Next election due - March 2011 - Head of State - President Ms Tarja Halonen (re-elected January 2006) - Head of Government - Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen
GDP - US$bn 155.3 - Real GDP growth - 5.6% - Exports - US$96.6 billion - Imports - US$ 87.5 billion - Main exports - telecommunications, electronics and electrical industry, forest industry, machinery and transport vehicles, chemical industry, shipbuildings, textiles and clothing - Current account balance - US$5.5 billion - Inflation - 4.0% - Unemployment - 8.8%
New Zealand Trade (year ended December 2008) - NZ Exports (FOB) - NZ$28.5 million- Main Exports - Sheepmeat, malt extract, agricultural and horticultural machinery, wine, machines for paper pulp etc., venison - NZ Imports (CIF) - NZ$177.4 million - Main Imports - Telephone equipment, paper and paperboard, stainless steel products, chilled swine.
The first Finnish Ambassador to New Zealand was cross-accredited from Canberra in 1969. The New Zealand Ambassador in Moscow was cross-accredited to Helsinki in 1975. The cross-accreditation shifted to The Hague in April 1995. In 1993 New Zealand appointed an honorary consul in Helsinki.
The Safetravel website provides a travel advisory for travellers to Finland [external link].
