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New Zealand and France have a warm and multi-faceted relationship, based on common values, historical ties and strong people-to-people links. We cooperate closely in a number of areas, especially in the South Pacific. The strength of the relationship was reaffirmed when then Prime Minister Helen Clark travelled to France in October 2007 to meet President Sarkozy. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon Murray McCully, made a successful visit to Paris in March 2009.
In 2000 New Zealand and France held an inaugural round of bilateral political-military talks at senior officials' level. These talks are scheduled on a biennial basis and the last round took place in Paris in April 2007. New Zealand and France also hold bilateral official consultations on a yearly basis.
Officially, France is New Zealand's 20th largest trading partner in terms of measured two-way trade. However, some New Zealand exports destined for France enter the EU through ports outside France and are not therefore captured by statistics; France is believed to be a more significant trading partner than the raking of 20th largest would suggest.
Investment flows and business liaison have expanded over the last decade. Not all activity is fully captured by statistics, but the traffic is heavily from France to New Zealand, including in the wine industry. A large investment in the agricultural chemicals industry (FERNZ) is one notable New Zealand move into France. In the other direction, AXA established a firm foothold in New Zealand with its takeover of the Australian insurer, National Mutual, followed by other investments. French investments in New Zealand's wine industry (Veuve Clicquot, Deutz) and food processing (Danone, Yoplait) illustrate the complementarity of commercial interests in the agri-food sector. Other major French investments have been made in New Zealand's transport and communications sector (Alstom/Thales, Alcatel), waste management (ONYX) and hospitality (Accor).top of page
Land Area Metropolitan France - 547, 030 sq km
Population
62.2 million (2008)
Capital City Paris
Languages French; also Occitan, Breton, German, Basque
Political system - Under the Constitution of 28 September
1958: a President, elected by popular vote for a five year term; a bicameral
National legislature; a Prime Minister appointed by the President; a
Council of Ministers appointed by the President on the Prime Minister's recommendation
National
government Majority centre-right government of the ' Union for
a People's Movement' (UMP), elected in 2007
National
legislature Senate
of 321 members, voted by electoral college for a nine-year term, one-third
being renewed every three years. National Assembly of 577 members elected
by popular vote for a five-year term
Last election Presidency in May 2007; National Assembly in June
2007
Next election Presidency 2012; National
Assembly 2012
Head of State President Nicolas Sarkozy
Head
of Government Prime Minister François Fillon
GDP US$2,560 billion (2007)
Real GDP growth 2.1%
Exports US$548.0 billion
Imports US$600.1 billion
Main exports Intermediate goods; capital
goods; motor vehicles and transport equipment; consumer goods;
processed
food and drinks
Current account balance US$-33.4 billion
Inflation 1.6%
NZ Exports (FOB) NZ$502.3 million (year ended December 2008)
Main Exports Sheepmeat; fish fillets;
venison; medical equipment; aluminium
NZ Imports (CIF) NZ$804.7 million
Main Imports Motor vehicles; machinery parts; wine; medical equipment; aircraft; cosmetic and toilet preparationstop of page
New Zealand is represented in France by:
New Zealand Embassy Paris, France
France is represented in New Zealand by:
Embassy of the French Republic Wellington
The Safetravel website provides a travel advisory for travellers to France [external link].
