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Home > Countries > Europe > Germany

The Federal Republic of Germany

Bilateral relationship
Key facts
Visits
Representation
Travel advice

Bilateral relationship

New Zealand and Germany enjoy open and warm links. There is mutually beneficial co-operation in trade, commerce, cultural exchange, and science and technology. As the largest economy within the European Union, Germany has influence over decisions affecting New Zealand's economic and trade interests, and has proved generally supportive of New Zealand in these matters.

As a country with competitive skills in technological development and research, Germany is an important source for New Zealand capital imports. It is a stable market for New Zealand exports, particularly our primary products. The proportion of exports of manufactured goods has increased in recent years from a small base. Germany is also a significant potential source of investment.top of page

Key facts

Geography/Demographics

Land Area - 357,021 sq km Population - 82.4 m (2007) - Capital City - Berlin - Language - German

Political

Political system - Parliamentary democracy. 16 Länder (states), each with own constitution, legislature and government. - National government - CDU/CSU/SPD 'grand coalition'. - National legislature - Bicameral Federal Assembly. Bundestag (lower house) of 614 members, elected from individual constituencies and through party lists (to obtain proportional representation). Bundesrat (upper house) of 69 members, nominated by state governments. - Last election - Sept 2005 (Bundestag); May 2004 (Presidential) - Next election due - September 2009 (Bundestag); May 2009 (Presidential) - Head of State - President Prof Dr Horst Köhler (since July 2004) - Head of Government - Dr Angela Merkel (CDU) (since November 2005)

Economic (2007 est.)

GDP €2,411 billion

Real GDP growth 2.7%

Exports (fob) US$1,361 billion

Imports (fob) US$1,121 billion

Main exports motor vehicles, machinery, chemical products

Current account balance US$240 billion (surplus)

Inflation 2.3%

Unemployment 9.1%

New Zealand Trade

New Zealand Trade (to year ended June 2007) - NZ Exports (FOB) - NZ$798 million - Main Exports - Sheepmeat, venison, casein, whey and products, wool, fish fillets, albumins, aluminium unwrought - NZ Imports (CIF) - NZ$1.898 billion - Main Imports - Motor vehicles and parts, dishwashing machines, tractors, medicaments, printing machinery, motor vehicle parts, derricks and cranes, medical or veterinary instruments top of page

Visits

New Zealand Official Visits to Germany

Hon Margaret Wilson, Speaker of the House of Representatives, leading a Parliamentary Delegation, September 2007
Hon Chris Carter, Minister for Conservation, June 2007
Hon Harry Duynhoven, Minister for Transport Safety, June 2007
Rt Hon Winston Peters, Minister of Foreign Affairs, May 2007
Hon David Cunliffe, Minister of Information Technology, March 2007
Hon Steve Maharey, Minister of Research, Science and Technology, and Minister of Education, February 2007
Hon Phil Goff, Minister of Trade, Defence, Disarmament and Arms Control, January 2007
Rt Hon Helen Clark, Prime Minister, November 2006
Hon Phil Goff, Minister of Trade, Defence, Disarmament and Arms Control, March 2006
Rt Hon Helen Clark, Prime Minister, April 2005
HE Dame Silvia Cartwright, Governor General, State Visit, June 2004
Hon Phil Goff, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, April 2004
Hon Chris Carter, Minister of Conservation, Local Government, Ethnic Affairs, June 2003
Hon Jim Sutton, Minister for Trade Negotiations and Agriculture, May 2003
Hon George Hawkins, Minister of Internal Affairs (Hamburg only), January 2003
Hon Jim Sutton, Minister for Trade Negotiations and Agriculture, May 2001
Rt Hon Helen Clark, Prime Minister, June 2000
Hon Phil Goff, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, May 2000
Rt Hon Jenny Shipley, Prime Minister, January 1999
Rt Hon Don McKinnon, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, May 1999

German Official Visits to New Zealand

Delegation of the German Parliamentary Friendship Group for Relations with Australia and New Zealand, led by Ms Nina Hauer MP, August 2007
Mr Christian Wulff, Premier of Lower Saxony, May 2007
Mr Reinhard Stuth, Hamburg State Secretary and Commissioner for Federal, European and Foreign Affairs, February 2007
Dr Gerald Thalheim, Parliamentary State Secretary for Consumer Affairs, Food and Agriculture, April 2005
Mr Joschka Fischer, Minister of Foreign Affairs, February 2005
Mr Wolfgang Thierse, Speaker of the Bundestag, December 2003
HE Dr Johannes Rau, Federal President, May 2001
Mr Karl-Heinz Funke, Agriculture Minister, October 2000
Dr Martin Wille, State Secretary for Agriculture, April 2000
Dr Helmut Kohl, Chancellor, May 1997
Dr Günter Rexrodt, Federal Minister for the Economy, February 1997
Mr Werner Hoyer, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, August 1996
Mr Jochen Borchert, Agriculture Minister, early 1996
HE Dr Richard von Weizäcker, President State Visit, 1993
Mr Klaus Kinkel, Foreign Minister, April 1993

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Representation

New Zealand Embassy Berlin
Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany Wellington

Travel advice

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