Hungary

Bilateral relationship

New Zealand’s relationship with Hungary is friendly and based on strong people-to-people links. New Zealand has a small community of Hungarians (around 1400) many of whom arrived as refugees following the 1956 revolution.

Bilateral relations with Hungary continue to develop positively, with a number of substantive projects under way, including cooperation in education, science, environment, cultural development, investment,and ongoing discussions regarding a working holiday scheme. There is also scope for closer cooperation on international issues, including Afghanistan, where New Zealand and Hungary both maintain Provincial Reconstruction Teams.

Following the visit of then Hungarian President Göncz to New Zealand in 1999, New Zealand established a reciprocal visitor visa waiver arrangement with Hungary, effective from March 2000.

Key facts

Geography/Demographics

Land Area: 93,030 sq km

Population: 10.1 million (2006)

Capital City: Budapest

Language: Magyar ( Hungarian)

Political

Political system: Multiparty republic

National government: Centre left Coalition led by the Hungarian Socialist Party, with Alliance of Free Democrats

National legislature: Unicameral: National Assembly of 386 seats with four year term; Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister; President elected by parliament for a five year term

Last election: April 2006 (parliamentary); June 2005 (presidential)

Next election due: April 2010 (parliamentary); June 2010 (presidential)

Head of State: President Dr László Sólyom (elected June 2005)
Head of Government:Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai (appointed April 2009)

Economic

GDP: US$134.7 billion (2007 est)

Real GDP growth: 1.3 % (2007 est)

Exports: US$85.7 billion (2007 est)

Main exports: Machinery and equipment, other manufactures, food products, raw materials

Imports: US$85.9 billion (2007 est)

Inflation: 7.1 %

Unemployment: 7.3% (2007)

New Zealand Trade

NZ Exports (FOB): NZ$2.5 million

Main Exports: semiconductors, sheepmeat, iron and steel, seeds

NZ Imports (CIF): NZ$39.0 million

Main Imports: Data processing machines, wadding, transmission apparatus, vehicle parts, domestic appliances

(Year ended 30 June 2007)

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Visits

New Zealand Official Visits to Hungary

• Hon Rick Barker, Minister of Internal Affairs, October 2006
• Rt Hon Winston Peters, Minister of Foreign Affairs, July 2006
• Rt Hon Helen Clark, Prime Minister, October 2004
• HE Dame Silvia Cartwright, Governor-General, State Visit, October 2004
• Hon Trevor Mallard, Minister of Education, October 2003
• Hon Jim Sutton, Minister for Trade Negotiations, May 2003
• Dr Lockwood Smith, Minister for International Trade, May 1999
• Hon Doug Kidd, Speaker of the House, April 1998
• Hon John Falloon, Minister of Agriculture, March 1995
• Rt Hon Don McKinnon, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, September 1992
• Rt Hon Mike Moore, Minister of Overseas Trade, March 1990
• Rt Hon Mike Moore, Minister of Overseas Trade, November 1988
• Rt Hon Mike Moore, Minister of Overseas Trade, June 1986

Hungarian Visits to New Zealand

• Dr Peter Medgyes, Deputy State Secretary of Education, December 2004
• Dr Tibor Szanyi, State Secretary for Agriculture and Rural Development, June 2004
• Dr Andras Barsony, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, February 2003
• Dr Katalan Szili, Speaker of the National Assembly, November 2002
• HE Mr Arpad Göncz, President, February 1999
• Mr Torgyan, Agriculture Minister, February 1999
• Karoly Kontrat, Associate Minister (Home Affairs), February 1999
• Janos Fonagy, Economic Affairs, February 1999
• Dr Elemer Gergatz, Minister of Agriculture, April 1992
• Prof Jeszensky, Foreign Minister, November 1990

Representation

• The New Zealand Ambassador to Germany is accredited to Hungary.
• The Hungarian Ambassador to Australia is accredited to New Zealand.  There is a Consulate General in Wellington, and a Consulate in Auckland.

Travel advice

The Safe Travel website provides a travel advisory for travellers to Hungary [external link].

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