Poland

Bilateral relationship

Relations between New Zealand and Poland are friendly. New Zealanders and Poles fought together in Europe during World War II. The descendants of Polish ex-servicemen and the 730 Polish orphans who arrived in Wellington in 1944 form a large part of New Zealand’s Polish community, together with a wave of immigrants in the early 1980s.

Poland opened an Embassy in New Zealand in 1973. This was upgraded to full ambassador status in late 2004, at the same time as the first resident New Zealand ambassador presented credentials in Warsaw.

There is a Polish Honorary Consul in Auckland. The New Zealand Embassy in Warsaw opened its doors in January 2005 and was officially launched by Prime Minister Helen Clark during an official visit to Poland in April 2005.

Since May 1 2004 Poland has not required New Zealanders to obtain a visa if they are visiting for less than 90 days. From 1 April 2005 Poles have been able to visit New Zealand visa-free for 3 months.

top of page

Key facts

Geography/Demographics

Land Area: 312,685 sq km
Population: 38.3 million
Capital City: Warsaw
Language: Polish

Political

Political system: Parliamentary republic
National government: Coalition between the socially conservative/economically liberal Civic Platform (PO) and the agrarian Polish Peasants' Party (PSL).  The Prime Minister heads a council of Ministers that is responsible to Parliament. A President is elected by universal suffrage for a 5 year term. 
National legislature: Bicameral: Sejm (lower house) of 460 seats - Senate (upper house) of 100 members.
Last election: October 2007 (Parliamentary) June/July 2010(Presidential)
Next election due: October 2011 (Parliamentary) June 2015 (Presidential)
Head of State: President Bronislaw Komorowski (July 2010)
Head of Government: Prime Minister Donald Tusk (November 2007)

Economic (2010 est.)

GDP: US$457.2 billion
Real GDP growth: 3.0%
Exports: US$154.7 billion
Imports: US$161.7 billion
Main exports: Machinery and transport equipment, manufactures
Current account balance: US$ -12.98 billion
Inflation: 2.5%

New Zealand Trade (year to June 2010)

Exports: (FOB) NZ$10.12 million
Main Exports: wool, seeds, meat, and medical instruments
Imports: (CIF) NZ$36.7 million
Main Imports: Compact disks, home appliances, pharmaceuticals, tools and cosmetics

 

top of page

Visits

New Zealand High Level Visits to Poland

• Hon Judith Collins, Minister of Police, Minister of Corrections, and Minister of Veterans' Affairs September 2009
• Rt Hon Winston Peters, Minister of Foreign Affairs July 2006
• Rt Hon Helen Clark, Prime Minister April 2005
• Hon Trevor Mallard, Minister of Education October 2003
• Hon Jim Sutton, Minister of Overseas Trade May 2003
• Hon Phil Goff, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade May 2002
• Hon Pete Hodgson, Minister of Energy June 2000
  

Polish High Level Visits to New Zealand

• Bogdan Borusewicz, Marshall of the Senate March 2007
• Dr Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz, Foreign Minister March 2003
• Bernard Blaszczyk, Deputy Minister of the Economy March 2000
• Dr Mieczyslaw Stelmach, Vice Minister of Agriculture November 1991
• Prof Krzysztof Skubiszewski, Foreign Minister May 1991
• Ryszard Dobrowolski, Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade September 1987
  

Representation

• New Zealand Embassy Warsaw, Poland [external link].
• Embassy of Poland, Wellington

Travel advice

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

top of page