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New Zealand and Israel have enjoyed a fruitful bilateral relationship over many years. Israel finds an open market for its products in New Zealand, and while New Zealand has not enjoyed the same opportunities in the protected Israeli market, we welcome significant numbers of Israeli visitors to our shores. Israel has long been regarded by many New Zealanders as a social innovator and technological leader.
The passport scandal, in which Israeli agents attempted to obtain a New Zealand passport by fraud, came as a shock to New Zealanders. Both sides have since put the matter behind them following an apology from the Israeli Government.
The attacks on Jewish cemeteries were condemned unequivocally and in the strongest terms by the New Zealand Parliament, Government and people. The Government made it clear that racial hatred and hate crimes will never have any place in New Zealand society.
There are visitor visa waivers in force to facilitate business travel and tourism between the two countries and a Working Holiday Scheme has been mooted.
Land Area - 20,325 sq km (not including occupied territories) - Population - 6.9 million (2005)- Capital City - Jerusalem (claimed by Israel as capital but not recognised internationally) - Religion - Israel is a Jewish state with Muslim and Christian minorities - Language - Hebrew and Arabic (English and Russian are also widely spoken)
Political system - Parliamentary Democracy - National government -Kadima-led coalition including Labour, Shas, GIL/Pensioners Party and Yisrael Beiteinu - National legislature - Unicameral Knesset of 120 members - Last election - 28 March 2006 (Prime Ministerial) - Next election due - 2010 - Head of State - President Moshe Katsav - Head of Government - Prime Minister Ehud Olmert
GDP - US$123.4 billion (2005) - Real GDP growth - 5.2% (2005 EIU) - Exports - US$40.092 billion (2005 estimate) - Imports - US$43.978 billion (2005 estimate) - Main exports - Polished diamonds (US$12.061 billion); electronic communication, medical and scientific equipment (US$5.998 billion); chemicals (US$6.796 billion); electronic components and computers (US$2.414 billion) - (2004) - Current account balance - US$2.384 billion (2005 estimate) - Inflation - 1.3% (2005 EIU) - Gross external debt - US$76.8 billion (2005 estimate)
NZ Exports (FOB) - NZ$13.812 million (for year ended December 2006) - Main Exports - Casein (10%); Printed Circuits (8.4%); Sheep meat (6.9%); Suspended ceilings (6.9%) - NZ Imports (CIF) - NZ$75.699 (for year to December 2006) - Main Imports - Telecommunications equipment (16.5%); Diamonds (5.8%); Plastic plates, films and sheets (5.1%); Medical instruments (5%)
* All figures from Economist Intelligence Unit April 2006 Country Report
** Trade figures from Staistics New Zealand December 2006
New Zealand exports to Israel totalled NZ$13.812 million for the year ended December 2006, largely comprised of casein, printed circuits, sheep meat and building materials (including suspended ceilings). Imports into New Zealand from Israel were worth NZ$75.699 million over the same period were principally telecommunications equipment, Diamonds, Plastic plates, sheets and films and Medical Instruments.
Fonterra is involved in a joint venture at Tnuva in northern Israel, which opened in December 2001. Although there has been a recent increase in agriculture exports, there are barriers for New Zealand products in this sector, and the trading relationship has traditionally focussed on other areas. The tariff applied by Israel to suspended ceilings has been the subject of repeated New Zealand representations over the last few years.
Israel opened a trade office in Auckland in 1994. A New Zealand and Israel Trade Association was also set up in mid-1994. The first trade delegation from New Zealand visited Israel in 1999.
The Safetravel website provides a travel advisory for travellers to Israel [external link].
