Global IssuesInternational OrganisationsAPECCommonwealthOECDUnited NationsWorld Trade OrganisationAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastNorth AmericaPacific
Find MFAT's information paper on a country or territory. (We don't have information papers on all countries.)
Although we have tried to use plain English content on the site, you may come across specialist terms and acronyms. Find out what they mean in our glossary of terms.
If you come across a term that isn't included in the Glossary please send us an email.
New Zealand is a founding member of the Commonwealth and has long been involved in a wide range of Commonwealth activities. A multitude of Commonwealth meetings and consultations have been hosted in New Zealand cities, including the 1995 Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Auckland and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Meeting in Wellington in 1998. New Zealand has hosted three Commonwealth Games.
New Zealand is currently the sxith largest contributor to the Commonwealth Secretariat budget by volume. We also contribute voluntarily to a number of Commonwealth organisations.
New Zealand has actively promoted the Commonwealth’s core beliefs and principles through past and present membership of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) and continuing membership of the Commonwealth Ministerial Group on Small States.
Since 1992, New Zealanders have participated in numerous Commonwealth missions to observe elections in member countries, most recently the Parliamentary elections in Lesotho in February 2007.
