Budget 2025 performance reporting

We publish performance reports on MFAT’s major operating spending and savings decisions arising from Budget 2025.

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International Development Cooperation

In Budget 2025, additional funding was provided for the International Development Cooperation (IDC) multi-year appropriation, and a related uplift for Management of New Zealand’s International Development Cooperation.

Intended results

The increase in funding will provide assistance to developing countries, particularly in the Pacific, building on investments made across a range of sectors under the 2022-2025 climate finance commitment.

The Ministry delivers IDC funding, knowledge and skills to improve sustainable development and reduce poverty in developing countries, with a strong focus on the Pacific.

The IDC Priorities Framework demonstrates how New Zealand’s IDC contributes to the three goals in the Ministry’s strategic framework (a safe, secure and just future; a prosperous and resilient future; and a sustainable future). It provides the basis for IDC performance expectations – from outcome indicators that demonstrate movement towards the Ministry’s overall goals, through to results measures that are directly attributable to New Zealand’s IDC funding.

Deliverables and Planned Timeline

The additional IDC funding provided in Budget 2025 has been baselined into the Ministry’s broader IDC programme.

MFAT organises the funding into six allocation groups, and within this into a set of Plans for our bilateral, regional, multilateral and humanitarian delivery.

Allocations for each Plan are managed over a three-year period. Over this period, there is flexibility to move funds into and between Plans in order to respond changes in context.

A table setting out the approved funding for the period 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2027 by Group allocation is available here.

Funding allocation ($millions)

	2025/26 ($m)	2026/27 ($m)	2027/27 ($m)	2028/29 ($m)	Four year total
IDC	50.000	100.000	100.000	100.000
Mgmt of IDC	2.500	5.000	5.000	5.000
Total	52.500	105.000	105.000	105.000	367.500

Indicators of Performance and value for money

Performance indicators(external link) are the same as those used to measure performance across the whole of the IDC Programme (and associated departmental funding).

Location and updating of data

Performance reporting against result indicators, and additional qualitative data, for all funding under the IDC appropriation is provided in the Minister of Foreign Affairs’ report on the International Development Cooperation non-departmental appropriation within Vote Foreign Affairs that is available here, and in the Ministry’s Annual Report.

Doubling Exports and Asia Uplift

Leveraging Trade Agreements, Addressing Barriers, and Lifting Engagement in Asia

	Intended results	Deliverables and Planned Timeline	Indicators of Performance and value for money
Doubling exports	This initiative will strengthen New Zealand exporters’ access to offshore markets better positioning them to compete globally. This will help drive economic growth at home and across the region. To this end, the funding will equip government agencies with enhanced capability and resources. These improvements will support agencies to: Uphold and promote the international rules-based trading system Negotiate new trade agreements that open doors for Kiwi businesses Maximise the benefits of existing free trade agreements Eliminate bilateral trade barriers that hinder growth	An organisational structure will be scoped and implemented during 2025/26 with specialists dedicated to focus on FTA Leveraging, Implementation and NTB resolution. These specialists will be supported by new funding that can be applied to activity related to FTA Leveraging, Implementation and NTB resolution. Activities may be delivered by MFAT or other New Zealand public service agencies and could include: Promotion of FTA outcomes. Economic analysis of tariff preferences and the causes of low utilisation, development and implementation of programmes with New Zealand Trade and Enterprise and industry to improve utilisation. Support for FTA reviews, upgrade negotiations and accession negotiations. Support to develop medium term NTB resolution plans involving MFAT, other public service agencies and industry groups, and support for NTB plurilateral negotiations /implementation. Training for MFAT staff on identifying and resolving NTBs.	Export coverage of FTA rates increase: Standard/ Timeframe: Increasing trend; annual review, increasing trend annually, 4-year target set after baseline review in year 1. Number of trade agreements or trade plurilateral agreements negotiated: Standard/ Timeframe: 1 per year over a 5-year period. Number of accessions under way for trade agreements and trade plurilateral agreements: Standard/Timeframe: 1 per year over a 5-year period. Number of non-tariff barriers resolved for exporters: Standard/Timeframe: 15 per year over a 3+1 period. Percentage of exporters who are satisfied that MFAT solved their queries: Standard: 85% per year over 3 years.
Asia Uplift	This initiative aims to secure a stable and prosperous future for New Zealanders by deepening our partnerships across South and Southeast Asia, including with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Strengthening these relationships will: reinforce New Zealand’s reputation as a trusted and proactive partner in the Indo-Pacific; and help New Zealand navigate global uncertainties and trade tensions, while maintaining our influence including through key regional forums such as the East Asia Summit and APEC. To this end, the funding will support extensive international cooperation through practical initiatives in a wide range of areas, including: Trade and economic integration Combating transnational crime Maritime security Public service education and training Government transparency and human rights Peace and stability initiatives Environmental resilience Knowledge-sharing for young business leaders	New Zealand’s presence and engagement in South and Southeast Asia will be strengthened through additional resourcing. New dedicated positions focused on South and Southeast Asia – including through engagement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) – will enhance New Zealand’s access, visibility, and influence across the region. To support this effort, two new contestable funding streams will be established in 2025/26: one focused on India and the other on Southeast Asia. These funds will be available to MFAT and other New Zealand public sector agencies to support cooperation initiatives and programmes developed in partnership with priority countries, including India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Viet Nam. In October ASEAN and New Zealand will hold a Leaders Summit to formally commemorate the 50th anniversary of Dialogue Relations, at which Leaders’ will adopt a Joint Vision Statement that will set the direction for the future of the partnership across the pillars of Peace, Prosperity, People, Planet and Cross-Pillar cooperation including a number of ‘ASEAN-New Zealand flagship initiatives’. Additionally, a new ASEAN-New Zealand Plan of Action (2026-2030) will be established which will guide the practical implementation of initiatives to support the ASEAN-New Zealand Joint Vision Statement.	Number of diplomatic dialogues held with India, Southeast Asia, and ASEAN at the Leader, Ministerial and MFAT’s senior officials’ level: [New measure for MFAT’s annual report – i.e. no baseline yet] There will be 5-10 additional dialogues over the next four years. The number of policy statements and initiatives led or co-sponsored by New Zealand in Indo-Pacific or ASEAN regional forums: 18-28 (current annual target range) There will be 2-5 additional statements or initiatives over the next four years. Percentage of New Zealand's commitments in the ASEAN Plan of Action assessed as on track at the end of financial year.

Intended results

Deliverables and Planned Timeline

Indicators of Performance and value for money

Doubling exports

This initiative will strengthen New Zealand exporters’ access to offshore markets better positioning them to compete globally. This will help drive economic growth at home and across the region.

To this end, the funding will equip government agencies with enhanced capability and resources. These improvements will support agencies to:

Uphold and promote the international rules-based trading system
Negotiate new trade agreements that open doors for Kiwi businesses
Maximise the benefits of existing free trade agreements
Eliminate bilateral trade barriers that hinder growth

An organisational structure will be scoped and implemented during 2025/26 with specialists dedicated to focus on FTA Leveraging, Implementation and NTB resolution.

These specialists will be supported by new funding that can be applied to activity related to FTA Leveraging, Implementation and NTB resolution. Activities may be delivered by MFAT or other New Zealand public service agencies and could include:

Promotion of FTA outcomes.
Economic analysis of tariff preferences and the causes of low utilisation, development and implementation of programmes with New Zealand Trade and Enterprise and industry to improve utilisation.
Support for FTA reviews, upgrade negotiations and accession negotiations.
Support to develop medium term NTB resolution plans involving MFAT, other public service agencies and industry groups, and support for NTB plurilateral negotiations /implementation.
Training for MFAT staff on identifying and resolving NTBs.

Export coverage of FTA rates increase:

Standard/ Timeframe: Increasing trend; annual review, increasing trend annually, 4-year target set after baseline review in year 1.

Number of trade agreements or trade plurilateral agreements negotiated:

Standard/ Timeframe: 1 per year over a 5-year period.

Number of accessions under way for trade agreements and trade plurilateral agreements:

Standard/Timeframe: 1 per year over a 5-year period.

Number of non-tariff barriers resolved for exporters:

Standard/Timeframe: 15 per year over a 3+1 period.

Percentage of exporters who are satisfied that MFAT solved their queries:

Standard: 85% per year over 3 years.

Asia Uplift

This initiative aims to secure a stable and prosperous future for New Zealanders by deepening our partnerships across South and Southeast Asia, including with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Strengthening these relationships will:

reinforce New Zealand’s reputation as a trusted and proactive partner in the Indo-Pacific; and
help New Zealand navigate global uncertainties and trade tensions, while maintaining our influence including through key regional forums such as the East Asia Summit and APEC.

To this end, the funding will support extensive international cooperation through practical initiatives in a wide range of areas, including:

Trade and economic integration
Combating transnational crime
Maritime security
Public service education and training
Government transparency and human rights
Peace and stability initiatives
Environmental resilience
Knowledge-sharing for young business leaders

New Zealand’s presence and engagement in South and Southeast Asia will be strengthened through additional resourcing. New dedicated positions focused on South and Southeast Asia – including through engagement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) – will enhance New Zealand’s access, visibility, and influence across the region.

To support this effort, two new contestable funding streams will be established in 2025/26: one focused on India and the other on Southeast Asia. These funds will be available to MFAT and other New Zealand public sector agencies to support cooperation initiatives and programmes developed in partnership with priority countries, including India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Viet Nam.

In October ASEAN and New Zealand will hold a Leaders Summit to formally commemorate the 50th anniversary of Dialogue Relations, at which Leaders’ will adopt a Joint Vision Statement that will set the direction for the future of the partnership across the pillars of Peace, Prosperity, People, Planet and Cross-Pillar cooperation including a number of ‘ASEAN-New Zealand flagship initiatives’.

Additionally, a new ASEAN-New Zealand Plan of Action (2026-2030) will be established which will guide the practical implementation of initiatives to support the ASEAN-New Zealand Joint Vision Statement.

Number of diplomatic dialogues held with India, Southeast Asia, and ASEAN at the Leader, Ministerial and MFAT’s senior officials’ level:

[New measure for MFAT’s annual report – i.e. no baseline yet]
There will be 5-10 additional dialogues over the next four years.

The number of policy statements and initiatives led or co-sponsored by New Zealand in Indo-Pacific or ASEAN regional forums:

18-28 (current annual target range)
There will be 2-5 additional statements or initiatives over the next four years.

Percentage of New Zealand's commitments in the ASEAN Plan of Action assessed as on track at the end of financial year.

Funding allocation

2025/26	2026/27	2027/28	2028/29	Four year total
20.937	20.937	20.938	20.938	83.750

January update on year to date performance to 31 December 2025

Title of metric	Description of metric	Actual performance for the current Year to Date	Comment
Utilisation of contestable funds for India and Southeast Asia	Number of new initiatives and cooperation activities supported by the contestable funds.	31	Total of $3,749,107 funding approved to 30 projects in 2025/26.
Number of diplomatic dialogues	Number of diplomatic dialogues held with India, Southeast Asia, and ASEAN at the Leader, Ministerial and MFAT's senior officials' level.	16	New measure for MFAT’s annual report – i.e. no baseline yet. Demonstrating the increase in Ministerial and senior officials' prioritisation of South and Southeast Asian countries, we recorded 16 diplomatic dialogues in the first half of FY2025/26.
ASEAN and other bilateral Plans of Action delivery	Percentage of New Zealand's commitments in the ASEAN Plan of Action (PoA), and other bilateral Plans of Actions, assessed as on track at the end of the financial year.	100%	We completed 100% of the 2001-2005 ASEAN PoA by 31 Dec 2025. The new ASEAN PoA, and new PoAs for Singapore/ Viet Nam CSPs start on 1 Jan 2026.
Non-tariff barriers	Number of non-tariff barriers resolved for exporters.	5	A further barrier has been resolved in 2026 so far.
Trade agreements	Number of trade agreements or trade plurilateral agreements negotiated.	3	NZ-India FTA negotiations were concluded; as was the NZ-Singapore Agreement on Trade in Essential Supplies, and Peru concluded accession negotiations into the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement. A number of other agreements and accession processes remain under active negotiation.
Exports covered by Free Trade Agreements	Percentage of exports covered by FTAs.	71%	Over 71%

Location and updating of data

Data will be updated at a minimum of twice a year and will be available on this webpage.