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We invest in relationships with partners that deliver high quality services that match our development priorities.
Partner country governments
Country partnerships are at the heart of our approach. Most of our investment supports development in individual partner countries. We work closely with countries to understand priorities, identify where New Zealand can add most value, agree on the results we want to achieve and how these will be delivered.
When we work with partner governments, we use their financial planning and management, implementation, monitoring and reporting systems where practicable. Partner government agencies to which we provide grants submit regular reports on how the funding has been used and the results of the project. Alongside providing funding, we engage with partner countries on policy issues that are critical to the success of development initiatives.
International organisations
Partnering with international organisations helps make our resources go further in areas that align with our investment priorities. These partners include international development banks, UN development and humanitarian organisations, and Commonwealth agencies. Our support includes core-funding, and funding for specific initiatives.
Investing in these organisations means we're able to contribute to the sustainable development of up to 155 countries, help alleviate acute humanitarian need, and influence global development priorities and practice. As part of this we champion the needs of small island developing states, and in particular, Pacific countries. We're also strengthening our focus on effectiveness and efficiency so that our investments have greater impact.
Regional organisations
We partner with organisations in the Indo-Pacific that take a regional approach to development issues.
In the Pacific we work across many sectors that benefit from a regional approach, including fisheries, maritime safety, the environment, disaster preparedness and response, and health and education. The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, the Pacific Forum Fisheries Agency, the Pacific Community, the University of the South Pacific, and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environmental Programme are some of the organisations we partner with.
In Asia, our support focuses on climate and economic resilience; knowledge and skills; and peace and security. New Zealand has long-established partnerships with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Mekong Institute, and we work with them to support development in the region.
Other partner countries
We coordinate our efforts with other partners for the benefit of developing countries. We partner with Australia for many initiatives in the Pacific.
We work closely with partner countries to further improve development cooperation and collaboration in the Pacific, at both country and regional levels.
Recent examples of successful partnerships with other partner countries include:
- Working alongside Australia, France, Germany, Japan and United Kingdom to support Pacific-led initiatives to bolster Pacific resilience to humanitarian emergencies.
- Working with Australia to support the construction of the Pacific Community’s tuna research vessel.
- Co-financing, with the governments of Australia and Solomon Islands, the design and build of provincial airfields across Solomon Islands.
- Supporting biodiversity in the Pacific with France and the European Union through the Kiwa initiative(external link).
- Supporting the Pacific Climate Change Centre in Samoa with Japan and Australia.
- Co-financing, with the government of Ireland, support for Pacific countries to transition to low-emissions and climate resilient development through assistance with long-term inclusive planning and decision-making.
Non-government organisations (NGOs)
We partner with New Zealand NGOs that work with local organisations and communities in developing countries. Their knowledge and experience means they often have a wider reach into communities than the government and private sector.
Humanitarian NGOs have expertise in quickly meeting the needs of communities affected by natural disasters or conflict, and often have an enduring presence in a country when others withdraw.
We have long-term, funded partnerships with various partners, including Volunteer Service Abroad, the Fred Hollows Foundation, the Himalayan Trust, and New Zealand Red Cross.
Accredited NGOs can apply for funding through the:
State sector agencies
We have a ‘whole of government’ approach to working with the state sector through ongoing consultation and engagement on international development priorities, including fisheries, safe and secure communities, private sector development, disaster management and building resilience. We regularly consult with relevant state sector agencies on New Zealand’s position and policy setting when working with Pacific regional agencies and in regional fora (e.g. Forum Fisheries Agency).
We also have major partnerships with state sector agencies which provide hands on practical support to their counterpart organisations in Pacific countries. Examples include:
- New Zealand Police to build safer communities
- Ministry of Primary Industries to develop biosecurity and fisheries
- Institute of Judicial Studies/ Te Kura Kaiwhakawa to strengthen courts and justice
- National Emergency Management Agency and Fire and Emergency NZ to build disaster resilience.
We also support smaller, more focused peer-to-peer activities, such as legislative drafting support through the Parliamentary Counsel Office.
Pacific Diaspora
Investing in relationships with our Pacific partners helps MFAT to deliver our development priorities. We recognise and value the depth of Pacific diaspora kinship links, knowledge, experience and networks which means they often have a wider and deeper influential reach into their communities ‘back home’.
We do this by:
- Annually delivering a ‘Pacific Update’ series in fourteen locations around New Zealand to our Pacific diaspora, Pacific businesses and NGO communities, Academia and broader stakeholders to share the Government’s Pacific priorities and highlights of our work in the Pacific.
- Facilitating regular, face to face gatherings with Pacific community leaders to seek feedback on specific foreign policy issues.
- Supporting people to people connections between the Pacific region and New Zealand through sponsorship of major Pacific events (e.g. Pasifika Festival, Te Maeva Nui Festival, Matariki and Waitangi Day celebrations in the Pacific).
- Supporting other government agencies to engage with Pacific communities to seek feedback where there is an international angle (e.g., Ministry of Justice regarding Adoptions law reform and Ministry for the Environment on climate change impacts).
Utilising public outreach and people-to-people connections, we work with our partners through genuine consultation and engagement to identify and contribute to initiatives that help us achieve our international development priorities.
Examples include:
- Victoria University’s Pacific Islands Political Studies Association (PIPSA) Conference — bought together scholars from across the Pacific, Australia and New Zealand for two days of panels and keynote speeches at Victoria University. Conference discussions covered a broad range of topics impacting Pacific Islands people and nations. New Zealand supported the participation of five Academics, and Civil Society leaders from Solomon Islands, New Caledonia, Tonga and Fiji which enabled face-to-face discussion of Pacific issues and their impacts between the Pacific and New Zealand and Australian academics, think tankers and policy makers. These types of discussions support policy development and implementation.
- Women’s Rugby Development in Tonga — Through MFAT’s Pacific Sport for Development Fund, New Zealand is working to promote the development of women’s rugby in Tonga. By fostering gender equality, skill acquisition, and community engagement, the activity seeks to empower women and girls, especially in Tonga’s outer islands, while also promoting sustainable development and community resilience. Working in partnership with New Zealand Rugby, the program supports the Tonga Rugby Union’s efforts to grow women’s and girls’ rugby by providing participation opportunities, training, and capacity building. Key outputs include a programme of tournaments and participation opportunities, capacity-building clinics, and coach development, with a view to ensuring long-term sustainability and inclusivity.
- New Zealand’s Le Va Global Pacific Solutions (GPS) 2025 Conference has evolved into an international platform that brings together global leaders, experts, and practitioners dedicated to improving the mental health and wellbeing of Pacific communities. Over two days, bold and critical discussions took place on mental health and addiction, public health, disability, suicide, sexual violence, climate impacts on mental health, indigenous mental health models and overall wellbeing. This event fosters collaboration across sectors, facilitates knowledge exchange, and promotes innovative solutions tailored to Pacific peoples worldwide. Clinical experts from the Cook Islands, Tonga, Fiji and Northern Marianas were supported by New Zealand to attend and present key note addresses.
Private sector businesses
We work with New Zealand and international companies and suppliers in a variety of ways.
We contract supply of services and goods on a competitive basis to deliver activities ranging from installing solar energy systems to developing Pacific tourism markets.
Find out about tendering for contracts
New Zealand companies may also partner with VSA to create innovative volunteering opportunities for their staff.
Find out about VSA(external link)
We encourage companies that offer the best of New Zealand know-how in renewable energy, commercial agriculture, disaster risk reduction and other key sectors to work with us through these channels.
We aim to increase the impact of our development cooperation by encouraging business activities including investment that deliver development benefits in our partner countries. We are identifying new ways to achieve this in addition to our support for improving the business environment in partner countries.