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Embassies and consular services for Kiribati
| Location | Service areas |
|---|---|
| Consulate of the Republic of Kiribati | |
| New Zealand High Commission to Kiribati | Kiribati |
Key documents
About Kiribati
Kiribati is a republic comprising 32 coral atolls and one raised coral island stretched east to west along the equator in the central Pacific. It is home to around 116,300 people and also the South Pacific's largest marine reserve.
Kiribati is low lying and as a result extremely vulnerable to the effects of climate change. New Zealand and Kiribati have a strong relationship based on our shared geography and development interests.
Find out more about Kiribati.
Trade
Kiribati is one of New Zealand’s smallest trading partners and exports and imports fluctuate from year to year.
Kiribati's major exports are copra, fish and seaweed. It also earns foreign exchange through remittances from the more than 200 workers who visit New Zealand each year on short-term labour contracts. Phosphate deposits on Banaba Island were the primary source of income until supplies were completely exhausted in 1979.
2018 statistics
| Two-way trade | NZD$27 million* | |
| Goods exports to Kiribati | NZD$15 million* | Top goods exports: furniture, vehicles, iron, steel and sawn wood |
| Goods imports from Kiribati | NZD$0 million * | |
| Remittances | NZD$2 million | Estimated funds remitted by I-Kiribati workers in New Zealand |
| GDP | USD$187 million^ | |
| GDP per capita | USD$1,598^ | NZ GDP per capita is USD$41,267^ |
Sources: *NZ Trade Dashboard(external link) ^IMF WEO April 2019(external link)
Development cooperation
As part of the Pacific Reset, New Zealand has scaled up its development cooperation in Kiribati. Kiribati faces serious development constraints that come with its size and remote location, but New Zealand is working closely with the government and people of Kiribati to overcome these challenges.
Our work in Kiribati aims for a healthy, educated and resilient I-Kiribati population in a well-governed country that provides acceptable future choices for its population.
Find out more about our current priorities, achievements and activities in Kiribati.
Recent official visits
New Zealand to Kiribati
- Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters led a delegation to Kiribati in February 2019 as part of a mission to the Pacific region.
Kiribati to New Zealand
- Kiribati Minister of Transport Willie Tokataake visited New Zealand in September 2018.
- Kiribati President HE Taneti Maamau visited Auckland in October 2018.
- Kiribati Minister of Employment and Human Resources Hon Ioteba Redfern visited New Zealand in March 2019 with a delegation to meet Recognised Seasonal Employment (RSE) scheme employees.