Europe

Our relationship with Europe

New Zealand has strong relationships with individual countries in Europe, and with the EU. Our connections vary from the new and friendly, to enduring relationships with countries that we share deep historical ties with. Shared experiences in both World Wars created strong connections with Belgium, France, Greece, Italy, Poland, the UK, and other countries in Europe. 

As well as the British, Italians, Germans, French, Scandinavians and Dalmatians were among early European immigrants to New Zealand. After World War II, there was another wave of immigration from the Netherlands and Wellington became home to more than 700 Polish orphans. More Polish immigrated in the 1980s. In 2017 the UK was the fourth largest source of long-term migrants to New Zealand. There's also a strong sporting rivalry with France and England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales on the rugby field.

Formal connections

Our formal connections with European countries include our work with international organisations such as the UN and the OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) and the EU.

Read more about our relationship with the EU

Our cooperation with European partners spans a number of spheres including political and security issues, climate change and the environment, and development in the Pacific. European countries are our most significant science and innovation partners. More than half of New Zealand’s researchers have an active collaboration with a European partner.

Trade

Most of our two-way trade with Europe is with countries in the EU. The EU is the world's largest economic entity and New Zealand's fourth largest trading partner overall. Learn more about the New Zealand-European Union (EU) free trade agreement.

Working holidays

New Zealand also has working holiday schemes with 25 European countries. Information on Working Holiday Schemes is available from Immigration New Zealand(external link) and New Zealand Treaties Online(external link).