Italy

Our relationship with Italy

New Zealand is remembered in many Italian provinces for our role in the liberation of Italy in World War II. Today we have strong trade links, healthy sporting rivalries, and growing cultural links through the Venice Biennale and Venice Architectural Biennale. We have a popular reciprocal working holiday scheme, a double taxation agreement, and an air services agreement.  About 3,000 Italians call New Zealand home.

We share similar views on a range of global issues including whaling, climate change, human rights, peacekeeping and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. We also work closely together at a regional level in Antarctica and the Pacific.

Antarctic cooperation

New Zealand and Italy are both party to the Antarctic Treaty, and cooperation in Antarctica is a significant feature of our relationship. We also cooperate under a 1987 treaty in Antarctic research exploration. Italy uses Christchurch as a base for its Antarctic programme.

Both Italy and New Zealand are working in the Ross Sea region, and we value Italy’s support for the joint New Zealand – United States Ross Sea Region Marine Protected Area.

Science and innovation

We work together as members of the Governing Board of the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) project. The array will form the world’s largest radio telescope. This is also the world’s largest public science data project, which could drive significant new technologies while fundamentally changing our understanding of the universe.

We also work together as part of the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases. This work focusses on technologies and practices to grow more food and more climate-resilient food systems without growing greenhouse gas emissions.

Working Holiday Scheme

New Zealanders aged between 18 and 30 can apply for a 12-month working holiday visa for Italy.

Information on Working Holiday Schemes(external link) is available on the Immigration New Zealand website.

Trade

Information on New Zealand’s trade relationship with Italy is available on the New Zealand Trade Dashboard(external link).

Italy is our fourth largest individual trading partner within the EU. Trade continues to be steady in spite of COVID-19, a tough economic climate and the Eurozone debt crisis.

New Zealand hides, skins and fine wool are in demand for Italy’s fashion industry. Italy is also an important market for our kiwifruit.

Embassies

• New Zealand is represented in Italy by the New Zealand Embassy, Rome
• New Zealand is represented by a Consulate-General in Milan
• Italy is represented in New Zealand by the Embassy of Italy, Wellington
• Italy has consular services in Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin

Recent official visits

New Zealand to Italy 

• May 2017: H.E. the Rt Hon Dame Patsy Reddy, GNZM, QSO the Governor-General of New Zealand
• July 2016: Prime Minister Rt Hon John Key
• May 2016: Minister for Trade and Export Growth Hon Todd McClay
• October 2015: Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Hon Maggie Barry
• June 2015: Minister of Agriculture Hon Allen Nathan Guy visited Milan Expo, and Rome for the 39th FAO Ministerial Conference
• May 2014: Governor-General the Rt Hon Sir Jeremiah Mateparae, GNZM, QSO and Minister of Defence Hon Dr. Jonathan Coleman

Italy to New Zealand

• June 2012: Inter-Parliamentary Union Italy-New Zealand Friendship Group, led by Hon Emerenzio Barbieri
• July 2009: Stefania Craxi, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs
• April 2009: Adolfo Urso, Depurty Minister in Charge of International Trade