Our relationship with Norway

New Zealand and Norway have a strong relationship, and often work together in multilateral organisations like the UN and the WTO.

We also cooperate on human rights, international security, disarmament, and many aspects of the global environment including climate change and bottom-trawling.

Contacts between New Zealand and Norway have existed since the early stages of European settlement in New Zealand.

Norway is a member of the “Friends of Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform” (FFFSR) – a grouping of non-G20 countries that was initiated by New Zealand in 2010 to support the G20 (and subsequently APEC) commitment to phase out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies.

• More about the Friends of Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform

Norway is active internationally on polar issues. Like New Zealand, it is a claimant state and an active contributor to the Antarctic Treaty System.

In 2011, the Norwegian Prime Minister at the time, Jens Stoltenberg, visited Auckland following a visit to Antarctica to commemorate the centenary of the first ever expedition to reach the South Pole, led by Norwegian Roald Amundsen.  During his visit, Prime Minister Stoltenberg announced his Government’s intent to provide NOK$4m (approx. NZ$1m) for a project led by the New Zealand Antarctic Heritage Trust to conserve the Antarctic Hut of Norwegian explorer Borchgrevink at Cape Adare in the Ross Dependency.

A Working Holiday Scheme between Norway and New Zealand has been in place since July 2005, enabling Norwegian and New Zealand nationals aged between 18 and 30 to work for up to a year in our respective countries. Approximately 4,000 Norwegians visited New Zealand in 2014. 

• Trade
• Working Holiday Scheme
• Embassies
• Recent official visits

Trade

2017 statistics

Working Holiday Scheme

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

To apply, you can complete an online application form and hand deliver it to the VFS Visa Application Centre in Auckland.

For more information, read the Norwegian Immigration website (external link).

Embassies

• New Zealand is represented in Norway by the New Zealand Embassy in Stockholm.
• Norway is represented in New Zealand by the Norwegian Embassy in Canberra.

Recent official visits

New Zealand to Norway

• Hon Anne Tolley, Minister of Social Development, February 2015
• Hon Simon Bridges, Minister of Energy and Resources, February 2014
• Hon Phil Heatley, Minister of Energy, June 2012
• Hon Anne Tolley, Minister of Education, June 2009.

Norway to New Zealand

• Jens Stoltenberg, Prime Minister, December 2011
• Kjell Magne Bondevik, Prime Minister, March 2005.