Sweden

Our relationship with Sweden

New Zealand and Sweden have a strong relationship underpinned by shared interests and similar outlooks on global issues, including rules based trade, agricultural reform, disarmament, human rights, and the environment. New Zealand and Sweden’s diplomatic relationship was established in 1949. New Zealand had an Embassy in Stockholm from 2008-2012, and from 2018 to present. Sweden’s Embassy is accredited to New Zealand from Canberra, Australia.

Contacts between New Zealand and Sweden have existed since the early stages of European settlement in New Zealand, with significant numbers of Swedes settling in the North Island along with other Scandinavians.

Sweden is a champion of sustainable growth and a founding member of the Friends of Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform, a group of non-G20 countries initiated by New Zealand in 2010 to support the G20 (and subsequently APEC) commitment to phase out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies.

Sweden is also one of the original members of the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases, established by New Zealand in 2009. This alliance focuses on research, development and extension of technologies and practices that will help deliver ways to grow more food without increasing greenhouse gas emissions.

Sweden is a world leader in innovation in many fields and there are opportunities for New Zealand to grow its trade with Sweden in areas such as life science, green technology, mechanics, computing, and vehicles. The EU New Zealand Free Trade Agreement 2024 provides a modern framework for trade and economic relations.

As a member of the EU, Sweden is also connected to New Zealand through the EU- New Zealand Partnership for Relations and Cooperation (the PARC), and through New Zealand’s associated country status in Pillar 2 of Horizon Europe, the EU’s funding programme for research and innovation projects.  

Working Holiday Scheme

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

Other Bilateral Agreements

Other bilateral agreements between our two countries include a Bilateral Visa Waiver Agreement, a Double Tax Agreement and an Air Services Agreement. These can be found on New Zealand Treaties Online(external link).

Trade

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

As Sweden is a European Union member state, the EU-NZ FTA applies to trade between Sweden and New Zealand.

Embassies

• New Zealand is represented in Sweden by the New Zealand Embassy to Sweden
• Sweden is represented in New Zealand by the Embassy of Sweden in Canberra. There is a Swedish Consulate located in Christchurch and in Auckland.

Recent official visits

New Zealand to Sweden

• April 2024: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rt Hon Winston Peters
• July 2023: Prime Minister, Rt Hon Chris Hipkins, and Minister for Trade and Export Growth, Hon Damien O’Connor
• April 2023: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon Nanaia Mahuta
• June 2022: Minister for Energy and Resources, Hon Dr Megan Woods
• June 2019: Minister of Justice, Hon Andrew Little, visited Stockholm to participate in a ministerial meeting on nuclear disarmament
• Nov 2018: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rt Hon Winston Peters
• May 2018: Associate Minister of Transport, Hon Julie Anne Genter
• February 2017: Speaker, Hon David Carter
• February 2016: Minister for Trade, Hon Todd McClay
• October 2015: Minister of Local Government, Hon Paula Bennett

Sweden to New Zealand

• February 2023: Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Victoria, Prince Daniel and Minister for International Development and Foreign Trade, Johan Forssell
• September 2014: Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces, General Sverker Göranson
• March 2014: State Secretary Bertil Osberg attended the fourth International Summit on the Teaching Profession in Wellington