Our relationship with China
New Zealand and China have a relationship that started in the 1840’s. Since New Zealand and China established diplomatic relations in December 1972, the relationship has developed rapidly, particularly in recent years.
The first Chinese immigrant to New Zealand is thought to have been Appo Hocton, who arrived in Nelson in 1842. The first large scale influx of Chinese to New Zealand occurred in the 1860s, initially for gold-mining. Official contact began in 1912 with trade, missionary, immigration and other links but this came to a standstill in 1949, when the People’s Republic of China was formed. Today tens of thousands of Chinese students and hundreds of thousands of Chinese tourists come to New Zealand each year, and visits between political leaders and heads of state take place regularly.
China is New Zealand’s largest trading partner in goods and second largest overall including trade in services. The New Zealand–China Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signed in 2008 was China's first FTA with a developed country. China is one of the world’s fastest-growing economies and its vast population and growing middle class represent huge potential.
Primer on New Zealand’s relationship with China
To understand more about New Zealand’s bilateral relationship with China, please see this helpful infographic [PDF, 2.5 MB].
The five firsts
China attributes “five firsts” to New Zealand:
- In 1997 New Zealand became the first country to agree to China’s accession to the WTO by concluding the bilateral negotiations component of that process.
- New Zealand was the first country to recognise China as a market economy in 2004.
- New Zealand was the first developed country to commence FTA negotiations with China. In November 2004, New Zealand and China launched FTA negotiations.
- In April 2008, New Zealand became the first country to successfully conclude Free Trade Agreement negotiations with China.
- In November 2016, New Zealand and China jointly announced the launch of negotiations to upgrade our bilateral FTA, a first for a developed country with China.
But New Zealand’s innovative relationship with China extends beyond its trading relationship, and into areas including aid cooperation and mutual recognition of each other’s systems. For example:
- In 2013, New Zealand was the first country to undertake a tripartite development project with China, providing better water infrastructure to the Cook Islands.
- In 2014, New Zealand was the first country to sign inter-governmental agreements with China to jointly produce both television and film productions.
- In 2015, New Zealand was the first developed country to become a prospective founding member of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB); and
- In 2016, New Zealand was the first country to achieve mutual recognition with China on organic food certification.
Education and tourism
Education and tourism links have been growing strongly over the past decade. From early beginnings when both countries offered an exchange programme for three students each, China is now our largest source of foreign students and there were over 34,000 Chinese student enrolments in New Zealand in 2016.
Tourism between our two countries has also increased rapidly. Our first diplomats had to walk into China after flying to Hong Kong because China had no international air links. In high season, there are now over 80 direct flights between New Zealand and China (including Hong Kong) every week. China is the second, and most rapidly-growing, source of tourists to New Zealand (behind Australia), with over 400,000 visitors in 2016.
Trade
2016 statistics
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Total trade in goods
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$19.7 billion
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Exports to China
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$9.4 billion |
Top exports: dairy, wood products, meat
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Imports from China
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$10.3 billion
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Top imports: machinery, clothing & apparel |
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GDP
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US$11 trillion
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| GDP per capita |
US$8,239 |
(NZ GDP per capita is US$36,254) |
| GDP growth |
6.7% |
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We have a strong and growing trade relationship with China. The NZ-China FTA was initially projected to increase our exports by between $225-$350 million each year. However this was rapidly exceeded, with exports increasing by $1 billion in the first year, and growth continuing. A target to reach $20 billion in two-way goods trade by 2015 has already been revised up to $30 billion by 2020.
New Zealand–China FTA
The New Zealand-China FTA was New Zealand’s biggest trade deal since the Closer Economic Relations agreement with Australia in the 1980s. It cements the trading relationship between our two countries, and frees up business for exporters, the service sector and investors. By 2016, New Zealand had duty free access on over 97% of China’s tariff lines, with core dairy products transitioning to full free trade in 2024 for milk powders, and two years earlier for butter, cheese and liquid milk and cream.
Trade in services
China is New Zealand’s largest education market, with 34,000 Chinese student in New Zealand in 2016. Chinese tourists numbered more than 400,000 in 2016. China is New Zealand’s second-largest source of visitors after Australia. While education and tourism are the biggest service exports, New Zealand also increasingly exports ‘knowledge economy’ services such as design, information technology, film and TV, and food safety. New Zealand’s overall services exports to China increased to NZ$2.9 billion in 2016
Investment
Investment between New Zealand and China including Hong Kong has been growing strongly in recent years, reaching NZ$ 6.2 billion in 2016. Chinese investment exists across a diverse range of sectors. Some recent high profile Chinese investments in New Zealand include into Envirowaste and Waste Management, Fisher and Paykel Appliances, Synlait, and PGG Wrightson. Large New Zealand investments in China include Fonterra and Fletcher Building's Formica Group.
Free trade agreements with China
We have a free trade agreement with China:
We're also negotiating a regional free trade agreement that includes China:
Aid
New Zealand no longer has an official aid programme in China — this stopped in 2005. However, we still contribute approximately $300,000 a year through the New Zealand Embassy in Beijing, which funds small-scale projects that reduce poverty and contribute to a more secure, equitable and prosperous China.
Climate change
The New Zealand-China Climate Change Action Plan 2017 enables Chinese and New Zealand carbon markets experts to share technical information and expertise on carbon markets and emission trading schemes, as well as agricultural greenhouse gas mitigation.
The two countries also agree to cooperate more in international climate change negotiations.
The action plan was announced in March 2017 during Chinese Premier Li Keqiang’s visit to New Zealand. It gives practical effect to the broad approach set out in the New Zealand-China Climate Change Cooperation Arrangement signed by the two countries’ leaders in 2014.
Embassies
China Capable public sector project
The New Zealand Government has recently set up the 'China Capable public sector programme'. This programme aims to attract, develop, retain and deploy China expertise across New Zealand's public sector agencies.
China is New Zealand’s second largest trading partner, and our largest goods trading partner, and is different from our traditional trading partners in many respects, including culture and language. Therefore the China Capable public sector project aims to develop China expertise across our public sector agencies. This is an all-of-government project that is currently being led by MFAT.
China-New Zealand initiatives, announced March 2017
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang visited New Zealand from March 26-28. A number of initiatives between China and New Zealand were signed during his visit. The full list is on the Beehive website (external link). These initiatives included nine arrangements signed on behalf of a number of government agencies. These include:
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Memorandum of Arrangement on Strengthening Cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative between the Government of New Zealand and the Government of The People’s Republic Of China. Download the memorandum [PDF, 495 KB].
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Arrangement between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Ministry of Commerce of The People’s Republic Of China on Cooperation on Electronic Commerce. Download the arrangement [PDF, 431 KB].
- Arrangement between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of New Zealand and the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China on Strengthening Exchanges on International Development Cooperation. Download the document [PDF, 466 KB].
Recent official visits
New Zealand to China
- November 2016: Minister for Ethnic Communities Peseta Sam Lotu-liga met with Madame Qiu Yuanping Minister of Overseas Chinese Affairs, Bater Chairman of State Ethnic Affairs Commission, and Xie Yuan Vice President of Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries
- November 2016: MPI Director General Martyn Dunne attended the 4th China’s Food Security & Food Safety Strategy Summit and the 5th Meeting of the MOA-MPI Joint Agricultural Commission in China
- October 2016: Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully travelled to Beijing for official engagements and discussions with his counterpart, Minister Wang Yi
- October 2016: Minister of Defense Gerry Brownlee attended Xiangshan Forum in Beijing
- October 2016: Ambassador for Pacific Economic Development Shane Jones met with officials from Agricultural Ministry of China, Bureau of Fisheries and Fisheries Law Enforcement, and attended the China fisheries and Seafood Expo in Qingdao
- October 2016: Speaker of the House Carter visited China, travelling to Kunming, Hohhot and Beijing
- October 2016: Trade Minister Hon Todd McClay visited Beijing and met with Minister of Commerce Gao Hucheng for discussions on the FTA upgrade
- September 2016: Food Safety Minister Jo Goodhew visited Beijing for official engagements and to attend a high-profile Taste of New Zealand gourmet dinner and launch an extension of the MPI-CFDA scholarship programme
- July 2016: Trade Minister Todd McClay travelled to Shanghai, Hangzhou and Beijing to attend the G20 Trade Ministerial Meeting, at China’s special request, call on Alibaba’s headquarters and meet significant investors
- April 2016: Prime Minister John Key travelled to Beijing, Xi’an and Shanghai for official engagements with President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang and provincial leaders, discussions with senior entrepreneurs including Jack Ma and opened the New Zealand Film Festival
China to New Zealand
- March 2017: Deputy Administrator of Civil Aviation Administration Li Jian met with New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority in Wellington
- February 2017: Vice Chair of the National Development and Reform Commission Zhang Yong attended the Inaugural Senior Climate Change Dialogue held in New Zealand
- February 2017: Minister of China National Tourism Administration Li Jinzao visited New Zealand and met with Deputy PM and Tourism Minister Paula Bennett
- December 2016: Industry and Information Technology Vice Minister Liu Lihua met with senior officials from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
- June 2016: Justice Minister Wu Aiying visited met Justice Minister Amy Adams, Police Minister Collins and the New Zealand Law Society
- May 2016: Politburo Member for Publicity, Liu Qibao met Prime Minister John Key, Culture and Heritage Minister Maggie Barry and launched a China Film Week at Te Papa, co-hosted by China and the New Zealand Film Commission
- April 2016: Procurator-General Cao Jianming met Justice Minister Amy Adams, Attorney-General Chris Finlayson, Chief Justice Dame Sian Elias as well as Corrections Minister Judith Collins
- November 2014: President Xi Jinping made a state visit to New Zealand. He met with Governor-General Jerry Mateparae and held talks with Prime Minister John Key
