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Embassies and consular services for Timor-Leste
| Location | Service areas |
|---|---|
| Embassy of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste | |
| New Zealand Embassy to Timor Leste | Timor-Leste |
Our relationship with Timor-Leste
New Zealand and Timor-Leste have a warm relationship. Since Timor-Leste's independence in 2002, we have shared a commitment to peace and democracy.
In 2023 we signed a refreshed Statement of Partnership, which sets out shared principles and priorities to guide cooperation and engagement for a broader, more mature partnership.
Defence and security
Following the 1999 referendum that led to the restoration of Timor-Leste independence, more than 6,000 New Zealand personnel were deployed to Timor-Leste.
New Zealand and Timor-Leste’s military relationship is facilitated by the Status of Forces Agreement signed in 2013 as well as the NZDF Mutual Assistance Programme (MAP) which financially supports Timor-Leste’s participation on New Zealand Defence courses and training activities. Two New Zealand Defence Force personnel are deployed with the Falintil-Forças de Defesa de Timor-Leste (F-FDTL, Timor-Leste Defence Force) providing strategic and logistics advice to the Timorese military.
New Zealand provides support for community policing in Timor-Leste and a small training team to Hari’i Hamutuk’ (Building Together), held annually in Timor-Leste which other like-minded partners also attend.
Timor-Leste is a respected voice for post-conflict states in the multilateral arena.
Development cooperation and sustainability
New Zealand works with Timor-Leste to develop a sustainable and growing economy. We are committed to supporting Timor-Leste’s growth into a stable, democratic and prosperous nation.
Although progress has been made since independence in 2002, Timor-Leste suffers from chronic severe poverty. It is ranked 142 out of 193 countries in the United Nation’s Human Development Index.
We work closely with the Government of Timor-Leste and other partners to deliver effective development activities. New Zealand and Timor-Leste have signed a Statement of Partnership. This sets out the shared principles, priorities and understandings that are guiding cooperation and engagement between New Zealand and Timor-Leste for the period 2022-2026.
New Zealand’s development assistance focuses on education (early childhood education and scholarships and training), private sector development, and security and justice.
The latest information on our International Development Cooperation, including activity details and descriptions, start and end dates, geographic and sectoral focus, and expenditure figures, is available at DevData(external link).
Timor-Leste scholars are eligible for the Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship Programme(external link) which offers undergraduate and postgraduate tertiary scholarships, thematic short-term training, and vocational/professional short-term training. More information, including availability and application processes, are available here(external link).
Find out more about our Development Cooperation elsewhere in Southeast Asia(external link).
Trade and investment
We have a modest trading relationship with Timor-Leste. Key exports from New Zealand are electric machinery and dairy. New Zealand’s principal imports from Timor-Leste are coffee and spices.
We are both members of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), with New Zealand the first to complete bilateral negotiations for Timor-Leste’s accession.
The latest information about New Zealand's trade profile with Timor-Leste is available on the New Zealand Trade Dashboard(external link).