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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 is committed to supporting Timor-Leste’s growth into a stable, democratic and prosperous nation. New Zealand’s development assistance focuses on education (early childhood education and scholarships and training), private sector development, and security and justice.
We partner with local non-government organisations to provide climate change adaption support, such as through water retention programmes.
The International Development Cooperation (IDC) programme works with Timor-Leste to support the development of a sustainable and growing economy.
The latest information on our IDC activities, including activity details and descriptions, start and end dates, geographic and sectoral focus, expenditure figures, is available at DevData(external link).
Find out more about our Development Partnership with Timor-Leste.
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).
People and culture
The Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships Programme(external link) provides tertiary and short-term training scholarship to Timor-Leste scholars.