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Embassies and consular services for Papua New Guinea
| Location | Service areas |
|---|---|
| High Commission of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea | |
| New Zealand High Commission to Papua New Guinea | Papua New Guinea |
Information and advice about the Papua New Guinea landslide
29 May 2024
A severe landslide struck Enga Province in Papua New Guinea on 24 May 2024 leaving a trail of destruction and loss in its wake.
New Zealand has responded to requests for assistance from the Government of Papua New Guinea and has offered a range of options to assist.
The event is ongoing and evacuations of a significant number of people continue. To date, six bodies have been recovered. As previously reported, this toll is expected to rise.
The preliminary estimate of the total affected population is approximately 7,850 and we now believe over 150 structures have been destroyed in the landslide.
The Enga Provincial Administration has declared a state of emergency covering the Maip Mulitaka local government area. An Emergency Response Coordination Team has been set up to lead and coordinate relief efforts, comprised of the Enga Provincial Disaster Coordination Office, the Department of Health, Department of Provincial Works, Police, the Defence Force, and United Nations agencies.
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade Emergency Coordination Centre (ECC) is co-ordinating New Zealand’s response to the disaster.
New Zealand’s relief package
New Zealand’s humanitarian assistance, worth around $1.5 million, responds to requests from the Government of Papua New Guinea and includes:
- The deployment of an NZDF C-130 aircraft to deliver relief supplies to affected communities;
- Sending New Zealand technical expertise to assist, including in the areas of geo-hazards and emergency management; and
- Financial assistance to provide humanitarian relief to affected areas.
New Zealand will continue to work closely with our Papua New Guinea whānau.
Advice for New Zealanders in Papua New Guinea
New Zealanders in Papua New Guinea are encouraged to register on SafeTravel(external link).
New Zealanders requiring urgent consular assistance can call the 24/7 Consular emergency line on +64 99 20 20 20.
Press Release
28 May 2024: New Zealand to support PNG landslide response | Beehive.govt.nz(external link)
About Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea (PNG) is located in the south west Pacific and encompasses the eastern half of New Guinea and its offshore islands. It is New Zealand’s second largest goods export market in the Pacific, after Fiji. PNG’s economy is heavily reliant on natural resources and the extractive sector.
It is also vulnerable to natural disasters such as volcanic eruptions and earthquakes, and faces various social challenges including high levels of gender-based violence, making it a challenging environment.
Find out more about Papua New Guinea.
Trade
PNG is our second largest goods export market in the Pacific, after Fiji. Services are a growing part of the trade relationship with New Zealand companies engaged in consulting and helping with institutional and regulatory reform. New Zealand’s private sector is engaged in PNG across a wide range of industries including communications, construction, aviation, engineering, energy and education.
2018 statistics
| Two-way trade | NZD$257 million* | |
| Goods exports to PNG | NZD$166 million* | Top goods exports: electrical machinery and equipment, meat products, and dairy produce and animal products |
| Goods imports from PNG | NZD$27 million* | Top goods imports: petroleum oils, coffee, and plywood or veneered panels |
| GDP | USD$21.3 billion | |
| GDP per capita | USD$2,530 | NZ GDP per capita is USD$41,267^ |
Sources: *NZ Trade Dashboard(external link) ^IMF WEO April 2019(external link)
Development cooperation
In 2018, PNG launched a new Medium Term Development Plan which prioritises investment in economic sectors and infrastructure, health, education, law and justice. We will work with PNG in these areas, as well as with regional and multilateral partners. We seek to promote and support activities in PNG that encourage the inclusion of all PNG society, including inclusive sustainable economic growth.
Find out more about our current priorities, achievements and activities in PNG.
Embassies
- New Zealand is represented in PNG by the New Zealand High Commission, Port Moresby
- PNG is represented in New Zealand by the High Commission of the Independent State of PNG, Wellington(external link)
Recent official visits
New Zealand to Papua New Guinea
- 2018: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters and Trade and Export Growth Minister David Parker visited Port Moresby in November for APEC Leaders’ Week
- 2018: Finance Minister Grant Robertson visited Port Moresby for APEC meetings in October and Parliamentary Under-Secretary Fletcher Tabuteau visited in May
- 2018: Defence Minister Ron Mark travelled to Papua New Guinea to meet with his counterpart and to sign a Status of Forces Agreement between New Zealand and Papua New Guinea
- 2017: Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully visited Port Moresby where, among others, he met with his PNG counterpart, Rimbink Pato
Papua New Guinea to New Zealand
- 2019: Minister for Foreign Affairs Hon Rimbink Pato visited Wellington in April for bilateral calls
- 2018: Minister for National Planning and Monitoring Hon Richard Maru visited New Zealand in May
- 2018: Foreign Minister Rimbink Pato visited Auckland and Wellington in March for bilateral calls