This is a list of diplomatic missions of New Zealand. New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (NZMFAT) is responsible for nearly fifty embassies and consulates globally. The country is particularly active in the South Pacific, as well as in Asia and South America where it is expanding its commercial reach.
As New Zealand is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, its diplomatic missions in the capitals of fellow member-states are called High Commissions, as opposed to embassies.
This listing excludes honorary consulates and trade offices, except for the New Zealand Commerce and Industry Office in Taipei, which serves as a de facto embassy to Taiwan.
History New Zealand independence was a gradual process, and the establishment of an independent New Zealand diplomatic service was similarly gradual. At first, New Zealand's foreign affairs were handled by the United Kingdom, and the only diplomacy conducted by the colonial government in New Zealand were negotiations with the British authorities. Relations between New Zealand and Britain were handled by an Agent-General in London, with the first being appointed in 1871. The title was changed to High Commissioner in 1905, reflecting the increasing autonomy of New Zealand.
It was not until World War II, however, that New Zealand sent permanent diplomatic missions to other countries. To facilitate co-ordination of the war effort New Zealand established several posts in countries with which it was allied—the first was a legation in the United States in 1941. In 1942 and 1943, high commissions were opened in Ottawa and Canberra respectively, and in 1944, a legation was established in the Soviet Union. The latter was considered a striking departure from New Zealand's previous diplomatic activities—enthusiasm for the post was strongest in the governing Labour Party, and the opposition National Party later made its closure one of their campaign policies.
The opening of these posts prompted New Zealand to establish its own foreign ministry, the Department of External Affairs. Created by the External Affairs Act in June 1943, the new department incorporated an older office of the same name (dealing with island territories) and those sections of the Prime Minister's office which had previously co-ordinated diplomacy.
In 1947, a resident trade representative was appointed in Japan, followed by the establishment of legations in Paris (1949) and The Hague (1950). By the late 1950s, these three posts, along with Washington, had been upgraded to embassies. However, the Moscow post was closed in 1950 by the new National Party government. From 1955 to 1961, a string of new missions opened in Asia — Singapore, India, Thailand, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Indonesia. When Samoa obtained its independence from New Zealand in 1962, it became the first Pacific Island state to host a New Zealand diplomatic post.
The mid-1960s saw a cluster of new posts opening in Europe, with new missions in Belgium, Greece, Germany and Italy. A post was also opened in South Vietnam due to the ongoing conflict there, although this did not last beyond the end of the Vietnam War. A post was established in the Cook Islands after they obtained self-government from New Zealand, becoming New Zealand's second mission in the south Pacific.
The 1970s and 1980s were a time of continued expansion for NZMFAT. In 1973, the Labour government of Norman Kirk reopened its embassy in the Soviet Union and opened an embassy in the People's Republic of China. However it was in the Pacific where New Zealand's representation rapidly expanded as several countries gained independence, including Fiji, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Niue, Tonga, and Vanuatu. Frequently New Zealand was the first country to establish a mission in these states. New Zealand also expanded into the Middle East, Latin America, Africa, and elsewhere in Asia.
The early 1990s were a time of substantial reorganisation of New Zealand's diplomatic missions, and saw a number of closures. A substantial redistribution of New Zealand's European resources took place—posts in Greece and Austria were closed, while a new post was established in Spain. New Zealand's post in Iraq was closed due to the Gulf War, and the post in Bahrain was shut shortly afterwards—the post in Saudi Arabia assumed most of its duties, aided by a new post in Turkey. The end of apartheid in resulted in a decision to move New Zealand's post in Zimbabwe to South Africa. In South America New Zealand's embassy in Peru was also closed, but missions were opened in Brazil and Argentina.
In April 2008 it was announced that the budget for NZMFAT would be dramatically increased, and would include the opening of new missions in Stockholm and Brisbane.
Current missions Africa Host country Host city Mission Year Opened Concurrent accreditation Cairo Embassy 2006 Addis Ababa Embassy 2013 Pretoria High Commission 1996
Americas Host country Host city Mission Year Opened Concurrent accreditation Buenos Aires Embassy 1998 Brasília Embassy 2001 São Paulo Consulate-General 2022 Ottawa High Commission 1942 Vancouver Consulate-General 2022 Santiago de Chile Embassy 1972 Bogotá Embassy 2018 Mexico City Embassy 1983 Washington, D.C. Embassy 1941 Honolulu Consulate-General 2014 Los Angeles Consulate-General 1935 New York City Consulate-General 1947
Asia Host country Host city Mission Year Opened Concurrent accreditation Beijing Embassy 1973 Guangzhou Consulate-General 2013 Hong Kong Consulate-General 1960 Shanghai Consulate-General 1992 New Delhi High Commission 1957 Mumbai Consulate-General 2019 Jakarta Embassy 1961 Tehran Embassy 1974 Tokyo Embassy 1947 Kuala Lumpur High Commission 1959 Yangon Embassy 2013 Manila Embassy 1975 Riyadh Embassy 1985 Singapore High Commission 1955 Seoul Embassy 1971 Colombo High Commission 2022 Taipei Commerce & Industry Office 1989 Bangkok Embassy 1956 Dili Embassy 2000 Ankara Embassy 1993 Abu Dhabi Embassy 2011 Dubai Consulate-General 2007 Hanoi Embassy 1995 Ho Chi Minh City Consulate-General 1995
Europe Host country Host city Mission Year Opened Concurrent accreditation Vienna Embassy 1973 Brussels Embassy 1967 Paris Embassy 1949 Nouméa, New Caledonia Consulate-General 1972 Berlin Embassy 1966 Dublin Embassy 2018 Rome Embassy 1966 Milan Consulate-General The Hague Embassy 1950 Warsaw Embassy 2004 Moscow Embassy 1944 Madrid Embassy 1991 Stockholm Embassy 2008 Geneva Consulate-General 1961 London High Commission 1871
Oceania Host country Host city Mission Year Opened Concurrent accreditation Canberra High Commission 1943 Melbourne Consulate-General 1905 Sydney Consulate-General 1905 Suva High Commission 1970 Avarua High Commission 1965 Tarawa High Commission 1989 Alofi High Commission 1974 Port Moresby High Commission 1974 Apia High Commission 1962 Honiara High Commission 1978 Nukuʻalofa High Commission 1977 Port Vila High Commission 1987
Multilateral organisations Organization Host City Host country Mission Year Opened Concurrent accreditation Association of Southeast Asian Nations Jakarta Indonesia Mission 2015 Brussels Belgium Permanent Mission 1967 New York City United States Permanent Mission 1955 Geneva Switzerland Permanent Mission 1961 Geneva Switzerland Permanent Mission 1961
Closed missions
Africa Host country Host city Mission Year closed Harare Embassy 1998
Americas Host country Host city Mission Year closed Lima Embassy 1990 Toronto Consulate-General 1982
Asia Host country Host city Mission Year closed Kabul Embassy 2014 Manama Embassy 1991 Baghdad Embassy 2020 Osaka Consulate-General 1999 Saigon Embassy 1975
Europe Host country Host city Mission Year closed Athens Embassy 1991
Oceania Host country Host city Mission Year closed Adelaide Consulate-General 1990 Brisbane Consulate-General 2010 Perth Consulate-General 1990
See also Foreign relations of New Zealand List of diplomatic missions in New Zealand Visa policy of New Zealand Visa requirements for New Zealand citizens
Notes
References
External links Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of New Zealand