Updated January 15, 2021
New Zealand
The United States and New Zealand work together closely
opposition center-right National Party is led by Judith
in bilateral, regional, and global contexts to address
Collins. The next election is scheduled for September 2023.
common interests in the areas of defense, foreign affairs,
and trade. Bilateral and multilateral military-to-military
Figure 1. New Zealand in Brief
exercises involving the two countries, such as the 23 nation
RIMPAC naval exercise, have increased in number since
the signing of the Wellington Declaration of 2010 and the
Washington Declaration of 2012. These declarations
marked turning points in bilateral relations after differences
over nuclear policy in the 1980s prompted the United States
to suspend its alliance commitments to New Zealand (see
below). The renewed strength of the bilateral relationship
was also demonstrated by the 2016 visit of the USS
Sampson, the first U.S. warship visit to New Zealand in
more than 30 years. This strengthening of the relationship
has been building since New Zealand’s commitment of
military forces to Afghanistan in 2003. In the view of many
observers, this return to close cooperation puts to rest past
differences over nuclear policy.
Background
New Zealand and the United States have common historical
roots as settler societies of the British Empire. New
Zealand, also known to New Zealanders as Aotearoa or “the
land of the long white cloud,” was first settled by the
Source: CIA World Factbook and the Economist Intel igence Unit.
Polynesian-Maori people around the tenth century. Dutch
navigator Abel Tasman discovered the western coast of
Ardern achieved high approval ratings as a result of her
New Zealand in 1642, but it was English Captain James
government’s effective handling of the Coronavirus Disease
Cook who, over three expeditions in 1769, 1773, and 1777,
2019 (COVID-19) pandemic as well as her earlier handling
circumnavigated and mapped the islands. The 1840 Treaty
of the Christchurch massacre. New Zealand has the lowest
of Waitangi, between the British Crown and indigenous
COVID-19 mortality rate in the OECD with 25 deaths out
Maori Chiefs, serves as the basis for relations between the
of 2,162 infections. Ardern lifted all coronavirus
Maori and European communities. The British Monarch,
restrictions except border controls after reporting zero
Queen Elizabeth II, is the constitutional head of state of
active cases on June 7, 2020. Only New Zealand citizens
New Zealand. Her representative, the Governor General,
acts on the advice of the New Zealand Prime Minister’s
and residents are currently allowed to enter New Zealand.
New Zealand is scheduled to start receiving the Pfizer
Cabinet. New Zealand attained Dominion Status in 1907
vaccine in March 2021. In 2019, a 28-year-old Australian
and gained full political independence from Britain under
described as a white supremacist attacked the Al Noor
the 1947 Statute of Westminster Adoption Act. In 1893,
Mosque and Linwood Islamic Centre in Christchurch and
New Zealand became the first self-governing country to
killed 51 people. Following the attacks, parliament passed
grant all women the right to vote.
legislation outlawing military style semi-automatic
Politics and Elections
weapons and assault rifles.
New Zealand is a unicameral, mixed-member-proportional
Climate Change
(MMP), parliamentary democracy. MMP was introduced in
In 2019, the Ardern government passed the Zero Carbon
New Zealand in 1996. Under MMP, Members of
Act with cross-party support and committed New Zealand
Parliament come from both single-member electorates and
to reduce carbon emissions to 0 by 2050. Methane from
from party lists leading to a parliament in which a party’s
agriculture and waste, which represents over 40% of New
share of the seats roughly mirrors its share of the overall
Zealand’s emissions, was exempt from the zero emissions
vote. New Zealand does not have a state or provincial level
goal, but has a separate reduction target of 24%-47%
of government. The current government, first elected in
reduction below 2017 levels by 2050. In December 2020,
2017 and reelected in October 2020, is led by Prime
New Zealand declared a climate emergency and committed
Minister Jacinda Ardern of the Labour Party. Ardern’s
the government to become carbon neutral by 2025. New
government, with 65 of 120 seats in parliament, is the first
Zealand has a renewable electricity target of 100% by 2035.
to rule in its own right since the institution of MMP. The
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New Zealand
Defense and Foreign Policy
Regional Relations
In part because New Zealand is a small nation, officials
New Zealand enjoys very close relations with Australia, its
place much emphasis on multilateral processes and regional
neighbor across the Tasman Sea. These trans-Tasman ties
economic institutions, and Australia and the United States
are based in the two nations’ common origins as British
figure prominently in New Zealand’s security affairs. New
colonies. These ties were strengthened as the two nations
Zealand’s commitment of regular troops and other
fought together in the Australian New Zealand Army Corp
assistance in support of the Provincial Reconstruction Team
(ANZAC) in places like Gallipoli in World War I. This
in Bamiyan Province, Afghanistan, from 2003 to 2013
relationship evolved into what is known as the “ANZAC
demonstrated, according to some observers, New Zealand’s
spirit” of close defense cooperation. The close economic,
value as a diplomatic and military partner. New Zealand
people-to-people, and cultural ties, as well as a shared love
also demonstrated such support through its deployment of
of rugby, cricket, and other sport, further reinforce bilateral
military trainers in Iraq. New Zealand released a Strategic
relations. The two nations hope to create a “Trans-Tasman
Defence Policy Statement in July 2018 that one report
Bubble” that would allow their citizens to travel to each
called “more bold and frank in terms of the Government’s
country without COVID-19 quarantine restrictions.
foreign policy position … than anything a New Zealand
government has released in recent years.” The Statement
New Zealand has played a key role in promoting peace,
observes that “As Pacific Island countries’ relationships
stability, development, and the environment in the South
with non-traditional partners continue to develop,
Pacific, including in Timor-Leste, Bougainville in Papua
traditional partners such as New Zealand and Australia will
New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands. New Zealand
be challenged to maintain influence.” Specifically, the
worked with Australia and South Pacific nations on the
Policy Statement notes that “China’s more confident
Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations
assertion of its interests has at times raised tensions with
(PACER)–Plus, a free trade accord, which came into force
neighboring states and with the United States.” The
in December 2020. New Zealand provides disaster
statement drew objections from China.
assistance to the region and supports the Pacific Islands
Forum, the region’s principal multilateral organization.
Bilateral Relations with the United
New Zealand has also has set aside 15% of its Exclusive
States
Economic Zone for the Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary. In
The gradual return of close security cooperation between
2018 Ardern’s government announced a reset of New
the United States and New Zealand since 2003 has helped
Zealand’s policy toward the Pacific that is driven in part by
forge a new security partnership between the two countries.
a view that “the Pacific has become an increasingly
The two nations have fought together in many wars and
contested strategic space, under which New Zealand has to
conflicts and, along with Australia, established the
work harder to maintain our positive influence.” In
Australia-New Zealand-United States (ANZUS) alliance in
discussing the Pacific reset, former Foreign Minister
1951. During the mid-1980s the United States suspended its
Winston Peters called for a reenergized approach and
alliance commitments to New Zealand as a result of
stated, “There has never been a time since 1945 when
differences over nuclear policy, stemming from a conflict
Australia and New Zealand need to work together more
between New Zealand legislation that made it nuclear free
closely in the Pacific.” Observers view Nanaia Mahuta’s
and the United States’ policy of neither confirming nor
appointment as new Foreign Minister in 2020 as signaling a
denying the presence of nuclear weapons on U.S. Navy
continuation of previous foreign policy priorities.
ships.
Relations with China
The Wellington Declaration of 2010 was a key turning
A key challenge for New Zealand is balancing concerns
point in United States-New Zealand relations. The
over China’s growing influence with China’s role as its
Wellington Declaration stated that “our shared democratic
largest export destination. New Zealand’s goods exports to
values and common interests” will guide the two nations’
China quadrupled since the signing of a bilateral Free Trade
collective action, and through it the United States and New
Agreement between the two countries in 2008. In 2015,
Zealand agreed to emphasize the importance of democracy,
New Zealand became a founding member of the China-led
human rights, and the rule of law, rather than let differences
Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). On March 27,
over nuclear policy define the relationship. The agreement
2017, New Zealand signed a memorandum of
pointed to the need to address regional and global
understanding with China on China’s One Belt, One Road
challenges including through enhanced dialogue on regional
initiative. More recently, diplomatic relations between New
security, practical cooperation in the Pacific, Foreign
Zealand and China have become somewhat strained, in part
Ministers meetings, political-military discussions, and
due to rising concerns about Chinese influence in New
cooperation on climate change, nuclear proliferation, and
Zealand and the region. In November 2018, New Zealand’s
international extremism. The 2012 Washington Declaration
Government Communications Security Bureau stopped a
on Defense Cooperation further opened the way for
New Zealand telecommunications provider from using
enhanced strategic dialogue and defense cooperation. This
Huawei equipment. In May 2020, former Foreign Minister
momentum has been sustained by subsequent U.S. and New
Peters expressed his view that Taiwan should be able to
Zealand administrations. In 2018, New Zealand announced
rejoin the World Health Organization.
the purchase of 4 Boeing P-8A Poseidon aircraft.
Bruce Vaughn, Specialist in Asian Affairs
IF10389
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New Zealand
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