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Pakistan-New Zealand Relations

Pakistan and New Zealand enjoy cordial and friendly relations. Pakistan opened its High Commission in Wellington in 2006. New Zealand does not have an Embassy in Islamabad.  New Zealand's Ambassador in Tehran is concurrently accredited to Pakistan and Afghanistan.

 

Pakistan and New Zealand are members of the Commonwealth and have supported each other on various international forums.

 

Dame Winnie Laban, a former Cabinet Minister and currently Pro-Vice Chancellor of the Victoria University of Wellington was part of the Commonwealth Elections Observers Group during the General elections 2018. She deeply appreciated the conduct of the General elections and expressed satisfaction on the overall fairness of the election process 2018.  

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Leadership Level interaction and visits

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From Pakistan to New Zealand

  • Mr. Ahsan Iqbal, Minister of Planning, Development and Reform visited New Zealand in March 2015

  • President Musharraf visited New Zealand in 2005

  • Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Kasuri visited New Zealand in 2005

 

From New Zealand to Pakistan

  • Foreign Minister Murray McCully paid a visit to Islamabad on 24 January 2014 at the invitation of Mr. Sartaj Aziz, Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs.​

  • Sir Douglas Kidd, Chairperson of the Commonwealth Observer Mission visited Pakistan to monitor May 11, 2013 elections.

  • Former Governor General of New Zealand, Lieutenant General Jerry Mateparae, visited Pakistan in June 2007 in his capacity as Chief of New Zealand Defence Forces.

  • Minister for Trade, Disarmament and Defence Phil Goff visited Pakistan in April 2007, to attend Cairns Group Ministerial Meeting in Lahore. 

 

Meetings 

  • Prime Minister Imran Khan met Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern, on the sidelines of 74th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York on 24 September 2019. 

  • Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Prime Minister John Key met on the sidelines of 71st Session of the UNGA, on 19 September 2016 in New York.

  • Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Mr. Sartaj Aziz met Foreign Minister Murray McCully on the sidelines of ASEAN Regional Forum Ministerial in Vientiane, Lao PDR on 25 July 2016.

  • Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Mr. Sartaj Aziz met Foreign Minister Murray McCully on the sidelines of ASEM Foreign Minister’s Meeting in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on 16 July 2016.

  • Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Mr. Sartaj Aziz met Foreign Minister Murray McCully on the sidelines of ASEM Foreign Minister’s Meeting in New Delhi on 11-12 November  2013.

  • Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif met Prime Minister John Key in Colombo during the Retreat at the Commonwealth Summit on 16 November 2013.

  • Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi met his Kiwi counterpart Murray McCully on the sidelines of the 16th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), Ministerial Meeting in July 2009.

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Bilateral Trade

From Pakistan to New Zealand 

  • 2018 – US$ 51.74 million

  • 2017 – US$ 53.53 million

 

Export Items:       Textiles products such as linen, cotton, yarn and apparel, cereals, carpets and leather articles

 

From New Zealand to Pakistan                  

  • 2018 – US$ 99.52 million

  • 2017 – US$ 67.83 million

 

Export Items:     Dairy products, honey, wood pulp, paper, edible oil, raw hides, wool, iron steel,

sugar, cocoa and electrical machinery

 

 

Diplomatic Representation

 

Pakistan                                    H.E. Mr. Murad Ashraf Janjua,

                                                  High Commissioner (since 5 November 2020)

 

New Zealand                           H.E. Mr. Hamish MacMaster

                                                  High Commissioner (Based in Tehran with concurrent accreditation to                                                                                Pakistan)

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Recommended ‘Do’s and Don’ts’ for New Zealand

Do’s

 

  • Say hello to the person sitting on the reception or the salesperson as soon as you enter the shop even when you don’t need their assistance. Kiwis are very warm and welcoming and like to greet with a smile.

  • Keep at least a meter distance especially after COVID.

  • Call people by their first names even in professional settings and do not be offended if a very junior colleague calls you by your first name.

  • Be mindful and respectful of the indigenous Maori culture.

  • Learn common Maori words that are now part of NZ’s language like Kia Ora (hello), whānau (family), whenua (land/country), iwi (tribe) etc.

 

 

Don’ts

 

  • Do not enter someone’s house with shoes on.

  • Do not litter or throw garbage on the street.

  • Do not stare. Kiwis are very accommodating to different cultures and personalities and would try to make different people comfortable by not staring at them.

  • Do not try to stand out. Kiwis prefer humbleness over ostentation. One is discouraged to try to stand out through their wealth or other achievements. They do not like to use titles like Dr., Ms., Mr., and usually prefer to be called by their first names.

  • Don’t be loud in public spaces like buses and roads.

  • Do not drive over speed limit and do not honk. Honking is considered very rude unless absolutely necessary.

News on Pak-NZ Relations

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