New Zealand and Australia

New Zealand's relationship with Australia is its most important one - for economic, social and security reasons. Although it has always been dominant, this process has accelerated under the Closer Economic Relations (CER) agreement between New Zealand and Australia, signed in 1983.

Australia is New Zealand's largest single market and its strongest trading relationship. The bilateral relationship is underpinned by free movement of people between the two countries, by regular contact at the political level, by close defence ties and by a range of interlocking agreements.

Australia and New Zealand share many foreign and trade policy objectives, although there are some differences of outlook and operation.

Further information about the bilateral relationship can be found on the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade website.

New Zealand has one of the most attractive economies in the world in which to do business. Since undertaking a far-reaching and comprehensive programme of economic reform in the 1980s, New Zealand stands out as a country well adapted for long-term competitiveness. It offers an extensively deregulated, low-cost and resource-rich environment, ensuring its attractiveness as a place to do business.