New Zealand and Brazil

New Zealand and Brazil have a friendly and developing relationship with many areas of common interest, both bilaterally and internationally. Relations between the two countries have strengthened considerably since the launch of the New Zealand Government's Latin American Strategy in August 2000. The establishment of the New Zealand Embassy in Brasilia in 2001 was one of the key features of the Strategy. Brazil opened its Embassy in Wellington in 1997.

High Level visits

Recent high level visitors to Brazil include Rt Hon Winston Peters, Minister of Foreign Affairs in March 2007. New Zealand’s Minister of Conservation, Hon Chris Carter, and Minister of State, Hon Jim Sutton, also visited Brazil in 2006. Minister Peters was received in Brasilia by Brazilian Foreign Minister Amorim and had meetings with President Lula, International Advisor Marco Aurelio Garcia, and members of the Brazilian Congress, including the President of the Senate, Renan Calheiros.

On the Brazilian side, the now ex-Ministers of Agriculture, Roberto Rodrigues and Luis Guedes visited New Zealand in 2005 and 2006 respectively. President Lula’s International Advisor, Marco Aurelio Garcia also visited New Zealand in 2006.

Trade relations

Merchandise trade between New Zealand and Brazil remains modest (NZ$170 million of two-way trade in 2006), with the balance of trade in Brazil's favour. The pattern of New Zealand's trade and economic interests in Brazil is shifting away from exports of goods towards investment and licensing arrangements. The most significant of these is the establishment by Fonterra of a major joint venture in the Brazilian dairy sector in 2003.

Trade in services (eg sale of education and tourism services) is the other essential strand of New Zealand's trading relationship with Brazil. Visitor arrivals from Brazil have increased substantially over the last few years. Almost 9000 Brazilians visited New Zealand during 2006. On average, more than 1500 Brazilians now study in New Zealand each year, with the vast majority combining English language studies with holidays.

Brazil and New Zealand work very closely together in many international organisations, not least in ongoing WTO negotiations aiming towards greater liberalisation of agricultural trade. Brazil and New Zealand also maintain regular contact on human rights, environment, Law of the Sea, whaling and Antarctic issues, and are founding members of the 'New Agenda' initiative on nuclear disarmament.