New Zealand and Cuba

New Zealand has had diplomatic representation to Cuba through its Embassy in Mexico City since 2001. Early that year, a New Zealand parliamentary delegation led by Hon Doug Kidd visited Cuba for an International Parliamentary Union conference. In January 2002, the then Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Hon Phil Goff, undertook a bilateral visit to Cuba.

Trade plays a significant role in the bilateral relationship. In the year to December 2008, New Zealand exports to Cuba were worth NZ$124.6 million, predominantly dairy products. The dairy trade is driven by the Cuban Government’s social policy of providing each Cuban child under four with a litre of liquid milk every day. Cuban exports to New Zealand during the same period were worth NZ$1.2 million.

For further information on the New Zealand - Cuba bilateral relationship, please refer to the Cuba information paper on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade website.