New Zealand Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and Trade
Manatū Aorere
24 June 2024
195 Lambton Quay
Private Bag 18−901
Wellington 6160
New Zealand
John Smith
T +64 4 439 8000
[FYI request #27179 email]
F +64 4 472 9596
OIA 29441
Tēnā koe John Smith
We refer to your email of 10 June 2024 in which you request the following under the Official
Information Act 1982 (OIA):
A comprehensive list of the dates when each country established diplomatic relations with
New Zealand.
Information about the countries and states that New Zealand has diplomatic relationships with
can be found through a number of publicly available sources.
New Zealand has diplomatic missions and accreditation in a number of countries and territories,
and a number of countries or territories have diplomatic missions and accreditation in
New Zealand. This information is publicly information on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
(the Ministry) website: https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/embassies.
In addition, New Zealand has free trade agreements, or other forms of treaties with a number of
countries or states. You can access information about theses through the following links:
- Free trade agreements:
https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/trade/free-trade-agreements/free-trade-agreements-in-
force
https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/trade/free-trade-agreements/free-trade-agreements-
concluded-but-not-in-force
https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/trade/free-trade-agreements/free-trade-agreements-under-
negotiation
- New Zealand Treaties:
https://www.treaties.mfat.govt.nz/
New Zealand has been a member of the United Nations since 24 October 1945 and has diplomatic
relations with all United Nations members currently totalling 193 member states, as well as 2
observer states, and members of the realm of New Zealand. The list of United Nations member
states can be found on the UN website at: https://www.un.org/en/about-us/member-states.
For many countries there is not a single marker indicating that diplomatic relations were
established on a particular date. It is more that our diplomatic relations can be inferred from the
e [MFAT request email]
w www.mfat.govt.nz
Page 2 of 2
nature and level of our dealings. A start date could be viewed as the accreditation of the first
resident ambassador or opening of a building or the signing of an agreement. This may result in
numerous instances of multiple dates per country or state. Our counterparts in other countries or
states may do the same and view the start date of diplomatic relations with New Zealand
differently.
To establish all instances where New Zealand has any form of diplomatic relationship, and the
start dates of each of these diplomatic relations would require substantial research and review.
Therefore, your request is refused under section 18(f) of the OIA, as the information requested
cannot be made available without substantial collation or research.
Please note that it is our policy to proactively release our responses to official information
requests where possible. Therefore, our response to your request (with your personal information
removed) may be published on the Ministry website: www.mfat.govt.nz/en/about-us/contact-
us/official-information-act-responses/
If you have any questions about this decision, you can contact us by email at:
[email address]. You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the
Ombudsman of this decision by contacting www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone
0800 802 602.
Nāku noa, nā
Sarah Corbett
for Acting Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade
