General Information » Economy » International Relations

As a small, fairly politically neutral nation, New Zealand has done little to cause offence on the world stage, and as such its citizens are pretty much welcomed everywhere. It’s a state of affairs which is mirrored by the representation of most major foreign embassies and consulates in New Zealand.

There have been one or two exceptions to this rule. While New Zealand has always remained loyal to its colonial past and remains a proud and active member of the Commonwealth, its first real act of independent international relations was the forging of the ANZUS Treaty in 1951.

The alliance between New Zealand, Australia and the USA was a commitment to defend each other against attack and became the cornerstone of the country’s international relations. That was, until New Zealand’s ‘no nukes’ policy (banning nuclear-powered or armed ships from using its ports) in the mid 80s led to a stand-off with the US that has strained relations ever since. The current war in Iraq has not helped matters. The New Zealand government remains defiantly opposed to the actions of its powerful one-time ally.

The country’s anti-nuclear stance formed the basis of its only other major international contretemps, when members of the French secret service bombed Greenpeace vessel, The Rainbow Warrior, (see box) in 1985.