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 New Zealand |  South Africa |
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New Zealand–South Africa relations refers to thediplomatic relations betweenNew Zealand andSouth Africa. Both countries are members of theCairns Group,Commonwealth of Nations and theUnited Nations.
Both nations are historically linked through theBritish Empire. Although there was very little contact between both territories at the time; between 1899 and 1902, New Zealand contributed over 6,000 soldiers to fight alongside the British during theSecond Boer War to fight against primarilyAfrikaans-speaking settlers of theTransvaal Republic andOrange Free State.[1] Approximately 230 New Zealanders lost their lives in the war which resulted in a British win over the whole of South Africa.[1]
DuringWorld War I andWorld War II; soldiers from both New Zealand and South Africa fought alongside each other in Europe and North Africa.[2][3] South Africa obtained its independence from Great Britain in 1934 while New Zealand obtained its independence in 1947.[4]
After World War II, South Africa adopted the policy ofapartheid against the majority black South African population. New Zealand maintained diplomatic relations with the country until controversy erupted during the1981 South Africa rugby union tour of New Zealand which led to mass protest against the South African government's policy on apartheid.[5] In 1984, New Zealand severed diplomatic relations with South Africa.[6] This followed the election of theLabour government ofDavid Lange, which pledged to close the South African consulate inWellington.[7][8]
After the release ofNelson Mandela from prison and progress on thenegotiations to end apartheid in South Africa came to fruition; New Zealand re-established diplomatic relations with South Africa on 19 January 1994.[6] In May 1994, New Zealand Prime MinisterJim Bolger attended the inauguration of Nelson Mandela.[9] In 1995, South Africa hosted theRugby World Cup and the last game was between New Zealand and South Africa; which deepened the relationship between both fans and politicians of both nations. In November that same year, President Nelson Mandela paid an official visit to New Zealand.[10] In 1996 New Zealand opened a High Commission in Pretoria and South Africa followed suit by opening a High Commission in Wellington in 2009.[11]
In 2013, there was an estimated community of 54,200 South Africans residing in New Zealand.[12] Most of the community arrived to New Zealand after the end of apartheid in South Africa and most came for economic, safety and lifestyle reasons.
In 2017, two-way trade between both nations amounted US$277 million.[13] New Zealand's main export products to South Africa include: dairy products, electronics, machinery and pharmaceuticals. South Africa's main export products to New Zealand include: vehicles, fishing ships, fruits, minerals and machinery.[13]
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