New Zealand–American relations

United States	New Zealand
Diplomatic mission
Embassy of the United States, Wellington	Embassy of New Zealand, Washington, D.C.

New Zealand is amajor non-NATO ally of theUnited States.^[1]

United States and New Zealand share comparable histories; both nations grew fromBritish colonies and both have indigenous populations ofEast Polynesian descent (Māori andNative Hawaiians). Both nations are known for their proximity to the Pacific Ocean, and the New Zealand-United States relationship is a key factor ofAsia-Pacific geopolitics. Both states have also been part of aWestern alliance of states in various wars. Together with three otherAnglophone countries, they comprise theFive Eyes espionage and intelligence alliance.

New Zealand and the United States are old friends. While the United States is an immensely powerful nation, New Zealand is a small country, possessing for the most part only soft power, but with a record of deploying to help troubled nations find a way forward. New Zealand and the United States, with our strong shared values, can work together to shape a better world, as we are. That, and our strong economic, scientific, education, and people to people ties, makes this relationship a very important one to New Zealand, which we seek to strengthen.

Cross-cultural similarities between theMāori (tangata māori) of precolonial New Zealand and native Hawaiians (kanaka māoli) date back thousands of years. According to oral history, the Māori homeland isHawaiki, a semi-mythical island from which the name of thestate of Hawaii is derived.^[3][4] The Māori language and the Hawaiian language are closely relatedPolynesian languages, to the extent that the Hawaiians' endonymKānaka Maoli itself iscognate toTangata Māori of the former^[5] both deriving from Proto-Polynesian*ma(a)qoli, which has the reconstructed meaning "true, real, genuine".^[6][7]

The United States established consular representation in New Zealand in 1838 to represent and protect American shipping and whaling interests, appointingJames Reddy Clendon as consul, resident atOkiato in theBay of Islands.^[8] In 1840, New Zealand became part of theBritish Empire with the signing of theTreaty of Waitangi. Although it gradually grew more independent, for its first hundred years, New Zealand followed the United Kingdom's lead on foreign policy. In declaring war on Germany on 3 September 1939, Prime MinisterMichael Joseph Savage proclaimed, "Where she goes, we go; where she stands, we stand".

While Hawaii was still anindependent kingdom, many Hawaiian sailors in the 1850s settled atPapakōwhai not far from Wellington, where they were referred to with the exonymWahu (after the islandOʻahu).^[9] On the other hand, Māori New Zealanders quickly established a community atManoa; they at one point gained the audience withKamehameha andKalākaua nobility in 1920.^[10]

New Zealand has fought in a number of conflicts on the same side as the United States, includingWorld War I,World War II, theKorean War, theVietnam War, theGulf War and theAfghanistan War; it also sent a unit of army engineers to help rebuild Iraqi infrastructure during theIraq War.

During the Pacific theatre of WWII (1941–1945), significant numbers of US military personnel were deployed to New Zealand to prepare for crucial battles such asGuadalcanal andTarawa;^[11] there were between 15,000 and 45,000 US servicemen stationed in New Zealand at any one time between June 1942 and mid-1944.^[12] The habits and spending power of these troops had various influences on New Zealand's culture.

Though relations were largely positive, some points of tension developed. For example, the1st Marine Division, was tasked with loading reconfiguration from administrative to combat configuration during a strike by Wellington dock workers.^[13] TheBattle of Manners Street also occurred in Wellington involving American servicemen and New Zealand servicemen and civilians outside the Allied Services Club in Manners Street after American servicemen in the Services Club began forcibly stoppingMāori soldiers from also using the Club because of their skin colour. Many New Zealand soldiers in the area, both white (Pākehā) and Māori, combined in opposition. The battle resulted in a possible two American deaths and 1 New Zealand Serviceman being arrested, as well as a cover up.

After the war New Zealand joined withAustralia and the United States in theANZUS security treaty in 1951.

New Zealand was among those who responded to theUnited Nations call for help in Korea. New Zealand joined 15 other nations, including the United Kingdom and the United States, in the anti-communist war. The Korean War was also significant, as it marked New Zealand's first move towards association with the United States' stand against communism.^[14]

New Zealand contributed six frigates, several smaller craft, and a 1044 strong volunteer force (known as K-FORCE) to theKorean War. The ships were under the command of a British flag officer^[15] and formed part of theUS Navy screening force during theBattle of Inchon, performing shore raids and inland bombardment. The last New Zealand soldiers did not leave until 1957 and a single liaison officer remained until 1971. A total of 3,794 New Zealand soldiers served in K-FORCE and 1300 in theNavy deployment. 33 were killed in action, 79 wounded and one soldier was taken prisoner. That prisoner was held in North Korea for eighteen months and repatriated after the armistices.

The Australia, New Zealand, United States Security Treaty (ANZUS or ANZUS Treaty) is the military alliance which binds Australia and New Zealand and, separately, Australia and the United States to cooperate on defence matters in thePacific Ocean area, though today the treaty is understood to relate to defence operations. Initially the 1951 ANZUS Treaty was a fully mutualcollective security alliance between Australia, New Zealand and the United States, but this is no longer the case as the United States suspended its treaty obligations to New Zealand following the refusal to allow an American destroyer, theUSS Buchanan, into a New Zealand port in February 1985. A 1984 policy of aNew Zealand nuclear-free zone meant that any ship thought to be carrying nuclear weapons was banned from New Zealand's ports, which meant all American naval vessels were essentially denied access due to the American policy to 'neither confirm nor deny' the presence of nuclear weapons.^[17]

In suspending obligations to New Zealand under the ANZUS treaty, theUS cut major military and diplomatic ties between Wellington and Washington, downgrading New Zealand from 'ally', to 'friend'.^[18] This included removing New Zealand from military exercises and war games in the area, and limiting the intelligence sharing to New Zealand.^[19] New Zealand has not removed itself from ANZUS, arguing that allowing nuclear weapons into New Zealand was not part of the ANZUS treaty, and that New Zealand's position is not a pacifist or Anti-American decision,^[20] and would increase its conventional military cooperation with the US.^[21] The Americans felt personally betrayed by the New Zealanders and would not accept the anti-nuclear stance,^[22] stating that New Zealand will be welcome back in ANZUS if and when New Zealand accepted all US ship visits.^[17] The New Zealand government passed theNew Zealand Nuclear Free Zone, Disarmament, and Arms Control Act 1987.^[23] This Act formalized the previous policy of New Zealand being anuclear-free zone and banned all nuclear-powered ships or nuclear weapons from entering New Zealand waters or air space.^[24]

New Zealand's relationship with the United States further suffered when French agentssank theRainbow Warrior while it was docked in Auckland Harbour in July 1985. The United States, as well as other western countries aside from Australia, failed to condemn the attack which was seen in New Zealand asstate-sponsored terrorism by the French. This inaction furthered the breach between the two countries, with the US State Department finally stating that it "deplored such acts, wherever they may occur" in September 1985, a few days after the French admission of guilt.^[25]

In 1996, the United States under PresidentBill Clinton reinstated New Zealand's status from a 'friend' to an 'ally' by designating New Zealand as aMajor non-NATO ally.^[26]

Although the ANZUS treaty has never been officially called on by the United States, New Zealand has fought alongside the United States in multiple conflicts since it was signed, notably theKorean War,Vietnam War,Gulf War, andWar in Afghanistan.

New Zealand's involvement in theVietnam War was highly controversial, sparking widespread protest at home from anti-Vietnam War movements modelled on their American counterparts.^[27] This conflict was also the first in which New Zealand did not fight alongside the United Kingdom, instead following the loyalties of the ANZUS Pact (Australia also fought in the war).^[28]

New Zealand's initial response was carefully considered, and characterised by Prime MinisterKeith Holyoake's cautiousness towards the entire Vietnam question. New Zealand non-military economic assistance continued from 1966 and averaged US$347,500 annually. This funding went to mobile health teams to support refugee camps, the training of village vocational experts, to medical and teaching equipment forHuế University, equipment for a technical high school and a contribution toward the construction of a science building at the University of Saigon. Private civilian funding was also donated for 80 Vietnamese students to take scholarships in New Zealand.

The government preferred minimal involvement, with otherSoutheast Asian deployments already straining the New Zealand armed forces. From 1961, New Zealand came under pressure from the United States to contribute military and economic assistance to South Vietnam, but refused.

American pressure continued for New Zealand to contribute military assistance,^[29] as the United States would be deploying combat units (as opposed to merely advisors) itself soon, as would Australia. Holyoake justified New Zealand's lack of assistance by pointing to its military contribution as an ally ofMalaysia, which was confronted in arms by Indonesia, but eventually the government decided to contribute. It was seen as in the nation's best interests to do so—failure to contribute even a token force to the effort in Vietnam would have undermined New Zealand's position in ANZUS and could have had an adverse effect on the alliance itself. New Zealand had also established its post-Second World War security agenda around countering communism in South-East Asia and of sustaining a strategy of forward defence, and so needed to be seen to be acting upon these principles. On 27 May 1965 Holyoake announced the government's decision to send 161 Battery,Royal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery to South Vietnam in a combat role. The Engineers^{[clarification needed]} were replaced by the battery in July 1965. The battery served under the U.S.173rd Airborne Brigade until the formation of the1st Australian Task Force in 1966.

In 1966, when the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation came to an end, Australia and New Zealand were pressured by the United States to expand their involvement in the Vietnam War. The 1st Australian Task Force (1ATF) was formed with additional Australian infantry and artillery, supported by Australian tanks, cavalry, air support, logistics, intelligence, engineering, andspecial forces. The task force was given the province ofPhuoc Tuy as its tactical area of operations. New Zealand reluctantly increased its commitment by sending two companies ofRNZIR troops in 1967. The companies were integrated into2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment in March 1968, forming the 2RAR/NZ (ANZAC) Battalion, with New Zealand personnel assuming various positions in the battalion, including that of second in command. ANZSAS troop was sent in 1968 and worked on operations with the Australian SAS. The New Zealand rifle companies were deployed on infantry operations with various Australian regiments and in independent operations in addition to their battalion operations, with each member serving a 12-month tour of duty thereafter.

The RNZA artillery battery continued to support Australian, New Zealand, and American forces throughout the entire war. RNZAF pilots joinedNo. 9 Squadron RAAF in 1968 and from December 1968 more than a dozen RNZAFforward air controllers served with theSeventh Air Force,United States Air Force.^[30]

As American focus shifted to PresidentRichard Nixon's 'Vietnamization'—a policy of slow disengagement from the war, by gradually building up theArmy of the Republic of Vietnam so that it could fight the war on its own—New Zealand withdrew one of the infantry companies at the end of 1970, replacing it with a training team in January 1971. Numbering 25 men from all branches of service, the New Zealand team assisted theUnited States Army Training Team in Chi Lang. In December 1971 all Australian and New Zealand combat forces left Vietnam after turning over the 1ATF base to the Army of the Republic of Vietnam. In February 1972 a second NZ training team, 18 strong, was deployed to Vietnam and was based atDong Ba Thin Base Camp, near Cam Ranh Bay. It assisted with the training ofCambodian infantry battalions. This team also provided first aid instruction and specialist medical instruction at Dong Ba Thin's 50-bed hospital. The two New Zealand training teams were withdrawn from South Vietnam in December 1972.^[31]

Like veterans from many of the other allied nations, as well as Vietnamese civilians, New Zealand veterans of the war claimed that they (and their children and grandchildren) had suffered serious harm as a result of exposure toAgent Orange, aherbicidal warfare programme used by the British military during theMalayan Emergency and the U.S. military during the Vietnam War. In 1984, Agent Orange manufacturers paid New Zealand, Australian and Canadian veterans in an out-of-court settlement,^[1] and in 2004 Prime MinisterHelen Clark's government apologised to Vietnam War veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange or other toxic defoliants,^[2] following a health select committee's inquiry into the use of Agent Orange on New Zealand servicemen and its effects.^[3] In 2005, the New Zealand government confirmed that it supplied Agent Orange chemicals to the United States military during the conflict. Since the early 1960s, and up until 1987, it manufactured the 2,4,5T herbicide at a plant inNew Plymouth, which was then shipped to U.S. military bases in South East Asia.

New Zealand has assisted the United States andBritain in many of their military activities in theMiddle East. However New Zealand forces have fought only in Afghanistan; in other countries New Zealand support has been in the form of support and engineering. During theIran–Iraq War two New Zealand frigates joined the BritishRoyal Navy in monitoring merchant shipping in thePersian Gulf. and in 1991, New Zealand contributed three transport aircraft and a medical team to assistcoalition forces in theGulf War.

New Zealand's heaviest military involvement in the Middle East in recent decades has been in Afghanistan following theUnited States-led invasion of that country after theSeptember 11 attacks. A Squadron ofNew Zealand Special Air Service (NZSAS) personnel were dispatched, and in March 2002 they took part inOperation Anaconda against about 500 to 1000Al-Qaeda andTaliban forces in theShah-i-Kot Valley and Arma Mountains southeast of Zorma, Afghanistan. New Zealand has also supplied two transport aircraft and a 122-strong tri-service Provincial Reconstruction Team, which has been located inBamyan Province since 2003.^[32]

TheNew Zealand Special Air Service (NZSAS) began operations assisting in theWar in Afghanistan in late 2001. Three six-month rotations of between 40 and 65 soldiers from the SAS served in Afghanistan duringOperation Enduring Freedom before the unit was withdrawn in November 2005. On 17 June 2004, two SAS soldiers were wounded in a predawn gun-battle in central Afghanistan. According to a New Zealand government fact sheet released in July 2007, SAS soldiers routinely patrolled enemy territory for three weeks or more at a time, often on foot, after being inserted by helicopter. There were "casualties on both sides" during gun battles.^[33]

In December 2004, thePresidential Unit Citation was awarded to those units that comprised the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-SOUTH/Task Force K-BAR between 17 October 2001 and 30 March 2002 for "extraordinary heroism" in action. One of these units was the NZSAS. The citation said SAS helped "neutralise" Taliban and al-Qaeda in "extremely high risk missions, including search and rescue, special reconnaissance, sensitive site exploitation, direct action missions, destruction of multiple cave and tunnel complexes, identification and destruction of several known al-Qaeda training camps, explosions of thousands of pounds of enemy ordnance." "They established benchmark standards of professionalism, tenacity, courage, tactical brilliance and operational excellence while demonstrating superb esprit de corps and maintaining the highest measures of combat readiness." In August 2009, theJohn Key government decided that NZSAS forces would be sent back to Afghanistan.^[34]

In April 2013, the last remaining New Zealand troops, theProvincial Reconstruction Team, withdrew from Afghanistan.^[35][36] As of 2017, a contingent of 10New Zealand Defence Force personnel remained in Afghanistan to provide mentorship and support at the Afghan National Army Officer Academy in Kabul, in addition to support personnel.^[37]

In accordance withUnited Nations Security CouncilResolution 1483 New Zealand contributed a small engineering and support force to assist in post-war reconstruction and provision of humanitarian aid. The engineers returned home in October 2004 and New Zealand is still represented inIraq by liaison and staff officers working with coalition forces.

In response toHurricane Katrina in the U.S. in 2005,Prime MinisterHelen Clark sent condolences and an offer of help toUnited States PresidentGeorge W. Bush.Foreign Affairs MinisterPhil Goff sent a message of sympathy toSecretary of StateCondoleezza Rice.^[38] TheGovernment of New Zealand offered to send anurban search and rescue team, adisaster victim identification team or post-disaster recovery personnel, and gave $2 million to theRed Cross for aid and disaster relief. A senior member of theMinistry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management, John Titmus went toDenton, Texas, to lead an officialUnited Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team to assess the damage from the hurricane.^[39]

Following the 9/11 attacks, Prime Minister Clark expressed condolences with the victims of 9/11 and contributed New Zealand military forces to the US-ledWar in Afghanistan in October 2001.^[40] While New Zealand did not participate in the 2003 invasion of Iraq, it still contributed a small engineering and support force to assist coalition forces in post-war reconstruction and the provision of humanitarian work.^[41]Diplomatic cables leaked in 2010 suggested New Zealand had only done so in order to keep valuable Oil for Food contracts.^[42][43]

New Zealand was also involved in theProliferation Security Initiative (PSI), which was launched by President Bush on 31 May 2003 as part of a US-led global effort which aimed to stop trafficking ofweapons of mass destruction (WMD), their delivery systems, and related materials to and fromstates andnon-state actors of proliferation concern.^[44] New Zealand's participation in the PSI led to the improvement of defense ties with the United States, including increased participation in joint military exercises. In 2008, the Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice visited Prime Minister Helen Clark, and described New Zealand as a "friend and an ally." She also signalled that the US–NZ relationship had moved beyond the ANZUS dispute. The strengthening ofUS–NZ bilateral relations would be continued by theBarack Obama administration, and Clark's successor: theNational Government ofJohn Key.^[40]

In May 2006, USAssistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs,Christopher R. Hill, described the New Zealand anti-nuclear issue as "a relic", and signalled that the US wanted a closer defence relationship with New Zealand. He also praised New Zealand's involvement inAfghanistan and reconstruction inIraq. "Rather than trying to change each other's minds on the nuclear issue, which is a bit of a relic, I think we should focus on things we can make work"^[45]

Relations with theGeorge W. Bush administration improved and became increasingly closer especially after theLabourPrime MinisterHelen Clark visited the White House on 22 March 2007.^[46] They ended the difficult relationship that had escalated in 1986.^[40] After Helen Clark's visit to Washington and talks with President Bush, TheNew Zealand Herald reported, on 23 March 2007, that the United States "no longer seeks to change" New Zealand's anti-nuclear policy, and that this constituted "a turning point in the US-NZ relationship".^[47]

In July 2008,Condoleezza Rice, theUnited States Secretary of State, visited New Zealand, which she referred to as "a friend and an ally". TheNew Zealand Herald reported that the use of the word "ally" was unexpected, as United States officials had avoided it since the ANZUS crisis. Rice stated that the relationship between the two countries was a "deepening" one, "by no means [...] harnessed to or constrained by the past", which promptedthe Herald to write of a "thaw in US-NZ relations".^[48][49] Secretary Condoleezza Rice stated that "US and New Zealand have moved on. If there are remaining issues to be addressed then we should address them".^[50] She went on to say that: "New Zealand and the United States, Kiwis and Americans, have a long history of partnership. It is one that is grounded in common interests, but it is elevated by common ideals. And it is always defined by the warmth and the respect of two nations, but more importantly, of two peoples who are bound together by countless ties of friendship and family and shared experience."^[51]

On 4 November 2010, US Secretary of StateHillary Clinton began her three-day visit to New Zealand and at 4:23 pm, she co-signed the Wellington Declaration with New Zealand Foreign MinisterMurray McCully.^[52] The agreement signals closer relations between New Zealand and the United States, with an increase in the strategic partnership between the two nations. In doing so, the agreement stresses the continued pledge for the United States and New Zealand to work together, explicitly saying that: "The United States-New Zealand strategic partnership is to have two fundamental elements: a new focus on practical cooperation in the Pacific region; and enhanced political and subject-matter dialogue – including regular Foreign Ministers' meetings and political-military discussions."^[53] The agreement also stresses the continued need for New Zealand and the United States to work together on issues like nuclear proliferation, climate change and terrorism.^[53]

On 24 September 2019, Prime MinisterJacinda Ardern met with United States PresidentDonald Trump on the sidelines of the annualUnited Nations General Assembly meeting. During the 25-minute meeting, the two leaders discussed various issues including tourism, theChristchurch mosque shooting, and bilateral trade.^[54] During the meeting, Trump expressed an interest in New Zealand's gun buy-back scheme.^[55]

On 1 June 2022, Ardern met with PresidentJoe Biden andVice-PresidentKamala Harris in order to reaffirm the US–New Zealand bilateral relationship. The two heads of government also issued a joint statement reaffirming bilateral cooperation on various international issues including theIndo-Pacific, theSouth China Sea dispute, Chinese tensions with Taiwan, alleged human rights violations in Hong Kong and Xinjiang, and support for Ukraine in response to theRussian invasion of Ukraine. In addition, Ardern and Biden reaffirmed cooperation in the areas ofclimate change mitigation, oceanic governance, managing pollution and pandemics, and combating extremism.^[56][57] In response,Chinese Foreign Ministry officialZhao Lijian accused New Zealand and the United States of spreading disinformation about China's diplomatic engagement with Pacific Islands countries and interfering in Chinese internal affairs. He urged Washington to end its allegedCold War mentality towards China and Wellington to adhere to its stated "independent foreign policy."^[58][59]

On 9-11 July 2024, Prime MinisterChristopher Luxon attended the2024 NATO summit as an Indo-Pacific ally. During the visit, he met US President Joe Biden along with several Republican and Democratic senators and Congressmen includingBill Hagerty,Michael McCaul,Gregory Meeks andBen Cardin. In addition, Luxon met several international leaders including British Prime MinisterKeir Starmer, Ukrainian PresidentVolodymyr Zelenskyy, Japanese Prime MinisterFumio Kishida, South Korean PresidentYoon Suk Yeol, and Australian Deputy Prime MinisterRichard Marles. On 11 July, Luxon visitedSan Francisco, where he met Californian GovernorGavin Newsom.^[60]

On 18 March 2025, Foreign MinisterWinston Peters met withUnited States Secretary of StateMarco Rubio to discuss various issues of interest to NZ-US bilateral relations including defence, security and economic cooperation in the Pacific, andNew Zealand's relations with China.^[61][62]

Prior to the2025 APEC Summit in late October 2025, Prime Minister Luxon had his first in-person meeting with US PresidentDonald Trump on 30 October, and invited Trump to visit New Zealand.^[63] On 1 November 2025, Luxon also met withUnited States Secretary of the TreasuryScott Bessent. In response to Trump's announcement that the United States would resume nuclear testing, Luxon expressed disapproval of US plans to resume nuclear testing and reiterated his commitment to New Zealand's nuclear-free policy.^[64]

The United States is New Zealand's third-largest individual trading partner (behind China and Australia), while New Zealand is the United States' 48th-largest partner.^{[65][needs update]} In 2018, bilateral trade between the two countries was valued at US$13.9 billion^[65] or NZ$18.6 billion.^[66] New Zealand's main exports to the United States are meat, travel services, wine, dairy products, and machinery. The United States' main exports to New Zealand are machinery, vehicles and parts, travel services, aircraft, and medical equipment.^[66] The US is a major source of tourists coming to New Zealand.

In addition to trade, there is a high level of corporate and individual investment between the two countries; in March 2012, the United States had a total of $44 billion invested in New Zealand.^[67]

The government of New Zealand has indicated its desire for afree trade agreement (FTA) between the United States and New Zealand.^[68] Such an agreement would presumably be pursued alongside, or together with, an FTA between the United States and Australia, as New Zealand and Australia have had their own FTA for almost twenty years and their economies are now closely integrated.^[69] Fifty House members wrote to President Bush in January 2003 advocating the initiation of negotiations, as did 19 Senators in March 2003. However, Administration officials had enumerated several political and security impediments to a potential FTA, including New Zealand's longstanding refusal to allow nuclear-powered ships into its harbors and its refusal to support the United States in the Iraq War.^[70]

New Zealand's economy is small compared with that of the United States, so the economic impact of an FTA would be modest for the United States and considerably larger for New Zealand. However, US merchandise exports to New Zealand would rise by about 25 percent and virtually every US sector would benefit. The inclusion of Australia would increase the magnitude of these results substantially; US exports would rise by about $3 billion. The adjustment costs for the United States would be minimal: production in the most impacted sector, dairy products, would decline by only 0.5 percent and any adverse effect on jobs would be very small. It would also contribute toward the accomplishment ofAPEC's goals of achieving "free and open trade and investment in the (Asia Pacific) region by 2010."

The Friends of New Zealand Congressional Caucus member numbers stood at 62 in 2007.^[71] Congressional support is vital for the US free trade agenda. New Zealand enjoyed strong support in theUnited States Congress – both in theHouse of Representatives and theSenate:

• Several letters to the President signed by Congressmen and women from both sides of the House recommended negotiations with New Zealand
• Leading senators Baucus, Grassley andJohn McCain advocated a negotiation with New Zealand
• Friends of New Zealand Caucus was established in the Congress in February 2005 led by Representatives Kolbe (R-Arizona) and Tauscher (D-California).
• Congressional support is enhanced by the absence of any difficulty New Zealand might pose in terms of non-trade issues such as environment or labour.^[72]

On 4 February 2008, U.S. Trade RepresentativeSusan Schwab announced that the United States would join negotiations with fourAsia-Pacific countries:Brunei,Chile, New Zealand andSingapore to be known as the "P-4". These nations had already negotiated an FTA called theTrans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership, and the United States expressed its intent to become involved in the "vitally important emerging Asia-Pacific region." A number of U.S. organisations supported the negotiations including, but not limited to: theUnited States Chamber of Commerce,National Association of Manufacturers,National Foreign Trade Council, Emergency Committee for American Trade and Coalition of Service Industries.^[73][74][75]

On 23 September 2008, Schwab announced that the United States was to begin negotiations with the P-4 countries,^[76] with the first round of talks scheduled for March 2009. New ZealandPrime MinisterHelen Clark stated, "I think the value to New Zealand of the United States coming into a transpacific agreement as a partner would be of the same value as we would hope to get from a bilateral FTA. It's very, very big news." The decision to continue talks would be up to the new administration following the2008 United States presidential election. On the potential for opposition from theDemocratic Party Helen Clark said, "I believe that to Democrats, New Zealand offers very few problems because we are very keen on environment and labour agreements as part of an overall approach to an FTA".^[77][78]

After the inauguration of PresidentBarack Obama in 2009, talks about an FTA between the two nations were postponed. Prime Minister John Key said that "New Zealand will continue to advocate very strongly for a trade deal."^[79] At theAPEC meeting in Singapore in 2009, Obama announced that the U.S. would participate in theTrans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement.^[80] The United States signed the agreement in 2016, but before they had ratified it, Donald Trump became president and withdrew the United States from it. The other 11 countries went on to sign a revised version of the agreement, theComprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, without the United States.

In early April 2025, thesecond Trump Administration imposed a ten percent tariff on New Zealand exports to the United States as part of PresidentDonald Trump's globalLiberation Day tariffs. In 2024, New Zealand had exported NZ$9 billion worth of goods to the United States; including NZ$2.6 billion worth of meat exports and NZ$883 million worth of dairy exports.Stuff estimated that the tariffs could cost New Zealand exports NZ$900 million.^[81] In response,Minister of TradeTodd McClay confirmed that New Zealand would not impose retaliatory tariffs but would seek to resolve differences with the United States.^[82]

On 1 August 2025, Trump signed a second executive order imposing new tariffs rates on several international partners including New Zealand. US tariffs on New Zealand exports to the United States were raised to 15 percent. Trade Minister McClay expressed disappointment with the tariffs hike and said that New Zealand would engage with the US government to seek changes to the tariffs rate.^[83] On 23 August,NZ Post suspended several postal services to the United States andits unincorporated territories in response to rising costs associated with the new 15 percent tariff rate.^[84] On 28 August, NZ Post introduced a new business parcel service to the US and its insular territories to cope with the 15 percent tariff on NZ exports.^[85]

On 14 November 2025, Trump announced that he would lift tariffs on over 200 food products includingbeef,offal andkiwifruit in response to rising American grocery prices. These foodstuffs account for 25 percent of New Zealand's exports to the United States and are worth NZ$2.21 billion (US$1.25 billion) annually. On 16 November, Trade Minister McClay welcomed the relaxation of US tariffs on certain New Zealand agricultural and horticultural products, and expressed hope that tariffs would be lifted on more New Zealand exports to the United States.^[86]

The Washington Declaration between the United States and New Zealand, signed on 19 June 2012 atthe Pentagon, established a framework for strengthening and building the basis for defense cooperation.^[87] The agreement was signed by New Zealand Defence MinisterJonathan Coleman and US Secretary of DefenseLeon Panetta.^[88] While non-binding and not renewing ANZUS treaty obligations between the US and New Zealand, the Washington Declaration established the basis for increased defense cooperation between the two states.^[89]

On 21 September 2012, while on a visit to New Zealand, US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta announced that the United States was lifting the 26-year-old ban on visits by New Zealand warships to US Department of Defense and US Coast Guard bases around the world^[90] "These changes make it easier for our militaries to engage in discussions on security issues and to hold co-operative engagements that increase our capacity to tackle common challenges. [We will work together despite] differences of opinion in some limited areas." At the same time, however, New Zealand had not changed its stance as a nuclear-free zone.^[91]

On 29 October 2013, in a joint statement at the Pentagon, New Zealand Defence MinisterJonathan Coleman and US Secretary of DefenseChuck Hagel confirmed the two countries would resume bilateral military cooperation. The announcement followed a successful meeting of Pacific Army Chiefs, co-chaired by New Zealand and the US. New Zealand was set to take part in an international anti-piracy mission in the Gulf of Aden, and participate in an upcoming Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC).^[92]

TheRoyal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) invited theUnited States Navy to send a vessel to participate in the RNZN's 75th Birthday Celebrations inAuckland over the weekend of 19–21 November 2016. The guided-missile destroyerUSS Sampson became the first US warship to visit New Zealand in 33 years. New Zealand Prime MinisterJohn Key granted approval for the ship's visit under the New Zealand Nuclear Free Zone, Disarmament, and Arms Control Act 1987, which requires that the Prime Minister has to be satisfied that any visiting ship is not nuclear armed or powered.^[93] Following the7.8 magnitude Kaikōura earthquake on 14 November 2016 theSampson and other naval ships from Australia, Canada, Japan and Singapore were diverted to proceed directly toKaikōura to provide humanitarian assistance.^[94]

In mid May 2025,Radio New Zealand reported that theUnited States Space Force led byBrigadier GeneralKristin Panzenhagen was holding talks with the New Zealand Government to launch hundreds of satellites from New Zealand. These satellites would support the US's nuclear command-control-and-communications (NC3) system. Panzenhagen also confirmed that the US was holding similar talks with European allies including theUnited Kingdom andSweden.^[95]

Between 5 and 6 August 2025, anRoyal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) C-130J Hercules evacuated three personnel of the United StatesNational Science Foundation fromMcMurdo Station. The mission occurred amidst frigid and dark mid-winter conditions.^[96] The United States Embassy's Chargé d'Affaires Melissa Sweeney thanked the RNZAF for evacuating the three Americans, who received medical treatment in Christchurch.^[97]

New Zealand is one of five countries who share intelligence under theUKUSA Agreement. New Zealand has two (known) listening posts run by theGovernment Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) as part of theECHELON spy network. The partnership gives "a direct line into the inner circles of power in London and Washington,"^[98] gives New Zealand a distinct partnership with the United States not just on economic policies but domestic security agreements and operations as well, and is a familiar platform for further deals involving both countries.^[99] The UKUSA community allows member countries to cooperate in multilateral military exercises, more recently focussing on terrorism after 9/11.

On 31 July 2025,Director of the Federal Bureau of InvestigationKash Patel opens a newFBI attaché office in Wellington to boost bilateral law enforcement cooperation. Prior to that, New Zealand was the only Five Eyes country which lacked an FBI attaché presence.^[100]

The Strategic Alliance Cyber Crime Working Group is a new initiative by Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and headed by the United States as a "formal partnership between these nations dedicated to tackling larger global crime issues, particularly organized crime". The cooperation consists of "five countries from three continents banding together to fight cyber crime in a synergistic way by sharing intelligence, swapping tools and best practices, and strengthening and even synchronizing their respective laws." This means that there will be increased information sharing between theNew Zealand Police and theFederal Bureau of Investigation on matters relating to serious fraud or cyber crime.^[99]

In May 2024,RNZ reported that 18 months earlier theUnited States Congress had added New Zealand to the USNational Technology and Industrial Base (NTIB), a military law that boosts the United States' military-industrial ties with close allies. The other NTIB partners are Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia. While the New Zealand Government was not involved in New Zealand's inclusion, top intelligence and defence officials welcomed it. NTIB is not linked to theAUKUS agreement.^[101]

New Zealand and the United States have historically had little connection over sports.Sport in New Zealand largely reflects itsBritishcolonial heritage. Some of the most popular sports in New Zealand, namelyrugby,cricket andnetball, are primarily played inCommonwealth countries, whereas America is predominantly stronger inbaseball,basketball andAmerican football. But in recent years there has been much more cooperation in the area of sports between both countries, particularly in rugby andsoccer.

TheUnited States national rugby sevens team participated in theNew Zealand stage of the2007–08 IRB Sevens World Series. in the finals of the knockout round, beatingKenya to win the shield and New Zealand beating Samoa in the finals to win the Cup.

Soccer is still a smaller sport in bothNew Zealand and theUnited States and is far less publicised in both nations, but ties to teams in both countries have been growing, particularly when on 1 December 2007,Wellington Phoenix played a friendly match against United StatesMLS clubLos Angeles Galaxy.^[102][103] In the contract to secure the match, Galaxy's English playerDavid Beckham was to spend a minimum of 55 minutes on the pitch. Wellington was beaten by a 1–4 scoreline and Beckham played the entire match. The attendance of 31,853 was a record for any football match in New Zealand.^[104]

Probably the most well-known former New ZealandTall Black player in theNational Basketball Association isBrooklyn Nets General Manager, and formerNew Orleans Hornets forward,Sean Marks.Steven Adams has also increased the profile of New Zealand basketball, creating a profile throughout his two seasons with theOklahoma City Thunder. Another New Zealand player, formerUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison starKirk Penney, signed in 2005 with two-time defendingEuroleague championsMaccabi Tel Aviv and in 2010 signed with theSioux Falls Skyforce in the NBA Development League.

The2005 U.S. Open Golf Championship was the second major win by a New Zealand golfer and earned winnerMichael Campbell much recognition in his sport for beating out golfing legendTiger Woods to win the $1.17 million prize in the final round.^[105]

The 92ndIndianapolis 500-Mile Race was run on Sunday, 25 May 2008 at theIndianapolis Motor Speedway inSpeedway, Indiana. It was won byScott Dixon of New Zealand, the first New Zealander ever to do so.^[106]

Baseball did not grow significantly in colonial New Zealand, due to its British heritage with cricket. However, softball became somewhat more popular in the country.^[107]

There are many official contacts between New Zealand and the United States, which provide the opportunity for high-level discussions and the continued development of bilateral relations. Many ministers meet with their US counterparts at international meetings and events.

New Zealand Ministerial Visits to the United States

United States delegations to New Zealand

The United States – New Zealand Council is a non-profit, nonpartisan organisation inWashington, DC. Dating back to 1986, it has played a prominent role in US and New Zealand bilateral relations. The council provides information on a range of economic, political, and security issues affecting the two countries and on their increasing collaboration, historical links and shared values, outlooks, and approaches on economic, political, and legal systems. The council spreads awareness in both the business community and in Congress of the importance of the Asia-Pacific region.

As well as working with the New Zealand United States Council to organise the widely lauded Partnership Forums, the US-NZ Council periodically honours distinguished individuals with the Torchbearer Award for promoting bilateral exchanges. Past recipients have included Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Christopher Hill; three-term NZ Prime Minister and Ambassador to the United States, Jim Bolger; California Congressman, Calvin Dooley; NZ Prime Minister and Director of WTO, Mike Moore; Agriculture Secretary and US Trade Representative,Clayton Yeutter.

TheTrans-Pacific Partnership agreement was a focus of the council, but President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the partnership in 2017 before it could be ratified.

Founded in 2001, the New Zealand United States Council, headquartered inAuckland, is committed to fostering and developing a strong and mutually beneficial relationship between New Zealand and the United States. The council is an advocate for the expansion of trade andeconomic links between the two countries, including a possiblefree trade agreement.^[120]

The council works closely with its counterpart inWashington, D.C., the US-NZ Council, with business groups in New Zealand and with government agencies, especially theMinistry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the New Zealand Embassy in Washington.^[120] The council has been working for an improvement in NZ-US relations with New Zealand MPs (Members of Parliament) and their American counterparts in Congress, through discussions about political and domestic issues involving either countries. Their work has not been in vain:United States Secretary of StateCondoleezza Rice began regular communication withNew Zealand's Foreign Affairs MinisterWinston Peters about issues such as nuclear tests inNorth Korea, and other issues of politics, trade and business affairs of both New Zealand and the United States.^[121]

	New Zealand	United States
Coat of arms
Flag
Population	5,341,940[122]	330,894,500
Area	268,021 km2 (103,483 sq mi)	9,629,091 km2 (3,717,813 sq mi)
Population density	18.2/km2 (47.1/sq mi)	34.2/km2 (13.2/sq mi)
Capital city	Wellington	Washington, D.C.
Largest city	Auckland – 1,547,200 (1,816,000 Metro)	New York City – 8,491,079 (20,092,883 Metro)
Government	Unitaryparliamentaryconstitutional monarchy	Federalpresidential constitutional republic
Current leader	Charles III (Monarch) Christopher Luxon (Prime Minister)	Donald Trump (President) JD Vance (Vice President)
Mainlanguage	English	English
Mainreligions	32.3%Christian 51.6% non-religious 8% other[123]	74%Christian 20% non-religious 6% other
GDP (nominal)	US$206 billion	US$18.569 trillion
GDP (nominal) per capita	US$41,616	US$57,436
GDP (PPP)	US$199 billion	US$17.528 trillion
GDP (PPP) per capita	US$40,266	US$57,436
Real GDP growth rate	4.00%	1.80%

The two countries share much in common:

• Both are former colonies of theBritish Empire.
• Apart from their common language and status as fully developed new world economies, both countries’ soldiers have fought together in the two world wars and New Zealand supported US interests in every regional conflict in the 20th century^[which?] and lately in the war against terrorism.
• Their cultures are relatively aligned and they continue to stand together on many of the same issues, such as the need to spread democracy and human rights around the globe, and the rule of international law.^{[citation needed]}
• Even though ANZUS is no longer a strong link between the two countries, they worked very closely inSEATO during 1954–77.

• New Zealand Americans
• Embassy of the United States, Wellington
• Foreign relations of New Zealand
• Foreign relations of the United States
• USS Glacier (AGB-4)
• Contents of the United States diplomatic cables leak (New Zealand)

• ^Johnston, Martin (15 December 2004)."Government apology for Vietnam War veterans".The New Zealand Herald.
• "War and Society".New Zealand's history online.
• "A History of the New Zealand Army, 1840 to 1990s". Archived fromthe original on 25 April 2006.
• "Australian & New Zealand Military History from 1788".
• "Afghanistan".New Zealand Defence Force: Deployments.
• ^"Goff positive about Afghanistan contribution" (Press release). New Zealand Defence Force. 1 February 2006.
• "Iraq – UNMOVIC".New Zealand Army Overseas.
• "New Zealand's Foreign Relations and Military".thinkingnewzealand.com. Archived fromthe original on 3 July 2007.
• Murdoch, Tony; O'Connell, Pam; Rosanowski, John (1986).New Zealand's Search For Security 1945–1985. New Zealand: Longman Paul. pp. 3–12.ISBN 0-582-85733-3.

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