Relationship dossier
Australia
New Zealand
Relationship assessment
A close trans-Tasman partnership built on economic integration, shared security cooperation and extensive people-to-people ties.
Australia toward New Zealand
+90Australia supports close economic and security ties with New Zealand through the Closer Economic Relations agreement, defence cooperation and the Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement, which facilitates movement between the countries. Australian deportation and immigration policies have at times created friction for New Zealand citizens living in Australia.
New Zealand toward Australia
+90New Zealand participates in the Closer Economic Relations framework, defence cooperation and the Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement with Australia. Its government has also raised concerns about Australian deportations of New Zealand citizens, while sustaining close cooperation across trade and regional security.
Overall relationship
+90The relationship is unusually integrated for two sovereign states: a durable free-trade framework, facilitated travel and close defence cooperation reinforce the partnership. Disagreements, particularly over Australia's treatment of New Zealand citizens facing deportation, create recurring friction but remain secondary to the enduring institutional and security ties.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Australia and New Zealand maintain an exceptionally close partnership, supported by extensive economic integration, close defence and intelligence cooperation, and regular coordination on regional issues. The Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement facilitates movement between the countries, while the Closer Economic Relations agreement underpins a highly integrated trading relationship. Differences can arise over issues such as deportations and immigration, but they have not displaced the wider partnership.
Areas of tension
- Australian deportation of New Zealand citizens, including people with limited ties to New Zealand.
- Differences over immigration and citizenship rules affecting New Zealanders resident in Australia.
Key developments
The Australia–New Zealand Closer Economic Relations Trade Agreement entered into force, establishing a framework for extensive bilateral trade liberalisation.
The Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement was established, facilitating movement between Australia and New Zealand.
Australia and New Zealand signed the ANZUS Treaty with the United States, establishing a shared security framework.
Major uncertainties
- The practical effects of changes to Australian citizenship and deportation policies on New Zealand residents continue to evolve.
- The extent and implementation of future defence and regional-security cooperation may vary with government policy.