Relationship dossier
New Zealand
United Kingdom
Relationship assessment
Close partnership with substantial trade, defence and intelligence cooperation
New Zealand toward United Kingdom
+75New Zealand concluded a free trade agreement with the United Kingdom and participates with it in Five Eyes intelligence cooperation. The two governments also cooperate on defence and international security.
United Kingdom toward New Zealand
+75The United Kingdom concluded a free trade agreement with New Zealand and cooperates with it through Five Eyes intelligence sharing. The two governments also maintain defence and international security cooperation.
Overall relationship
+75The relationship is underpinned by sustained cooperation in trade, intelligence and defence. The bilateral free trade agreement adds a substantial economic framework, while Five Eyes cooperation and security engagement reinforce the close partnership.
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
New Zealand and the United Kingdom maintain a close partnership spanning trade, defence and intelligence cooperation. Their bilateral free trade agreement and longstanding collaboration through Five Eyes are major features of the relationship, alongside regular government cooperation on international security.
Key developments
New Zealand and the United Kingdom signed a bilateral free trade agreement.
The New Zealand–United Kingdom free trade agreement entered into force.
Major uncertainties
- The scope and practical effect of bilateral defence cooperation arrangements are not fully clear.
- The long-term effects of the free trade agreement on bilateral economic ties remain uncertain.