Relationship dossier
Turkey
New Zealand
Relationship assessment
A longstanding Gallipoli connection alongside high-level engagement and a serious 2019 diplomatic dispute
Turkey toward New Zealand
+5Turkey has maintained a prominent role in Gallipoli commemorations involving New Zealand. In 2019, Erdoğan used footage of the Christchurch mosque attacks at campaign rallies, prompting strong objections from New Zealand and a diplomatic dispute.
New Zealand toward Turkey
+15Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern traveled to Turkey in 2019 and raised New Zealand's concerns directly with Erdoğan after his use of Christchurch attack footage. New Zealand also maintains high-level engagement with Turkey around Gallipoli remembrance.
Overall relationship
+15The relationship has a durable commemorative connection through Gallipoli and has included direct high-level engagement. The 2019 dispute over Erdoğan's remarks and campaign use of Christchurch attack footage was a significant countervailing source of friction. These features support a generally cooperative but not consistently close relationship.
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
Turkey and New Zealand have a longstanding relationship shaped by Gallipoli remembrance and periodic high-level engagement. In 2019, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's use of footage from the Christchurch mosque attacks at campaign rallies prompted a serious diplomatic dispute. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern subsequently traveled to Turkey and raised the issue with Erdoğan. The relationship combines a durable commemorative connection with occasional political friction.
Areas of tension
- New Zealand objected to Erdoğan's 2019 use of Christchurch mosque attack footage at campaign rallies and his accompanying remarks.
Key developments
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern traveled to Turkey after the Christchurch attacks and raised concerns with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Erdoğan used footage of the Christchurch mosque attacks at campaign rallies, triggering a diplomatic dispute with New Zealand.
Major uncertainties
- The scope and continuity of practical cooperation beyond commemorative and high-level engagement are unclear.
- The longer-term effect of the 2019 diplomatic dispute on bilateral cooperation is uncertain.