Ireland–New Zealand relations

Bilateral relations
Ireland–New Zealand relations
Map indicating locations of Ireland and New Zealand

Ireland
New Zealand

The diplomatic relations between Ireland and New Zealand are well developed. Both nations are members of the Australia Group, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the United Nations.

Both nations are English-speaking nations. As a result of famine and poverty, several thousand Irish people migrated to New Zealand where today approximately 20% of the population can claim Irish heritage.[1]

History

Chaplains from Australia, Ireland and New Zealand together during the Gallipoli Campaign

Historically, both Ireland and New Zealand were constitutionally linked when the United Kingdom formally established the Colony of New South Wales in 1788 which included most of present-day New Zealand. In 1840, New Zealand formally joined the British Empire after the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi.[2] The first major contact between both nations was during first wave of Irish immigration to New Zealand. Because the Irish were considered to be "British", it is unknown who the first Irish were to reach New Zealand, however, the first Irish migrants to reach New Zealand would have occurred around 1840 when the New Zealand Company first began assisting would-be migrants to settle in New Zealand.[3] In comparison to Irish immigration to North America and Australia, very few Irish people migrated to New Zealand, mainly due to the cost of travel and the enormous distance between both nations. [4] Over the years, however, several waves of Irish people would migrate to New Zealand and as a result, approximately 18% of the population of New Zealand today can claim Irish descent.[1]

Both Irish and New Zealand soldiers fought side by side for the British Empire during the Second Boer War from 1899 to 1902 and World War I from 1914 to 1918, especially during the Gallipoli Campaign.[5][6] During the Easter Rising in 1916 and when Ireland declared its independence from the United Kingdom in 1919, many Irish New Zealanders became involved in the Irish cause, however, their numbers were never great which may have been attributed to the fact that most of those with Irish origins in the country were already second generation New Zealanders with loose connections with Ireland.[4] By 1947, New Zealand essentially became an independent nation after accepting the Statute of Westminster Adopting Act.

Post-independence

In May 1948, former Irish Taoiseach Éamon de Valera traveled to New Zealand seeking support for a united Ireland, but was not successful due to the fact that Ireland remained neutral during World War II whereas New Zealand fought as part of the British Commonwealth armed forces in the war.[7] Although New Zealand did not support a united Ireland, many New Zealanders still hold Ireland as an important contributor to their country both culturally and historically.

In 1976, Ireland opened an honorary consulate-general in Auckland to represent Irish interests in the country.[8] The current honorary consul-general is Niamh McMahon.[8] In 2000, New Zealand re-opened an honorary consulate-general in Dublin.[9] Both countries maintain strong political links and similar interests with regards to climate change and peaceful resolutions in trouble zones throughout the world. Several prime ministers have visited each other's countries respectively. Furthermore, three of the Prime Minister of New Zealand have been born in Ireland.[10] Both countries have established working holiday visa with each other and work closely together with regards to agriculture.[11]

Until 2018, the two countries did not have resident embassies in each other's capital, with the Irish Embassy in Canberra, Australia being cross-accredited to Wellington,[12] and the New Zealand High Commission in London in the United Kingdom being cross-accredited to Dublin.[13] In August 2018, however, Ireland opened its first resident embassy in Wellington.[14] In November 2018, New Zealand opened its first resident embassy in Dublin.[15]

High-level visits

High-level visits from Ireland to New Zealand

High-level visits from New Zealand to Ireland

Trade

Building hosting the Embassy of New Zealand in Dublin

In 2019, trade between Ireland and New Zealand totaled $533 million New Zealand dollars.[22] Ireland's main exports to New Zealand include mainly pharmaceutical products. New Zealand's main exports to Ireland include: wine, mechanical machinery and equipment.[22]

Resident diplomatic missions

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Clark, Helen (29 October 2007). "State Luncheon for President of Ireland, Mary McAleese". Beehive.govt.nz. New Zealand Government. Archived from the original on 2 April 2016. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  2. ^ "Closer relations with New Zealand". State Archives and Records Authority of New South Wales. Archived from the original on 16 June 2016. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
  3. ^ "British & Irish immigration, 1840-1914 Page 2 – Summary". New Zealand History. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 8 December 2014. Archived from the original on 16 May 2022. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  4. ^ a b "Migration 1800-1850". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 1 March 2015. Archived from the original on 8 December 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  5. ^ "South African 'Boer' War: Introduction". New Zealand History. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 7 March 2018. Archived from the original on 8 July 2022. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  6. ^ "The Gallipoli campaign Page 1 – Introduction". New Zealand History. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 17 March 2017. Archived from the original on 8 August 2022. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  7. ^ Kelly, Stephen (30 September 2013). "A Policy of Futility: Eamon de Valera's Anti-Partition Campaign, 1948-1951". Études irlandaises. 36 (2).
  8. ^ a b "Honorary Consulate-General of Ireland in Auckland, New Zealand". Archived from the original on 2016-03-29. Retrieved 2016-03-20.
  9. ^ "New Zealand appoints envoy". The Irish Times. 10 January 2000. Archived from the original on 30 March 2016. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  10. ^ "NEW ZEALAND PRIME MINISTERS". Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 1966. Archived from the original on 11 July 2022. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  11. ^ a b Groser, Tim (16 July 2015). "Ireland and New Zealand agriculture: trade and climate change". Beehive.govt.nz. New Zealand Government. Archived from the original on 28 January 2019. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  12. ^ "New Zealand opens Irish embassy". Newstalk. Bauer Media Audio Ireland. 12 November 2018. Archived from the original on 24 January 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  13. ^ "New Zealand to open Irish embassy". Newstalk. Bauer Media Audio Ireland. 24 March 2017. Archived from the original on 24 January 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  14. ^ "Ireland's first Ambassador to New Zealand appointed". Newshub. Warner Bros. Discovery New Zealand. 29 August 2018. Archived from the original on 17 September 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  15. ^ a b Peters, Winston (13 November 2018). "New Zealand opens first embassy in Dublin". Beehive.govt.nz. New Zealand Government. Archived from the original on 2 July 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  16. ^ "From There to Here: the State Visits of the Hillery Presidency". Clare County Library. Archived from the original on 26 June 2022. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  17. ^ Hawke, Bob (18 July 1988). "JOINT STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER MR HAWKE THE PRIME MINISTER OF NEW ZEALAND MR LANGE AND THE PRIME MINISTER OF IRELAND MR HAUGHEY". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Archived from the original on 18 September 2016. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  18. ^ Shipley, Jenny (31 August 1998). "Visit of the President of Ireland". Beehive.govt.nz. New Zealand Government. Archived from the original on 23 August 2017. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  19. ^ Callahan, Calley (26 October 2017). "President of Ireland visits Christchurch Earthquake National Memorial". Newshub. Warner Bros. Discovery New Zealand. Archived from the original on 2 May 2018. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  20. ^ "Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - New Zealand Prime Minister's Visit". Oireachtas. 8 April 1975. Archived from the original on 27 September 2016. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  21. ^ Clark, Helen (18 November 2005). "New Zealand and Ireland discuss film agreement". Beehive.govt.nz. New Zealand Government. Archived from the original on 7 September 2022. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  22. ^ a b "Ireland". Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Archived from the original on 11 August 2022. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  23. ^ "Ireland in New Zealand". Department of Foreign Affairs. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  24. ^ "New Zealand Embassy to Ireland". Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Retrieved 12 September 2022.