Ireland–New Zealand relations

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

Ireland

New Zealand

Ireland–New Zealand relations refers to the diplomatic relations between Ireland and New Zealand. 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] Both nations are members of the Australia Group, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the United Nations.

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 of that year, however, Ireland opened its first resident embassy in Wellington.[14] In November, New Zealand opened its first resident embassy in Dublin.[15]

High-level visits[]

High-level visits from Ireland to New Zealand[16][17][18][1][19]

High-level visits from New Zealand to Ireland[20][21]

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 State Luncheon for President of Ireland, Mary McAleese
  2. ^ "Closer relations with New Zealand". Archived from the original on 2016-06-16. Retrieved 2016-03-20.
  3. ^ British & Irish immigration, 1840-1914
  4. ^ a b Irish Immigration to New Zealand
  5. ^ New Zealand at War
  6. ^ "Bureau of Military History". Archived from the original on 2015-02-19. Retrieved 2020-01-26.
  7. ^ A Policy of Futility: Eamon de Valera’s Anti-Partition Campaign, 1948-1951
  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, Irish Times, January 10, 2000
  10. ^ New Zealand Prime Ministers
  11. ^ Ireland and New Zealand agriculture: trade and climate change
  12. ^ New Zealand opens Irish embassy in Dublin, Newstalk, 12 November 2018
  13. ^ New Zealand to open embassy in Dublin, Newstalk, 24 March 2017
  14. ^ Ireland's first Ambassador to New Zealand appointed, Newshub, 29 August 2018
  15. ^ New Zealand opens first embassy in Dublin
  16. ^ President Patrick Hillery's State Visits
  17. ^ Beehive: Visit of The President of Ireland
  18. ^ PM Transcripts: Charles Haughey in New Zealand
  19. ^ President of Ireland visits Christchurch Earthquake National Memorial
  20. ^ New Zealand Prime Minister's visit
  21. ^ Beehive: New Zealand and Ireland discuss film agreement
  22. ^ a b MFAT: Ireland
  23. ^ Embassy of Ireland in Wellington
  24. ^ Embassy of New Zealand in Dublin
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