Austria

Bilateral relationship

New Zealand's relations with Austria, although not extensive, are good. New Zealand had an Embassy in Vienna from 1973 until 1991, when it was closed due to a reorganisation of New Zealand's limited resources in Europe. New Zealand is now represented in Austria by the accreditation to Vienna of the Ambassador in Germany, and following the closure of the Embassy in Vienna an Honorary Consul-General was appointed in Vienna. Austria's Ambassador to New Zealand is resident in Canberra, although Austria also has two consulates in New Zealand, in Auckland and in Wellington, staffed by Honorary Consuls. New Zealand does have a Permanent Mission to the United Nations based in Vienna, but this does not deal with the bilateral relationship between the two countries.

Although the Austrian community in New Zealand has been small, it has left its mark in exploration (through place names given in the last century, eg Franz Josef Glacier) and in the early development of skiing.

New Zealand's trade with Austria is small, and heavily in Austria's favour. New Zealand is seen as a favourable market in Austria, and Austrian exporters have shown an increasing degree of interest in the New Zealand market as they attempt to diversify globally.

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Key facts

Geography/Demographics

Land Area - 83,859 sq km
Population - 8.2 million
Capital City  - Vienna
Language  - German

Political

Political system - Federal republic of nine independent states
National government - Grand Coalition of the Social Democratic Party (SPÖ - senior partner) and the Austrian Peoples' Party (ÖVP - junior partner)
National legislature - National Assembly (bicameral)
Last election - September 2008
Next election due - Federal: September 2013 Presidential: April 2010
Head of State - President Dr Heinz Fischer (since 8 July 2004)
Head of Government - Chancellor Werner Faymann (SPÖ) (since 2 December 2008)

Economic (2009 est)

GDP US$382.7 billion
Real GDP growth - 3.6%
Exports US$138.8 billion
Imports US$143.5 billion
Main exports Machinery, motor vehicles, chemicals, metal goods, oil and oil products, foodstuffs
Current account balance US$3 billion
Inflation 0.4%
Unemployment 5.0%

New Zealand Trade (year ended Dec 2009)

NZ Exports (FOB)NZ$28.733 million
Main Exports Meat, electrical machinery, pharmaceuticals
NZ Imports (CIF) NZ$161.129 million
Main Imports Machinery, vehicles, electrical machinery, beverages, pharmaceuticals

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Visits

New Zealand Ministerial Visits to Austria

• Hon Simon Power, Minister of Justice, June 2010
• Hon Murray McCully, Minister of Foreign Affairs, November 2009
• Rt Hon Winston Peters, Minister of Foreign Affairs, April 2006
• Hon Phil Goff, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, September 2003
• Hon Jim Anderton, Minister for Economic Development, April 2003
• Hon Simon Upton, Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, October 1998
• Dr Lockwood Smith, Minister for International Trade, April 1998

Austrian Ministerial Visits to New Zealand

• Dr Martin Bartenstein, Minister of the Environment, January 1999
• Dr Johann Farnleitner, Minister for the Economy, August 1997

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Representation

• The New Zealand Ambassador to Germany is accredited to Austria

• The Austrian Ambassador to Australia is accredited to New Zealand

Travel advice

The Safetravel website provides a travel advisory for travellers to Austria [external link].

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