Finland

Bilateral relationship

New Zealand and Finland have similar attitudes towards many international issues, including security, disarmament and the environment. The geographical distance between the two countries, however, as well as the different histories and friendships, meant that until recently political contact between the two countries was limited outside the United Nations and other international organisations such as the OECD.  Finland's accession to the European Union in 1995 added a new dimension to the bilateral relationship, with Finland now a party to decisions affecting New Zealand's trade relations with the Union.

As a small, highly innovative and successful economy, the Finnish government’s policies for economic growth, productivity and internationalisation are of enduring interest to New Zealand. 

Our shared status as non‑NATO troop contributors to ISAF has also added a new strand to the bilateral relationship. 

In May 2011, Governor General Anand Satyanand and Lady Susan Satyanand visited Finland and met with President Tarja Halonen, reciprocrating her visit to New Zealand in February 2007. 

 

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Key facts

Geography/Demographics

Land Area - 338,000 sq km, of which 6% agricultural, forest and other wooded land 68%, and inland waters 10%. Finland shares frontiers with Sweden, Norway and Russia.
Population - 5.3 million (2011)
Capital City  - Helsinki
Language  - Finnish (91% of population), Swedish (5.5%). There is also a small Lapp population, indigenous language Sami

Political

Political system - Parliamentary democracy with a republican constitution.
National government - right-left 6-party coalition
National legislature - Unicameral parliament
Last election - April 2011
Next election due - April 2015
Head of State - President Sauli Ninisto (since March 2012)
Head of Government - Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen (since 22 June 2011) of the National Coalition Party
Last Presidential election - February 2012
Next Presidential election due - February 2018

Economic (2011)

GDP US$bn 266.4
Real GDP growth 2.9 %
Exports US$78.7 billion
Imports - US$80.3 billion
Main exports -manufactured goods, machinery, transport equipment, mineral fuels, chemical and related products
Current account balance US$-1.9billion
Inflation 2.6%
Unemployment 7.9%

New Zealand Trade (year ended December 2011)

New Zealand Trade
NZ Exports (FOB) - NZ$35.4 million
Main Exports - sheep meat, offal, machinery for processing solid mineral fuels, wine, agricultural equipment, leather products
NZ Imports (CIF) - NZ$178.8 million
Main Imports - paper and paperboard, pork, telecommunications equipment, tractors, fertilisers, vehicles

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Visits

New Zealand Ministerial Visits to Finland

• Governor-General Anand Satyanand, May 2011
• Hon Anne Tolley, Minister of Education, June 2009
• Hon Steve Maharey, Minister of Research, Science and Technology, and Minister of Education, March 2007
• Rt Hon Winston Peters, Minister of Foreign Affairs, September 2006
• Hon Ruth Dyson, Minister of Labour May 2006
• Hon Jim Anderton, Minister for Economic Development April 2003
• Hon George Hawkins, Minister of Internal Affairs January 2003
• Hon Phil Goff, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade April 2001
• Dame Silvia Cartwright, Governor General-designate March 2001
• Hon Maurice Williamson, Minister of Research, Science and Technology 1999
• Hon Simon Upton, Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade 1999
• Hon Peter Tapsell, Speaker of the House of Representatives and NZ parliamentary delegation April 1996
• Rt Hon Don McKinnon, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade March 1996
• Hon John Falloon, Minister of Agriculture March 1995

Finnish Visits to New Zealand

• Parliamentary Audit Committee, August 2009
• Minister of Social Affairs, Liisa Hyssälä, February 2009
• Agriculture Sub-Committee of the Parliamentary Finance Committee, February 2008
• Parliamentary Social Affairs and Health Committee, February 2008
• Ms Tarja Halonen, President February 2007
• Mr Mauri Pekkarinen, Minister of Trade and Industry April 2004
• Ms Tarja Halonen, Minister of Foreign Affairs January 1999
• Mr Ole Norrback, Minister for Foreign Trade May 1998
• Parliamentary Supervisory Council of the Bank of Finland January 1998
• Parliamentary Committee on Public Administration March 1997
• Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture and Forestry March 1996
• Minister of Labour 1994
• Minister of Trade and Industry 1992

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Representation

The first Finnish Ambassador to New Zealand was cross-accredited from Canberra in 1969. The New Zealand Ambassador in Moscow was cross-accredited to Helsinki in 1975. The cross-accreditation shifted to The Hague in April 1995. In 1993 New Zealand appointed an honorary consul in Helsinki.

• The New Zealand Ambassador to the Netherlands is accredited to Finland [external link].
• The Finnish Ambassador to Australia is accredited to New Zealand.

Travel advice

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

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