www.mfat.govt.nz www.safetravel.govt.nz
New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade.
.AfricaAsia NorthAsia South and SoutheastAustraliaEuropeAustriaBelgiumBulgariaCroatiaCyprusCzechDenmarkEstoniaEuropean UnionFinlandFranceGermanyGreeceHungaryIrelandItalyKosovoLatviaLithuaniaMaltaNetherlandsNorwayPolandPortugalRomaniaRussiaSlovakiaSloveniaSpainSwedenSwitzerlandUKLatin AmericaMiddle EastNorth AmericaPacific

Related links in New Zealand

Links to Malta

Other governments' information papers

Country/territory locator

Find MFAT's information paper on a country or territory. (We don't have information papers on all countries.)

World map. Africa Europe Middle East North Asia South/South East Asia Australia Pacific Latin America North America/Caribbean

 

Map of Malta

Map of Malta.
flag of Malta.

Malta

Bilateral relationship

The bilateral relationship is warm, based on the Commonwealth connection and in some senses our common island status (even if Malta is only about the size of Stewart Island but overcrowded with one-tenth of the population of New Zealand). EU accession has inevitably made Malta a more important partner for New Zealand, given its voice in EU councils.

While the Maltese community in New Zealand is very small (363 - unlike Australia where it is greater than the number on the island) a number of Maltese have studied in New Zealand under Commonwealth Scholarships. There has been contact in recent years amongst Maltese and New Zealand officials in public finance and in the setting up of an Ombudsman's office in Malta. The working holiday scheme, signed in May 2004, provides opportunity for increased migratory flows. top of page

Key facts

Geography/Demographics

Land Area 316 sq km: the islands include Malta (246 sq km), Gozo (67) and Comino (3)
Population 0.43 million (2008)
Capital City Valletta

Political

Political system Parliamentary republic
National government Nationalist Party (PN)
National legislature Unicameral House of Representatives
Last election March 2008
Head of State President George Abela (elected by parliament in April 2009)
Head of Government Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi

Economic (2009 est)

GDP US$5.7 billion
Real GDP growth - 2.6%
Exports US$2.7 billion
Imports US$3.97 billion
Main exports Machinery and transport equipment, manufactures
Current account balance US$ -152 million
Inflation 1.8%

New Zealand Trade (year to June 2009)

NZ Exports (FOB) NZ$9.97 million
Main Exports Sheep meat, beef, pharmaceuticals, fruit and nuts
NZ Imports (CIF) NZ$ 2.8 million
Main Imports Glasses frames, medical and surgical instrumentstop of page

Visits

New Zealand Ministerial Visits to Malta

Maltese Ministerial Visits to New Zealand

 

Representation

Travel advice

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

top of page

Page last updated: Wednesday, 17 March 2010 17:28 NZDT