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Embassies and consular services for Indonesia
| Location | Service areas |
|---|---|
| Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia | |
| New Zealand Embassy and New Zealand Mission to ASEAN | Indonesia, ASEAN |
Our relationship with Indonesia
New Zealand enjoys a strong relationship with Indonesia and in 2023 we celebrated sixty-five years of diplomatic relations. Indonesia is a close Indo-Pacific partner to New Zealand and important for New Zealand’s prosperity and security.
Our trade and economic ties are growing, with further potential to grow New Zealand exports in dairy, agricultural expertise, horticultural products, and in services including tourism and education. Indonesia is also an important partner for New Zealand in combatting transnational organised crime, including terrorism, people smuggling, and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
The visit by President Joko Widodo to New Zealand in March 2018 was the first by an Indonesian President to New Zealand since 2005. During the visit, leaders announced the elevation of the bilateral relationship to a Comprehensive Partnership, reflecting the increasing value of the relationship.
We work closely with Indonesia to deliver great ambition in the partnership, including through the delivery of the relationship Plan of Action for 2025-2029 which guides our engagement. We also work with Indonesia regionally through APEC, East Asia Summit, Pacific Islands Forum, and other regional and international forums.
Defence and security
Geographically, Indonesia is our closest Asian neighbour. A secure and stable Indonesia supports New Zealand’s own security and resilience. It also contributes to maintaining an open and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.
We work with the Indonesian defence force through activities such as joint officer training, non-combat training, humanitarian operations and at regional forums.
New Zealand has a formal arrangement with Indonesian Police that allows better cooperation between our police forces in combating transnational crime.
Trade and economic
Indonesia is projected to be within the world’s top 10 largest economies by 2030. Our trade is largely non-competitive – each country produces what the other needs to buy. The Plan of Action 2025-2029 sets an ambitious goal to reach NZ$6 billion in two-way trade by 2029.
Information about New Zealand's trade with Indonesia is available on the New Zealand Trade Dashboard(external link).
Free trade agreements with Indonesia
We have regional free trade agreements that include Indonesia:
- ASEAN-Australia-NZ FTA - AANZFTA.(external link)
- ASEAN Information(external link)
- Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).(external link)
- Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity
People and culture
New Zealand and Indonesia have long-standing people to people connections in knowledge and skills. A number of Indonesians participated in the original Colombo Plan(external link), and many now occupy senior positions in business, the professions and government administration.
Cultural exchanges, tourism and education connections, further enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the peoples of both nations.
The Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships Programme(external link) provides tertiary and short-term training scholarships to Indonesia’s scholars. for Eastern Indonesia (INSPIRASI), and support for post-graduate and PhD studies.
Indonesian’s can participate in the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme, which creates mutual benefit for New Zealand's horticulture sector and for the workers’ families and communities.
Development cooperation and sustainability
New Zealand has a long-standing development programme in Indonesia – our second largest outside of the Pacific. We also support Indonesia through a number of regional initiatives that make up part of the ASEAN programme. New Zealand and Indonesia have agreed to a five-year Joint Statement of Partnership to guide development cooperation from 2025-2029.
Joint efforts in international forums on issues such as the challenges facing archipelagic island states, irregular migration, advancing democratic values, sustainable development, disaster risk management, and regional security highlight our shared priorities.
New Zealand and Indonesia have had long-standing collaboration on renewable energy (including geothermal), and cooperation on environmental conservation and sustainable agriculture. New Zealand’s expertise is aimed at assisting Indonesia’s priorities, including its energy transition, as outlined in its national development plans.
The latest information on our IDC activities, including activity details and descriptions, start and end dates, geographic and sectoral focus, expenditure figures, is available at DevData(external link).
Find out more about our Development Partnership with Indonesia.