Malaysia

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Embassies and consular services for Malaysia

Location	Service areas
High Commission for Malaysia
New Zealand High Commission	Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia

Our relationship with Malaysia

New Zealand’s relationship with Malaysia is one of our oldest in Southeast Asia. We celebrated 65 years of diplomatic relations in 2022.

Our long-standing friendship is based on strong ties in education, tourism, trade, and defence. In 2023 we concluded a Strategic Partnership which provides a framework for strengthened bilateral engagement, with four central themes of Prosperity, People, Planet, and Peace.

New Zealand and Malaysia also work together in regional settings on shared interests such as peaceful management of disputes, non-proliferation and disarmament, maritime security, and countering violent extremism and people-smuggling. We are both members of regional and international fora, including the ASEAN Regional Forum, the East Asia Summit, APEC and the Commonwealth.

As both nations continue to work together, the partnership is set to grow even stronger, contributing significantly to regional stability and prosperity.

Defence and security

Defence and security cooperation is a significant aspect of the New Zealand-Malaysia relationship.

New Zealand’s defence relationship with Malaysia goes back to initial, very substantial, deployments during the “Emergency” and “Confrontation” in the 1950s and 1960s. The majority of New Zealand service personnel buried in Malaysia were returned to New Zealand in 2018 in Operation Te Auraki, in accordance with their families’ wishes.

Both countries are founding members of the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA), alongside Australia, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. The FPDA, established in 1971, provides a framework for defence cooperation and consultation, enhancing regional security and stability.

New Zealand and Malaysia’s defence forces continue to work well together in multinational peacekeeping operations, with past operations in Afghanistan, Timor-Leste and Lebanon.

Trade and economic

Malaysia is one of New Zealand’s fastest growing export markets. Trade barriers have been reduced and greater economic cooperation has been fostered by four free trade agreements:

We also work together in the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF).

There is plenty of scope for trade to continue growing. There are opportunities for cooperation in the education, forestry, renewable energy, health, and agri-technology sectors.

The latest information about New Zealand's trade profile with Malaysia is available on the New Zealand Trade Dashboard(external link).

People and culture

Thousands of Malaysians have been educated in New Zealand, originally through the Colombo Plan(external link). Many now occupy senior positions in business, the professions and government administration.

The Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships Programme(external link) provides tertiary and short-term training scholarships to Malaysia’s current scholars.

Young Malaysian citizens have the opportunity to work and study in New Zealand for a brief period. Information on the Working Holiday Scheme can be found on the Immigration New Zealand website(external link).

Cultural exchanges and tourism further enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the peoples of both nations.

Development cooperation and sustainability

New Zealand and Malaysia collaborate on environmental conservation, renewable energy, and sustainable agriculture. New Zealand’s expertise in these areas complements Malaysia’s efforts to achieve its sustainability goals, as outlined in its national development plans.

Joint efforts in international forums on issues such as climate change, sustainable development, disaster risk management, and regional security highlight our shared priorities and values.

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