Africa

Our relationship with Africa

Formal connections with African countries are led by our diplomatic missions in Cairo, Addis Ababa and Pretoria. We have longstanding connections across Africa, including through common interests in the Commonwealth and the United Nations (UN).

New Zealand’s connections across Africa are diverse. Intertwined histories, shared experience, and links between our peoples, have created deep relationships with South Africa, Egypt, and others. At the same time New Zealand is building new relationships on the basis of shared interests with countries such as Ghana, Nigeria, Mauritius, and Kenya.

New Zealand also engages strongly with the African Union (AU), which works to promote unity and coordination among countries on the continent. New Zealand partners with the African Union to develop the  development of the African Union Handbook.

African Union Handbook

This Handbook is published by the African Union Commission (AUC) in partnership with the New Zealand Government. It is intended as a ready reference guide for people working in all parts of the AU system (Member States, government officials, Commission and other staff) as well as the AU’s many partners and wider civil society.

The book has at its heart information about the principal organs established by the AU Constitutive Act and subsequent protocols: the Assembly; Executive Council; Permanent Representatives Committee; Specialised Technical Committees; Peace and Security Council; AUC; Pan-African Parliament; Economic, Social and Cultural Council; and judicial, human rights, legal and financial institutions.

It also contains information about the specialised agencies and structures, as well as regional and other arrangements, including the Regional Economic Communities, which are the pillars of the AU and work closely with its institutions. Non-governmental organisations, inter-governmental organisations and political groups are not included, except where they have a formal agreement with the AU.

The Handbook focuses on the AU’s current structures and organs, including those in the process of becoming operational. As many of the AU structures and organs are directly inherited from its predecessor, the Organization of African Unity (OAU), key details about the original OAU structures and transition to the AU are included where possible.

The Handbook project is managed by the Directorate of Information and Communication at the African Union Commission, and the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

• African Union Handbook 2023 – English [PDF 1.7 MB]
• Union Africaine Guide 2023 – Français [PDF 1.8 MB]

Hard copy

Within New Zealand: please email enquiries@mfat.govt.nz

Rest of the world: please contact your nearest New Zealand Embassy or High Commission.

Trade

Africa is home to some of the world’s fastest growing economies, and already includes four of New Zealand’s top 40 export markets (Algeria, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa). Dairy makes up the majority of New Zealand exports to African countries. In addition to exports, a variety of New Zealand companies are successfully exploring service opportunities across Africa, including in education, software and mobile technology, and agriculture.

Development

The New Zealand Aid Programme’s influence in Africa is small yet valued. We focus on four areas – agriculture, renewable energy, business, and education and training.

African students from selected countries are able to apply for New Zealand Development Scholarships which focus on agriculture and geothermal development. New Zealand also supports English Language Training for Officials (ELTO) courses to help African officials to participate in forums where English is the main language.

New Zealand is a regular contributor to humanitarian assistance programmes. Recent contributions include humanitarian relief to the South Sudan and Ethiopia.

Find out more about the New Zealand Aid Programme in Africa