Latvia enjoys friendly relations with New Zealand. Considering the notable geographic distance between the countries and their individual priorities, bilateral relations between Latvia and New Zealand have not been active to date. Nevertheless, both Latvia and New Zealand are aware of the role of small countries in global politics.

Within the framework of the World Trade Organisation and, especially, prior to Latvia's joining the WTO in 1999, co-operation between Latvia and New Zealand was quite natural.

History of diplomatic relations

The government of New Zealand recognised the independence of the Republic of Latvia on 28 August 1991, and diplomatic relations between two countries were established on 19 December 1991.

From January 1992 to October 2000, the ambassadors of New Zealand accredited to the Republic of Latvia were resident in Moscow. From October 2000 to year 2005, the ambassadors of New Zealand were resident in the Hague (Netherlands). On 25 October 2005, the present Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of New Zealand to Latvia, Philip Wallace Griffiths, with residence in Warsaw was accredited. 

There are presently about 200 Latvians living in New Zealand, mostly in Auckland and Christchurch. Since 2006, the Chairman of the Federation of Latvians in Australia and New Zealand is Mr Davids Darzins.

On 14 September 2004, Phil Goff, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of New Zealand visited Latvia.

From 28 August to 3 September 2006, Normans Penke, the State Secretary of the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs visited Australia and New Zealand, where the first political consultations of the respective foreign ministries were held.

From 17 to 20 November 2006, Philip Wallace Griffiths, the Ambassador of New Zealand to Latvia, was on a working visit in Latvia.

On 2 March 2007, in Riga Castle, President Vaira Vike-Freiberga presented Indulis Berzins, the first Latvian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to New Zealand with his Letters of Credence.

From 18 to 25 May 2007, Ambassador Berzins made an accreditation visit to New Zealand.

Latvian representation in New Zealand

The Honorary Consuls of the Republic of Latvia:

1. Laila Jansone in Christchurch,
2. Margarita Karina Bentley in Auckland. 

Parliamentary co-operation

On 18 January 2007, a Latvian-Australian-New Zealand parliamentary co-operation group consisting of 25 deputies was established under the 9^th Saeima. The group is chaired by Ms Erika Zommere of the Tautas partija- TP (The People's Party), and co-chaired by Vents Armands Krauklis (TP).

From 21 to 23 April 2004, Jonathan Hunt, Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Parliament of New Zealand, and parliamentary members David Parker, Paul Hutchinson, Sue Bradford and Murray Smith were on an official visit in Latvia.

Economic Relations

In 2005, Latvian exports to New Zealand had almost doubled by comparison with 2004, but during 2006 had increased by an additional 30% (1.618 million USD).

In 2005, the main exports to New Zealand were wood and articles of wood (~ 41% of the total export value). In 2006, food industry products ranked first (61.49 %), mainly extracts of tea, coffee and mate. These were followed by wood, articles of wood (16.61%) and machinery and mechanical appliances (11.61 %).

In 2005, the main imports from New Zealand were textiles and textile articles (77%); these goods kept the first place also in 2006 (59.24 %, mostly wool, not carded or combed). Animals and animal products rank next, with 12%, (mainly frozen ocean fish).

Between 12 and 22 December 2006, Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry arranged a market research trip to New Zealand.

Trade

(according to data provided by the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia)

January - December 2006

• Exports

1. Lithuania - 788,418,743 USD or 14.11 % of total exports from Latvia

2. Estonia - 677,475,768 USD or 12.12 %

3. Germany - 562,635,155 USD or 10.07 %

4. Russia - 523,368,676 USD or 9.37 %

5. UK - 443,333,400 USD or 7.93 %

...

22. Japan - 42,500,834 USD or 0.76 %

30. China- 19 281 413 USD jeb 0.35 %

62. Australia - 2,194,811 USD or 0.04 %

71. New Zealand - 1,618,012 USD or 0.03 %

74. Malaysia - 1,344,232 USD or 0.02 %

87. Indonesia - 668,525 USD or 0.01 %

125. Philippines - 84,736 USD or 0.00%

• Imports

1. Germany - 1,609,581,384 USD or 15.02 % of total imports to Latvia

2. Lithuania - 1,373,000,060 USD or 12.81 %

3. Russia - 891,580,050 USD or 8.32  %

4. Estonia - 810,199,559 USD or 7.56 %

5.  Poland - 751,076,957 USD or 7.01 %

...

15. China - 190,443,275 USD or 1.78 %

29. Japan - 32,001,619 USD or 0.30 %

48. Malaysia - 5,227,815 USD or 0.05 %

50. Indonesia - 4,569,308 USD or 0.04 %

55. Australia - 3,739,807 USD or 0.03 %

63. New Zealand - 2,168,104 USD or 0.02 %

74. Philippines - 546,613 USD or 0.01 %

Latvia has a negative trade balance with New Zealand of - 550,092 USD.

Main exports to New Zealand in 2006 by type of goods, USD

Type of goods	Million USD	Share of total exports
Total	1.618	100 %
Food products Coffee, tea, preparations with a basis thereof - 87 %	0.995	61.49 %
Timber and articles of wood Plywood, veneer panels - 100%	0.301	18.61 %
Machinery and equipment; electric machinery and apparatus Parts and accessories of electric equipment - 62%	0.188	11.61 %
Miscellaneous manufactured goods Seats, parts thereof - 41 %	0.133	8.21 %

Main imports from New Zealand in 2006 by type of goods, USD

Type of goods	Million USD	Share of total imports
Total	2.168	100 %
Textiles and textile articles Wool, not combed or carded - 99 %	1.284	59.24 %
Animals and cattle breeding products Frozen fish - 89 %	0.581	26.80 %
Optical appliances and apparatus (incl. medical), watches, musical instruments	0.093	4.29 %
Pulp, paper and paperboard	0.092	4.25 %

Trade dynamics between Latvia and New Zealand in 1998 - 2006, USD

Year	Export	Import
1998	54,156	475,784
1999	121,109	210,269
2000	127,209	229,078
2001	154,848	363,225
2002	136,687	549,363
2003	324,487	1,363,103
2004	552,931	1,427,600
2005	1,047,849	1,641,336
2006	1,618,012	2,168,104

Investment

As at the end of the 4^th quarter of 2006, any residue of Latvian direct investment in New Zealand had not been registered, whereas residue of direct investments by New Zealand's businesses in Latvia amounted to 14.9 million LVL.

As of 16 April 2007, 30 New Zealand - Latvia Joint ventures were registered with the Register of Enterprises of the Republic of Latvia, and the accumulated investment in the equity of the Latvian registered companies since 1994 was valued at 16.276 million LVL (15^th place).

Culture and education

From 24 April to 13 May 2006, the annual EuroFest took place in Wellington. Latvia also participated in the event by with the screening of Roze Stiebra's animation films.

In 2005, Vladimir Lescov's film Insomnia (Bezmiegs) was shown at the New Zealand Film Festival, and Inara Kolmane's feature length documentary Vijaya was demonstrated at the DOCNZ International Documentary Film Festival in New Zealand.

In 2004, Laila Pakalnina's film The Python was shown at two prominent international film festivals in New Zealand: the 26th Auckland International Film Festival and the 33rd Wellington Film Festival.

In 2004, the New Zealand produced film Whale Rider took part at the International film forum Arsenals in Riga.

On 11 March 2006, six Latvian rugby players went to New Zealand on a six-month experience exchange trip, to undergo training and play in New Zealand's rugby clubs.

Co-operation in science

On 9 June 2006, as part of the conference Information and Communication Technology for an Inclusive Society, Michael Moore, an Ex-Prime Minister of New Zealand, visited Riga. He met with Ina Gudele, the Latvian Minister for Special Assignments for Electronic Government Affairs. They discussed opportunities for furthering the development of the information society and the role of international organisations in facilitating the process.