Trade & Investment 

The economic relationship between New Zealand and the Netherlands is strong

The economic relationship between New Zealand and the Netherlands is strong. The Netherlands is one of New Zealand’s top export destinations within the EU, New Zealand’s greatest source of foreign direct investment from the EU, and a base for many Kiwi businesses in Europe.

Bilateral cooperation

Dutch businesses in New Zealand are active in a number of sectors, from agriculture to water and sustainable infrastructure. Are you interested in doing business in New Zealand? Please reach out to RVO or the team of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Wellington.

Are you a New Zealand company and interested in doing business in the Netherlands? You can find more information about doing business abroad on the website of New Zealand Trade and Enterprise. If you are interested in investing in the Netherlands, please reach out to our colleagues from the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency.

No Prosperity, without Security

In the recently concluded Joint Cooperation Statement, signed by Prime Ministers Christopher Luxon and Dick Schoof, both countries recognize the importance of open markets, defending, strengthening, and modernising the rules-based trading system, and ongoing efforts to reduce non-tariff trade barriers. They also acknowledged the importance of increasing foreign direct investment in both directions as a catalyst for economic growth, job creation and innovation.

EU-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement

Ambassador Ard van der Vorst at the NZ Europe Business Council’s Annual General Meeting in Auckland, together with representatives from the Chambers of Commerce of various EU member states. 

In May 2024, New Zealand and the European Union agreed on a Free Trade Agreement that has important benefits for trade and investment, both from the EU to New Zealand and from New Zealand to the EU. With easier access to markets and more opportunities to sell products, the economic relationship between New Zealand and the Netherlands is only expected to grow.

Building on the success of the Free Trade Agreement, the first European Union – New Zealand Business Summit will be held on 23 and 24 October 2025 in Auckland.