In June, the Prime Ministers of New Zealand and the Netherlands signed a joint collaboration statement titled “No Prosperity without Security.” As a follow-up, Wouter Jurgens, Director for Security Policy at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, visited New Zealand for the first bilateral security consultations with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) f rom 29 September to 1 October.

The visit began with a full programme of meetings across government, parliament, and academia. Wouter Jurgens met with officials at the MFAT, the Ministry of Defence (MOD), the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC), and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). The first day also included an exchange with Tim Costley, MP for Ōtaki, and in-depth discussion with Kathleen Pearce, Head of the International Branch at the MOD. During a work-dinner at the Dutch Residence with fellow Heads of Mission from the US, UK, and EU more views were exchanged on the security developments in New Zealand and the region.

The main reason of the visit was the formal bilateral security consultations at MFAT, that took place on the second day. Topics included shared security challenges, defence policy, and cyber resilience. Wouter Jurgens spoke with Charlotte Beaglehole, Divisional Manager at the International Security and Disarmament Division (ISDD), and Charlotte Frater, the upcoming New Zealand Ambassador to the Netherlands, and a wide range of knowledgeable MFAT interlocutors.  The consultations underlined the strong partnership between the Netherlands and New Zealand in responding to today’s security environment.

As Wouter Jurgens remarked: “Geopolitical insecurity asks for investing in far friends.”

Looking ahead

The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands looks forward to continuing the close cooperation with New Zealand in the fields of defence, cyber security, and regional stability in the Indo-Pacific. After his visit to Wellington, Wouter Jurgens travels to Australia, continuing discussions with partners in the region.

The Embassy much appreciated Wouter Jurgen’s time in New Zealand and looks forward to follow-up on his visit.