Ties between New Zealand and Kiribati warm with partnership agreement

WELLINGTON - New Zealand and the Pacific nation of Kiribati signed a new partnership agreement on Jan 19, signalling a warming of ties that had cooled in 2025 with New Zealand announcing a review of its development programme there.

In January 2025, the New Zealand government said it was reviewing its development aid programme with Kiribati after the country’s President and Foreign Minister Taneti Maamau cancelled a meeting with New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters.

At the time, Kiribati said the President had been on one of the outer islands and so would not be able to meet Mr Peters.

Kiribati, a Pacific Ocean neighbour of Hawaii with a vast Exclusive Economic Zone of 3.6 million sq km has developed close ties with Beijing in recent years, including hosting Chinese police.

“Our two countries have had significant political-level dialogue over the past six months, and New Zealand is pleased this has culminated in the signing of a Statement of Partnership today,” said Mr Peters, who is visiting Kiribati for the first time since 2019.

He said the relationship was warm and longstanding.

The joint statement lays out four priority areas for the countries, including the desire to pursue greater understanding and strategic coordination on their respective foreign policy priorities, health, prosperity and peace and security.

The New Zealand government statement said they had also announced a further commitment towards the prevention of non-communicable diseases and support for maternal and child health, support to enable more Kiribati people to work in New Zealand’s seasonal labour programme and increased funding to address water security. REUTERS