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Policy and History

U.S.-New Zealand Relations

The U. S. diplomatic presence in New Zealand dates back to the commissioning of the first U.S. Consul in 1838. Formal diplomatic relations were established in 1942, following the United Kingdom’s recognition of New Zealand’s domestic and external autonomy within the British Empire. During World War II, U.S. military personnel were stationed in New Zealand to prepare for battles such as Guadalcanal and Tarawa. The United States and New Zealand share common elements of history and culture and a commitment to democratic principles. New Zealand’s relationship with the United States in the post-World War II period was closely associated with the 1951 Australia-New Zealand-United States (ANZUS) security treaty, under which signatories agreed to consult in case of an attack in the Pacific and to “act to meet the common danger.” This changed in the 1980s, when New Zealand’s implementation of a policy barring nuclear-armed and nuclear-powered warships from its ports effectively prevented practical alliance cooperation under ANZUS. In 1986 the United States suspended its ANZUS security obligations to New Zealand.

U.S. Embassy Wellington. Photo credit: U.S. Department of State.
U.S. Embassy Wellington.

In 2010 the United States and New Zealand signed the Wellington Declaration, reaffirming close ties between the two countries and outlining future practical cooperation. This was enhanced in 2012 by the signing of the Washington Declaration which strengthened the defense relationship by providing a framework and strategic guidance for security cooperation and defense dialogues.

The New Zealand Government attaches significant importance to continued close political, economic, and social ties with the United States. New Zealand actively engages in peacekeeping and international security efforts around the world. The United States and New Zealand work together on a range of scientific areas, especially research in the Antarctic. Christchurch is the staging area for joint logistical support operations serving U.S. permanent bases at McMurdo Station and South Pole, and New Zealand’s Scott Base.

Bilateral Economic Relations

The United States and New Zealand have signed a bilateral trade and investment framework agreement, providing a strategic framework and principles for dialogue on trade and investment issues. New Zealand’s market-led economy offers many benefits for U.S. exporters and investors, and the United States is one of New Zealand’s top trade and investment partners. U.S. exports to New Zealand include aircraft, machinery, agricultural products, vehicles, and optic and medical instruments. U.S. imports from New Zealand include frozen beef, caseins, milk protein concentrate, wine, and machinery. A number of U.S. companies have subsidiary branches in New Zealand. Many operate through local agents, and some are in association in joint ventures. U.S. direct investment in New Zealand is mostly in finance/insurance and manufacturing but also includes the food/agriculture, mining, professional services, transportation, energy, and wholesale trade sectors. Reported New Zealand foreign direct investment in the United States is led by the manufacturing and wholesale trade sectors. The two countries work closely to promote free trade in a number of international economic forums. They also participate in the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations that seek to develop a regional trade agreement.

More information about New Zealand is available on the New Zealand Page and from other Department of State publications and other sources listed at the end of this fact sheet.

Bilateral Representation

Ambassador Tom Udall is the U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand. Other principal embassy officials are listed in the Department’s Key Officers List.

New Zealand maintains an embassy in the United States at 37 Observatory Circle NW, Washington, DC 20008 (tel. 202-328-4800).

Membership in International Organizations

New Zealand and the United States belong to a number of the same international organizations, including the United Nations, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, ASEAN Regional Forum, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and World Trade Organization. New Zealand also belongs to the Pacific Islands Forum, of which the United States is a Dialogue Partner.

History of U.S.-New Zealand Relations

Click for a guide to the United States’ History of Recognition, Diplomatic, and Consular Relations, by Country, since 1776: New Zealand.

Former U.S. Ambassadors to New Zealand

Scott P. Brown

State of Residency: New Hampshire. Non-career appointee Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Note: Also accredited to Samoa; resident at Wellington. Tenure period: 2016-2020.

Mark Gilbert

State of Residency: Florida. Non-career appointee Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Note: Also accredited to Samoa; resident at Wellington. Tenure period: 2015-2017.

David Huebner

State of Residency: Los Angeles California. Non-career appointee Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Note: Also accredited to Samoa; resident at Wellington. Tenure period: 2009-2014.

William P. McCormick

State of Residency: Oregon. Non-career appointee Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Note: Also accredited to Samoa; resident at Wellington.

Charles J. Swindells

State of Residency: Oregon Non-career appointee Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Appointment: Jul 17, 2001 Presentation of Credentials: October 12, 2001 Termination of Mission: August 21, 2005 Note: Also accredited to Samoa; resident at Wellington. Note: FSO Philip Wall served as Charge d’Affaires ad interim, March – October 2001

Carol Moseley Braun

State of Residency: Illinois Non-career appointee Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Appointment: November 10, 1999 Presentation of Credentials: December 15, 1999 Termination of Mission: March 1, 2001 Note: Also accredited to Samoa; resident at Wellington.

Josiah Horton Beeman

State of Residency: District of Columbia Non-career appointee Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Appointment: Mar 28, 1994 Presentation of Credentials: May 10, 1994 Termination of Mission: December 1999 Note: Also accredited to Western Samoa and the Cook Islands; resident at Wellington.

Robert F. Goodwin

State of Residency: Maryland Non-career appointee Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Appointment: Aug 11, 1992 Note: Accredited to Western Samoa; did not serve under this appointment. Note: The following officers served as Charg ‘Affaires ad interim: David Walker (Dec 1992-Aug 1993) and Sylvia Stanfield (Aug 1993-May 1994).

Della M. Newman

State of Residency: Washington Non-career appointee Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Appointment: Oct 10, 1989 Presentation of Credentials: Oct 25, 1989 Termination of Mission: Left post, Dec 21, 1992 Note: Also accredited to Western Samoa; resident at Wellington.

Paul Matthews Cleveland

State of Residency: Florida Foreign Service officer Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary ppointment: Dec 6, 1985 Presentation of Credentials: Jan 10, 1986 Termination of Mission: Left post, Apr 28, 1989 Note: Also accredited to Western Samoa; resident at Wellington.

H. Monroe Browne

State of Residency: California Non-career appointee Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Appointment: Jul 18, 1981 Presentation of Credentials: Aug 11, 1981 Termination of Mission: Left post, Nov 1, 1985 Note: Also accredited to Western Samoa; resident at Wellington.

Anne Clark Martindell

State of Residency: New Jersey Non-career appointee Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Appointment: Jul 3, 1979 Presentation of Credentials: Aug 28, 1979 Termination of Mission: Left post, May 7, 1981 Note: Also accredited to Western Samoa; resident at Wellington.

Armistead I. Selden, Jr.

State of Residency: Alabama Non-career appointee Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Appointment: Mar 1, 1974 Presentation of Credentials: Apr 22, 1974 Termination of Mission: Left post, Apr 23, 1979 Note: Also accredited to Fiji, Tonga, and Western Samoa; resident at Wellington.

Joseph S. Farland

State of Residency: West Virginia Non-career appointee Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Note: Also nominated to Fiji, Tonga, and Western Samoa on Oct 11, 1973; Nomination withdrawn before the Senate acted upon it.

Kenneth Franzheim II

State of Residency: Texas Non-career appointee Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Appointment: Aug 4, 1969 Presentation of Credentials: Oct 7, 1969 Termination of Mission: Left New Zealand, Nov 1, 1972 Note: Also accredited to Fiji, Tonga, and Western Samoa; resident at Wellington. Chalmers B. Wood served as Charg ‘Affaires ad interim, Nov 1972-Apr 1974.

John F. Henning

State of Residency: California Non-career appointee Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Appointment: Jan 26, 1967 Presentation of Credentials: Apr 5, 1967 Termination of Mission: Left New Zealand, Sep 9, 1969

Herbert B. Powell

State of Residency: Oregon Non-career appointee Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Appointment: Sep 10, 1963 Presentation of Credentials: Oct 23, 1963 Termination of Mission: Left New Zealand, Feb 28, 1967

Anthony B. Akers

State of Residency: New York Non-career appointee Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Appointment: Jun 12, 1961 Presentation of Credentials: Jul 18, 1961 Termination of Mission: Left New Zealand, Aug 25, 1963.

Francis H. Russell

State of Residency: Maine Foreign Service officer Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Appointment: Apr 8, 1957 Presentation of Credentials: Jun 5, 1957 Termination of Mission: Left New Zealand, Nov 28, 1960

Robert C. Hendrickson

State of Residency: New Jersey Non-career appointee Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Appointment: Jan 22, 1955 Presentation of Credentials: Feb 16, 1955 Termination of Mission: Left New Zealand, Nov 20, 1956

Robert M. Scotten

State of Residency: Michigan Foreign Service officer Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Appointment: Nov 1, 1948 Presentation of Credentials: Dec 22, 1948 Termination of Mission: Left post, Feb 1, 1955 Note: Commissioned during a recess of the Senate; recommissioned after confirmation on Mar 2, 1949.

Robert M. Scotten

State of Residency: Michigan Foreign Service officer Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary Appointment: Dec 18, 1947 Presentation of Credentials: Apr 7, 1948 Termination of Mission: Promoted to Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary.

Avra M. Warren

State of Residency: Maryland Foreign Service officer Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary Appointment: Oct 27, 1945 Presentation of Credentials: Feb 27, 1946 Termination of Mission: Left post, Jul 15, 1947

Kenneth S. Patton

State of Residency: Virginia Foreign Service officer Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary Appointment: Mar 21, 1944 Presentation of Credentials: Aug 15, 1944 Termination of Mission: Left New Zealand, Oct 22, 1945

William C. Burdett

State of Residency: Tennessee Foreign Service officer Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary Appointment: Jul 8, 1943 Presentation of Credentials: Dec 4, 1943 Termination of Mission: Died at post, Jan 14, 1944

Patrick J. Hurley

State of Residency: Oklahoma Non-career appointee Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary Appointment: Feb 14, 1942 Presentation of Credentials: Apr 24, 1942 Termination of Mission: Left post, Aug 12, 1942 Note: The Legation in Wellington had been established April 1, 1942, with Minister Hurley in charge pending presentation of his letter of credence.

David J. Winton

State of Residency: Minnesota Non-career appointee Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary Note: Not commissioned; nomination withdrawn before the Senate acted upon it.