50 years of planting for the Vietnam-New Zealand 'seed' to grow into a mighty tree: NZ Ambassador

New Zealand Ambassador to Vietnam Caroline Beresford. (Photo: Thanh Long)

This June is a very significant month for Vietnam and New Zealand: the two countries celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations (June 19, 1975 - 2025) and New Zealand celebrates Matariki - the Māori New Year (June 20, 2025). Could you share the significance of these events?

In New Zealand, Matariki is a time to honour the past, celebrate the present, and look to the future—sentiments that perfectly fit the spirit of Vietnam-New Zealand relations.

There is a saying in Māori: Poipoia te kākano kia puāwai —“Nurture the seed and it will grow.” For 50 years we have worked tirelessly together to nurture our friendship, cooperation, and understanding. The seed we planted 50 years ago has grown into a mighty tree with deep roots and strong limbs today.

Vietnam and New Zealand enjoy a deep and enduring partnership, anchored in shared interests, shared approaches to international issues and respect for the rule of law. We understand our complementary strengths and know that broad-based cooperation enhances cultural understanding, fosters trust, drives prosperity, and contributes to regional stability.

Today, as Comprehensive Strategic Partners we see the impacts of our partnership in our everyday lives: in the growing number of Vietnamese students studying in New Zealand; in the premium New Zealand products found in Vietnamese supermarkets; and in our rural communities where New Zealand expertise supports Vietnam’s development ambitions; contributing to healthcare, education, small holder farming, emissions reduction, and community wellbeing.

The 50th anniversary of bilateral relations is an opportunity for the two countries to look back on what we’ve built, and look forward to what’s to come. Together, we will explore new avenues for cooperation to sustain our prosperity and security.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son had a meeting with New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters on the sidelines of the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in Nice, France, on June 9, 2025. (Photo: Duong Giang)

In your opinion, what has made the Vietnam-New Zealand relationship so special over the past half century?

Looking back over the past five decades, we are incredibly proud of how our partnership has evolved. Together, we’ve worked hard to make this relationship meaningful for our people, our countries, and our shared Indo-Pacific region.

In 2020, we took our partnership to the next level, upgrading it to a Strategic Partnership. In February 2025, during Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's official visit to Vietnam, the two countries upgraded the relationship to a new level: Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

In addition to strengthening political ties through maintain regular high-level exchanges and deepening defense and security cooperation, bilateral trade is thriving, with Vietnam now New Zealand’s 14th largest trading partner. We’re working towards a target of 3 billion USD in annual trade turnover in 2026.

It’s fantastic to see New Zealand’s safe, high-quality food and beverages on Vietnamese shelves – just one example of our growing trade.

Through our development cooperation programme, New Zealand is also contributing expertise in many different areas, including agriculture, disaster management, climate change, education and supporting vulnerable communities in Vietnam.

But it’s the people-to-people connections that truly drive our partnership. More and more Vietnamese students are pursuing education in New Zealand, taking advantage of our world-class institutions and becoming the “real ambassadors” for our two countries. Many Vietnamese people are visiting New Zealand to experience our renowned manaakitanga, or hospitality, while New Zealanders are also flocking to Vietnam to discover the wonders of this beautiful country.

New Zealand and Vietnam work closely together on global platforms such as ASEAN+, APEC, ASEM… We are also active members of some important regional trade arrangements, including ANZFTAs, RCEP, CPTPP which bring a lot of benefits to both sides, and together we consistently advocate for peace, stability, prosperity in our shared Indo-Pacific region.

Central Party Committee member and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Manh Cuong received New Zealand Ambassador to Vietnam Caroline Beresford at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on May 22, 2025. (Photo: Quang Hoa)

On this special milestone, what are your expectations for the future of Vietnam-New Zealand relations?

In the past 50 years, we’ve achieved so much together. But I believe the future holds even greater potential for our nations, and we look forward to the journey ahead.

There is a Māori proverb that reminds us of the importance of working together into the future:

"Ko nga pae tāwhiti whaia kia tata

Ko nga pae tata whakamaua kia tina."

The potential for tomorrow is determined by our actions today. Let us continue to make efforts to build the bridges between our nations and given our sustainable Vietnam-New Zealand Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Thank you, Ambassador!

TIN LIÊN QUAN
	NZ Herald: Australian tourists show growing interest in Vietnam
	Vietnam exports first batch of this year's crop lychees to France
	Vietnam, New Zealand Prime Ministers hold phone talks
	Joybee joins hands with Zespri: Paving the way for New Zealand Kiwi to penetrate deeper into the Vietnamese market
	Education plays crucial part in strengthening Vietnam-New Zealand relations: Scholar