Papua New Guinea and Zealand are currently in talks to elevate their diplomatic partnership of 50 years in the face of PNG’s 50th Independence anniversary.
This began today (25.03.25) when PNG Prime Minister Hon. James Marape and New Zealand Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Christopher Luxon met in the evening at the New Zealand Parliament House to discuss various matters of common concern. The leaders also signed a new Statement of Partnership that indicates their intention to work more closely from this year 2025 to 2029.
Calling the statement “a living document”, Prime Minister Marape is focused on detailing the partnership blueprint over the next couple of years as the two nations revitalise their friendship of 50 years going into the future.
At the outset, PM Marape acknowledged the general lack of emphasis PNG has placed on growing its relations with New Zealand over the 50 years, and said he was keen on bringing this partnership to the level similar to PNG’s relations with its main bilateral partners, stating “this is unfair on New Zealand as they have been with us for 50 years”.
He highlighted the importance in the role New Zealand has played over Papua New Guinea’s life, especially in the central role New Zealand plays as a senior member of Pacific Islands Forum, and in the Bougainville peace process since 2001.
In his talks with Prime Minister Luxon, PM Marape put forward the following:
• Agriculture: PM Marape asked if New Zealand could supply experts in this area to help grow PNG’s primary industries and assist find markets for its fresh produce. This would go in line with the establishment of the Na- tional Fresh Food Marketing Chain in partnership with ADB and IFAD through a K240 million funding secured by the Marape-Rosso Government to develop the fresh food sector in PNG.
• Livestock: As a leader in cattle genetics, Prime Minister Marape has asked for New Zealand to work with PNG to expand its cattle production, as well as in poultry development.
• State-Owned Enterprises: Prime Minister Marape asked if New Zealand would assist provide experts on the boards of PNG’s State-owned enterprises. With New Zealand’s high success rate in properly transitioning State-owned enterprises into the Private Sector, PM Marape has asked for New Zealand’s assistance for PNG Power, Air Niugini, Telikom, National Development Bank and Water PNG to assist in the privatization of these SOEs which have long faced performance challenges.
• Labour Mobility: Prime Minister Marape wishes to see the number of PNG nationals employed under the Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme increased from the current 2000 to between 10,000 and 15,000, as other Pacific islanders on the RSE scheme outnumber Papua New Guineans by a big margin. There is intention by the PNG Government to work with New Zealand in the future to open up trade and university study path- ways for Grade 12 school leavers on the scheme to receive trade training or university education for the option of full employment in New Zealand or back in PNG.
• Security: PNG and New Zealand are revisiting their current Peace and Security Agreement by developing a Statement of Intent to better spell out their engagement. This agreement will guide future defence cooperation that will be strategic for both nations. As two countries that are regularly exposed to natural disasters, New Zealand recognizes PNG’s need for institutional strengthening in its military, police force, and national disaster management.
• Economic Sector: A comprehensive plan of action to strengthen bilateral trade and investment between the two nations was discussed, es- pecially in the strengthening of State-owned enterprises, and economic reform in the Private Sector. PM Marape wants to see more New Zealand businesses in PNG and vice versa, while introducing to PM Luxon Bank South Pacific’s availability to extend its market into New Zealand.
• Climate Change: Both Prime Minister Marape and Prime Minister Luxon discussed their shared experiences on Climate Change and resolved to build better mitigation and adaptation strategies between their two countries.
• Gender Equality and Participation: This important subject matter also came up for discussion, leading the PNG Prime Minister to welcome support and assistance from New Zealand.
• Health: New Zealand has an ongoing program with the University of PNG School of Medicine and Health Sciences, the Port Moresby General Hos- pital and the Department of Higher Education through the Fred Hollows Foundation. New Zealand is willing to open a centre in Port Moresby with a commitment of over K40 million. PM Marape thanked his NZ counter- part for this program and said his government would be willing to partner in this initiative.
Prime Minister Marape summarized the meeting as follows, “New Zealand is an important nation to us. We want to elevate our relationship to a higher level. Under the new PNG-NZ Statement of Partnership 2025 – 2029, we want to make sure our bilateral relation gets better and stronger.
“New Zealand is a mature economy of over $260 billion. It is a frontier nation in successfully transitioning State-owned enterprises into the Private Sector. New Zealand is also highly successful in rural agriculture-base commerce and business driving its economy. It is a big exporter of agriculture produce, livestock and primary resources in the food industry.
“There are a lot of lessons we can learn from New Zealand. “It is a privilege and honour for me to be the Guest of the New Zealand Government and in meeting Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Christopher Luxon today at his Parliament office. This meeting consolidates our two nations’ relationship in the face of our country’s 50th anniversary, and we are looking forward to a greater rapport. The Statement of Partnership is a living document; we intend to elevate this into a comprehensive partnership that both sides will work on into the future,” concluded Prime Minister Marape.