Australia is New Zealand's sole military ally. We share an historic identity as ANZACs. We have a proud history of shared military endeavour. Over more than a century, from the shores of Gallipoli to the sands of Iraq, our troops have served side by side.
Defence and security
Since fighting side by side as 'ANZACs' in the Gallipoli campaign of World War I, New Zealand and Australian defence forces have forged a close relationship, and Australia is our only formal defence ally.
Foreign relations between neighbouring countries Australia and New Zealand, also referred to as Trans-Tasman relations, are extremely close. Both countries share a British colonial heritage as antipodean Dominions and settler colonies, and both are part of the core Anglosphere.
New Zealand's only formal defence ally Australia has signed up to the AUKUS technology sharing alliance and is spending hundreds of billions on new weapons, raising concerns about whether New Zealand's military can keep pace and maintain interoperability.
Australia and New Zealand often describe each other as their closest international partners. But in recent decades Australia's treatment of migrants from New Zealand — making it harder for them to obtain citizenship and deporting thousands under a new law — has led to a rift between the two allies.
The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is the military organisation responsible for the defence of the Commonwealth of Australia and its national interests. It has three branches: the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), Australian Army and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).
Since that time, United States has been the most important security ally. The close security relationship with the United States was formalized in 1951 by the Australia, New Zealand, United States Security (ANZUS) Treaty which remains the cornerstone of Australian security arrangements.
The NZDF is a modern and professional military. It is ready and able to protect New Zealand and its interests at home and abroad across diverse geographic and operating environments.
New Zealand–Russia relations are the bilateral foreign relations between New Zealand and the Russian Federation. New Zealand has an embassy in Moscow and an honorary consulate in Vladivostok. Russia has an embassy in Wellington. Both countries are members of APEC.
Political relations: Russia and New Zealand maintain cooperation on global and regional issues, primarily in the UN, APEC, East Asian Community, ARF and ASEM.
Bilateral overview
The Australia–Japan partnership is Australia's closest and most mature in Asia and is fundamental to both countries' strategic and economic interests.
After establishing diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China in 1972, Australia established an embassy in Beijing in 1973. The Australia-China bilateral relationship is based on strong economic and trade complementarities and longstanding community and cultural links.
New Zealand is by far the most similar country to Australia. It was even asked to become one of Australia's states when it formed. New Zealand citizens have the right to live and work in Australia. Both are former British colonies with similar politics and culture.
New Zealand and China established formal diplomatic relations in December 1972, and the relationship has developed rapidly since then. Today tens of thousands of students and tourists travel each way every year, and meetings between political leaders and heads of state take place regularly.
New Zealand (the All Blacks) and South Africa (the Springboks) have been playing Test Match Rugby against each other since 1921 when the All Blacks beat the Springboks in Dunedin 13-5. It is one of the biggest rivalries in World Rugby history.
Traditionally, New Zealand has been a member of the United Nations and has a long history of contributing to a range of United Nations peacekeeping operations. We are also a partner of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).
Aotearoa New Zealand's support for Ukraine. We are assisting international efforts as the war continues and the humanitarian crisis worsens. Aotearoa New Zealand is part of international efforts to support Ukraine to defend itself and dispel Russian forces from its sovereign territories.
“Over the past year New Zealand has contributed more than $78 million of financial and military support to Ukraine, as well as our support for Ukraine's legal case against Russia, sanctions targeting more than 1500 Russian and Belarussian individuals and entities, and trade measures.
Following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine in late February 2022, New Zealand joined other Western governments in condemning Russia's invasion and supporting Ukrainian sovereignty.
Australia is New Zealand's sole military ally. We share an historic identity as ANZACs. We have a proud history of shared military endeavour. Over more than a century, from the shores of Gallipoli to the sands of Iraq, our troops have served side by side.
The nation holds a PwrIndx* score of 2.0617 (a score of 0.0000 is considered 'perfect'). This entry last reviewed on 01/09/2023.
New Zealand Air Force squadrons and Navy units continued to contribute to the Allied island-hopping campaign, with several RNZAF squadrons supporting Australian ground troops on Bougainville.
Ten members of the 2023 AFL Academy feature in the Allies squad. They include Lachlan Cabor, Jack Callinan, Caiden Cleary, Colby McKercher, Connor O'Sullivan, Ethan Read, Jake Rogers, Ryley Sanders, Orlando Turner and Jed Walter.
The Quad. As its name suggests, the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, commonly termed the Quad, consists of 4 members – Australia, the US, Japan and India.
Through the AUKUS security pact and Five Eyes intelligence alliance, Australia's main military allies are the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada and New Zealand.