Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman on Friday started his official visit to New Zealand by holding talks with his New Zealand counterpart Winston Peters.
The two ministers agreed that the relations between Croatia and New Zealand are very good and friendly, the main link between the two countries being the large and influential Croat community. Croats are the only immigrant group that was given a tribal name, Tarara, given their connection with Māori and the fact that more than 100,000 people of Croatian descent live in New Zealand. The two ministers discussed the geopolitical consequences of the Russian aggression against Ukraine, as well as the situation in the Middle East and in Southeast Europe. Peters underscored New Zealand’s support for Croatia’s OECD accession. They also discussed Croatia’s inclusion in a negotiating plan on a double taxation avoidance agreement next year.
Other topics included boosting trade and promoting cooperation in tourism, energy, use of ports, and IT. Grlić Radman and Peters pointed out that the conclusion of the EU-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement in July 2023 opened up new possibilities for trade and investments as a result of New Zealand’s facilitated access to the European market. They welcomed the cooperation within the EU Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, as well as New Zealand’s inclusion in the Horizon Europe programme.
Grlić Radman is the first Croatian foreign minister to pay an official visit to New Zealand and the first minister to meet bilaterally with Peters, a member of the newly-formed government of New Zealand.
Grlić Radman also met with Trade Minister Todd McClay, with whom he discussed bilateral trade and economic cooperation. They also discussed concrete measures that could advance the two countries’ trade relations.
During a meeting with Chief Justice Helen Winkelmann, Grlić Radman discussed judicial cooperation as well as the important role of numerous persons of Croatian descent holding positions in New Zealand’s judiciary.
In addition, the minister held talks with parliamentary deputies of Croatian descent - the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries, Regional Development, and Resources Shane Jones, as well as MPs Tanya Unkovich and Camilla Belich.
During his stay in Wellington, Grlić Radman also met with members of the Croat community at the Wellington Croatian Club, which is headed by Ester Andrijolić and actively contributes to the preservation of Croatian culture with Croatian language courses and expanding the Croatian library. The minister announced the opening of an embassy in Wellington to strengthen the ties between the two countries. “I firmly believe that the establishment of a Croatian diplomatic mission in New Zealand not only reflects the deep ties and support to the Croat community but also highlights the excellent bilateral relations between our countries that share the same democratic values and goals, freedom, peace and prosperity,” he said.
Press releases
