Key Developments
On 27 August 2026, the New Zealand Government said ministers from New Zealand and Indonesia had advanced cooperation on trade, food security and renewable energy in Auckland. The same day, the New Zealand Government said its UAE trade agreement had lifted exports.
Key Statistics
- NZ$6 billion in targeted two-way trade between New Zealand and Indonesia, according to the New Zealand Government
- 7% increase in New Zealand goods exports to the UAE, according to the New Zealand Government
- US$1.4 billion in New Zealand goods exports to the UAE, according to the New Zealand Government
- US$1.6 billion in two-way New Zealand-UAE goods trade, according to the New Zealand Government
- 70% increase in New Zealand wood exports to the UAE, according to the New Zealand Government
- Historical comparison: NZ$13.5 billion in targeted New Zealand-Thailand two-way trade, according to the New Zealand Government
Main Body
On 27 August 2026, the New Zealand Government said New Zealand and Indonesian foreign ministers had met in Auckland to strengthen bilateral ties, review their Comprehensive Partnership and pursue a NZ$6 billion two-way trade goal. In a separate 27 August 2026 announcement, the New Zealand Government said exporters were already seeing gains from New Zealand’s trade agreement with the United Arab Emirates.
According to the New Zealand Government, the Indonesia talks covered food security, renewable energy, trade, agriculture, education and defence, and the ministers issued a Joint Statement setting out next steps. The New Zealand Government said the UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement had helped raise goods exports by 7% to US$1.4 billion, with two-way goods trade above US$1.6 billion.
The announcements followed a wider regional trade push. On 21 August 2026, the New Zealand Government said New Zealand and Thailand had launched a Strategic Partnership covering trade, border security, customs and immigration. On 17 August 2026, the New Zealand Government said New Zealand-Thailand two-way trade stood at nearly NZ$4.8 billion, including NZ$1.6 billion in New Zealand exports.
Taken together, the announcements showed Wellington using bilateral agreements to link market access with practical cooperation on security, food systems, energy and mobility, according to the New Zealand Government, the New Zealand Government and the New Zealand Government. That mattered for exporters because the government tied diplomatic engagement to measurable trade targets and sector-specific export growth.
