New Zealand High Commission Singapore

Did you know Wellington is home to New Zealand’s film and screen industry, and a shooting location for several well-known film and television productions such as The Lord of the Rings, Avatar, and What We Do in the Shadows? Or that world famous directors Sir Peter Jackson and Taika Waititi both started their film careers in the city?

Wellington has been designated a UNESCO “City of Film” acknowledging the city as the best place in Aotearoa to learn about, create, and engage with film and the screen industry.

WellingtonNZ

It’s all here in Wellington UNESCO City of Film Discover the diverse range of unique locations and local expertise, all within easy reach of purpose-built studios and award-winning post-production faciliti...

Pohūhū ana mai a Taupiri kuao ūe, ūe, āuē taukuri e
Nā wai taku ahi i tipoko kia māeke ai taku kiri
Nā Mate-Kai-Tangata, nā Aitua-horo-arikinui e
Tukuna te waikamo anō he uamairangi e
Tihorea ngā kahu o māuiui, o hārukiruki i tō tinana
Haere rirerire atu rā ki ō tuaiho e tatari mai nā
Hoki atu rā ki ngā tāhuna o Rongomaiwhiti
Ki a Hawaiiki tau e taku āriki e moe e…

The New Zealand High Commission is deeply saddened to hear the news of the passing of Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero Te Tuawhitu.

Kiingi Tuheitia was committed to advancing the kaupapa of kotahitanga (unity) and mahitahi (collaboration). He was a staunch advocate for te ao Māori continuing the legacy of his tupuna including his late mother Te Arikinui Te Atairangikaahu in developing enduring relationships with leaders and people across the globe.

Our thoughts are with his whānau and iwi at this sad time.

E te Ariki, moe mai rā i roto i te rangimarie. Pai Maarire. 🌿🖤

Mālō e lelei!

New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Second Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Maliki Osman yesterday in Tonga 🇹🇴 at the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders Meeting. The PIF is the key regional forum in the Pacific bringing together 18 members as well as Dialogue Partners such as Singapore to promote peace and prosperity across the Blue Pacific.

Ministers Peters and Dr Maliki discussed the New Zealand – Singapore relationship and the ambition to elevate ties by the 60th Anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2025. There was also discussion about how New Zealand and Singapore as small states can work further together under the elevation to address key challenges facing Pacific, such as the impacts of climate change and sea-level rise. This builds on 🇳🇿🇸🇬 long-standing cooperation in international forums such as the United Nations and Forum of Small Island States (FOSS) advocating for the interests of small and developing island states. Singapore is already partnering with Pacific countries to deliver support in areas such as cyber, international law, and climate resilience.

New Zealand Prime Minister Rt Hon Christopher Luxon is attending PIF later this week and will have an opportunity to meet with Singapore and other PIF Dialogue Partners.

Wanderlust: A strong desire to travel

Got “van-derlust”?

We know a place 😉 🇳🇿

Van-derlust: 8 tips for the ultimate campervan road trip A New Zealand company has seen a 37 per cent increase in RV rentals by Singapore travellers from 2023 to 2024. Read more at straitstimes.com.

🇸🇬 Happy 59th Birthday Singapore! 🇸🇬

Happy ASEAN Day! 🎉

Today marks 57 years since the founding of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. As a longstanding partner of ASEAN, New Zealand is proud to support ASEAN’s efforts to build a ‘Connected & Resilient Community’.🌏

➡️ https://asean.org.

➡️ https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/countries-and-regions/intergovernmental-organisations/asean

Notice of Office Closure

The High Commission will be closed on Friday, 9 August for National Day. We will resume our office hours on Monday, 12th August at 9am.

New Zealanders needing consular assistance over this period can call +64 9920 2020

Those with enquiries relating to visas or NZeTA should contact Immigration New Zealand at +64 9914 400

Kiwi landscape designer wins gold at the Singapore Garden Festival.

Congratulations to Jules Moore for winning the Best of Show in the Designer Gardens Category for her “Portals to Paradise” entry. Chargé d'Affaires Keith Conway was pleased to attend the Awards Night attended by H.E. President Tharman, and to support Jules and her 10-strong New Zealand and Singaporean team “promoting diverse horticultural practices”. The winning 8m x 8m installation features over 4,000 plants and an active waterfall.

The Singapore Garden Festival is currently taking place at the Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre from August 3rd-11th.

https://www.straitstimes.com/life/home-design/singapore-garden-festival-blossoms-poised-to-be-world-s-biggest-flower-show

An exciting Singapore-Aotearoa Collaboration!

“HiDDEN” is a Singapore-made game heading to New Zealand to tell stories of Māori heritage.

For the gaming enthusiasts and those visiting New Zealand, check it out.

Singapore-made game heading for New Zealand to tell stories of Maori heritage The company behind the game called Hidden has received a $1 million investment from a New Zealand tribe. Read more at straitstimes.com.

New Zealand Chargé d’affaires, Keith Conway, was happy to visit the team of Kiwi lawn bowlers in Singapore for the World Bowl Series (WBS) ranking tournament.

Competing in the Lion City Cup this week are (pictured) Sheldon Bagrie-Howley, Keanu Darby, Robyne Walker, Leeane Poulson, also joined by Briar Atkinson and Olivia Mancer (not pictured). The pairs combinations will be competing against 8 nations - Singapore, Malaysia, China, India, Hong Kong, Japan and Philippines.

We wish all the players the best for the final days of competition which are being livestreamed on the World Bowls Facebook site.

World Bowls

Team New Zealand at the Singapore APEX Business Summit this week!

Thanks to the Singapore Business Federation and The Hinrich Foundation for a fascinating three days on the challenges and opportunities facing the region. Great to have Phil O’Reilly and Brett O’Riley in Singapore representing the voice of New Zealand business.

foundation

Heading to Paris for the Olympic and Paralympic Games?

Don't forget the key to worry-free travel: travel insurance ✈🧳

Register and read our advice for Kiwi travellers to the Olympic and Paralympic Games ➡ www.safetravel.govt.nz/travel-insurance

Travelling to New Zealand? It's as simple as 1, 2, 3...

1. Check if you need an electronic travel authority (NZeTA) or a visa to travel here. Some visitors can use an NZeTA, and others need to get a visa. Check which one you need here:
https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/preparing-a-visa-application/your-journey-to-new-zealand/before-you-travel-to-new-zealand/nzeta-checker?utm_source=inz_facebook&utm_medium=organic_social&utm_campaign=nzeta_check

2. As well as having the right visa, you'll also need to fill out a New Zealand Traveller Declaration before you arrive. This form asks questions about your travel, including customs, immigration and biosecurity information. Find out more and fill out your declaration here:
https://www.travellerdeclaration.govt.nz/

3. Enjoy our beautiful country!

Olympic/Paralympic Games travel checklist:

Passport ✔
Sunscreen ✔
Register with SafeTravel❓

Registering with SafeTravel means you’re kept in the loop on any emergency information during your travels.

Don’t be the last to be informed. Register and read our advice for Kiwi travellers to the Olympic and Paralympic Games ➡ www.safetravel.govt.nz

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Gerry Brownlee, was in Singapore last week, accompanied by a cross party delegation of Dr Carlos Cheung MP for Mt Roskill (National), Andy Foster MP (New Zealand First), Cushla Tangaere-Manuel MP (Labour), and Dr Lawrence Xu-Nan MP (Green Party).

The focus of the delegation is parliamentary diplomacy as well as business development and to build cultural understanding.

During their visit, the delegation met with H.E. President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Hon Seah Kian Peng, Speaker of the Parliament of Singapore.

New Zealand’s Chief Justice, the Rt. Hon. Dame Helen Winkelmann is in Singapore from 16th -20th of July, hosted by the Singapore Academy of Law.

Dame Helen is participating in a fireside chat collaboration between NUS Centre for Asian Legal Studies and Singapore Academy of Law on the 16th of July. For those interested, see details below and the link to register.

The World Choir Games hits New Zealand!

The Olympics of choral singing kicks off in Auckland today, with over 242 international groups participating over the next ten days. Keep an eye out for Singapore group “Yazers”, conducted by Albert Tay competing in the Open Competition, whilst Singaporean Darius Lim – founder and director of Voices of Singapore – will be one of the 36 judges.

For more information and to follow the results, visit ➡️ https://www.wcg2024.co.nz/

Was great to have our Ministry of Primary Industries Market Access team in Singapore last week for their annual catch up with the Singapore Food Agency. These are the people that make sure that New Zealand’s safe and nutritious food products make it onto the shelves of Singapore supermarkets. Thanks to SFA for hosting our team and for the delicious lunch. Ho jiak!

The New Zealand High Commission was delighted to support the launch of Dr Anne-Marie-Schleich’s new book ‘Perspectives of Two Island Nations: Singapore-New Zealand’. As Singapore’s Foreign Minister, Vivian Balakrishnan remarked at the book launch, the two countries have “a longstanding, close, strategic friendship and relationship”.

High Commissioner Gabby Rush was pleased to join 26 other authors contributing essays to this valuable endeavour that traverses the full breadth of the relationship - from the very foundation of Singapore back in 1965 to the present day, and from cultural, security, economic to people-to-people ties.

Special thanks to Dr Anne-Marie Schleich, who was uniquely positioned to edit this book as a former German Ambassador to New Zealand now resident in Singapore. Thanks also to Ambassador-at-large Professor Tommy Koh for chairing an engaging panel discussion at the launch and to fellow panellists, Yuen Siu Hong from Singapore MFA and Khoon Goh from ANZ.

✨Notice of office closure – Mānawatia a Matariki✨

The High Commission will be closed on Friday 28th June, in observance of Matariki – Māori New Year in New Zealand.

Matariki is the Māori name for the cluster of stars also known as the Pleiades. Under the maramataka, the Māori lunar calendar, the reappearance of Matariki in the mid-winter night sky heralds the start of a New Year!

Matariki is a time for remembrance, celebrating the present and looking to the future.

Deputy High commissioner, Keith Conway, had the pleasure of attending the Global Festival at the Australian International School last week. He had a wonderful morning celebrating the rich diversity of cultures and spirit of unity and manaakitanga (hospitality) within the school community.

Thank you to all the staff, parents, and students for an enriching experience and the High Commission looks forward to continuing our long-standing partnership with the Australian International School.