A New Golden Age for Philippine-New Zealand Relations

Jesus S. Domingo

The recent visit of NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Deputy Prime Minister & Foreign Minister
Winston Peters to the Philippines last November promises to user in a new golden age in PHL-NZ
relations, particularly on the business front. The PM and DPM were in Manila to attend the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ (ASEAN) and East Asian Summits, as it was the Philippines’
turn to play host in 2017, the 50th Anniversary of ASEAN. I had the honour and privilege of
accompanying them to their visit in the Philippines, as Ambassador to New Zealand.

In her remarks at a PHL-NZ Business Forum Breakfast held in Makati City on November 14, the PM
recognized the invaluable contributions of the 50,000-strong Filipino-Kiwi Community, and remarked
that "New Zealand has recognized the importance of this region for more than 40 years, but we
have never been closer than we are today. ” The PM also conveyed these messages in her call on
Philippine President Rodrigo R. Duterte later the same day, and NZ’s desire to further enhance our
overall bilateral relationship. Among NZ’s new initiatives will be the opening of new NZ Consulates
in Cebu and Davao next year.

During the visit, important bilateral agreements were signed, namely a Memorandum of
Understanding and Cooperation between Philippine Airlines (PAL) and Tourism New Zealand.
Memorandum of Cooperation on Qualifications Recognition between the Philippine Commission on
Higher Education (CHED) and the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA). Amendments
extending the effectivity of previously-signed agreements were also signed, namely for PHL- NZ
Government Cooperation on Geothermal Energy, and on Defense Cooperation between the
Philippine Dept. of National Defense (DND) / Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) .

The visit and the four agreements augur well for our bilateral relations. The PAL – Tourism NZ MOU
will boost tourist visits between our two countries, fully leveraging the new direct and improved PAL
flight between Auckland and Manila beginning in December 2017. The CHED-NZQA agreement will
help to strengthen the quality and recognition of Philippine education degrees. It will also assist in
combating the abuses of “education agents” and immigration advisers who deceptively market
“Study-Live-Work to NZ” schemes in the Philippines. The geothermal and defense agreements will
further the already strong cooperation between Manila and Wellington in these key sectors.

DPM Winston Peters had told me himself during his first meeting for the Wellington Diplomatic
Corps last November 24 that he would like to conduct a dedicated and lengthier visit to Manila in
the near future. For our part the Philippine and New Zealand Foreign Affairs Offices intend to realize
more high-profile visits in 2018, including visits by the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA)
CHED and the National Youth Commission (NYC), headed by Undersecretary Aiza Diño-Seguerra – a
big fan of New Zealand.

All in all, 2018 promises to usher in a golden age for Philippine-New Zealand Relations !