This week, we commemorated Waitangi Day, a day honoring Aotearoa New Zealand’s heritage, identity, and sense of alliance, by celebrating our partnership with the Philippines.

The past year has been nothing short of extraordinary. It has marked a real turning point in our bilateral relationship.

In April, we welcomed Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to Manila. Only a few weeks later, we welcomed Foreign Minister Winston Peters.

Their visits reinforced what we already knew — our friendship is strong, and the road ahead is full of promise. We are now moving toward a Comprehensive Partnership.

This ambitious step reflects the trust and opportunities that define our ties. It reflects the priority New Zealand is placing on the Philippines. It’s a call for us to drive progress across four pillars: political relationships, trade and climate, defense and people links.

Trade continues to grow. In fact, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos set a goal to increase two-way trade by 50 percent by 2030.

We are proud to see New Zealand companies achieving success here — such as Shott beverages, Manuka Health, COMVITA and Kingson Rockit Apples.

New Zealand is also supporting trade in the other direction. Sa palagay ko, pinakamasarap ang mangga dito sa buong mundo (I think, mangoes here are the most delicious in the world). So, I was delighted to visit Mindanao recently and witness New Zealand’s project to ready high-quality mangoes for export.

Security is also at the heart of our friendship. New Zealand and the Philippines stand together in supporting a peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific. New Zealand’s participation last September in the Maritime Cooperation Activity alongside the Philippines, Australia, Japan, and the US, demonstrated this commitment. And now we are moving towards a Status of Visiting Forces Agreement — I was excited to witness our first negotiating round two weeks ago.

And then, there is climate action — perhaps the most urgent challenge of our time. We have a long history of working side by side in geothermal energy, harnessing the earth’s power to create a cleaner future.

At COP29 in Baku, we pledged with Secretary Yulo-Loyzaga bilateral action to protect our planet. And it goes beyond policy.

It’s about people. The communities we help prepare for natural disasters, the Manaaki New Zealand scholarships we offer young leaders, and our new flagship development program I-LEAD that will connect indigenous women with Maori to share lessons on governance of ancestral domains.

At the heart of it all, what truly makes this relationship special is the people.

I see it in the vibrant exchanges of culture — New Zealand fashion designers leaving their mark at Manila International Fashion Week, and the nail-biting basketball match between the Tall Blacks and the mighty Gilas Pilipinas.

I still have the chant ringing in my ears — Laban Pilipinas!” (Fight, Philippines!)

These connections remind us that diplomacy isn’t just about governments — it’s about people, about friendships that transcend borders.

And we now see it in our own parliament. Did you know that New Zealand has two Filipino Members of Parliament? Paulo Garcia was the first, who accompanied the Prime Minister to Manila. Their visit to Jollibee went viral on Philippine social media.

It even inspired the President and First Lady to release their own video of them eating Jollibee.

This was a great topic of discussion in my introductory call on the President. He told me that he was referring all complaints from his doctor directly to the New Zealand Prime Minister.

President Marcos has since marked the occasion by gifting Prime Minister Luxon his own Funko Pop! Jollibee at a meeting in Laos in October. I can now say that indeed, — Bida ang saya!” (Joy is the star!)

My time here, so far, has been incredible. I have tried my hand at speaking Filipino, sobrang mahirap (too difficult), experienced the stunning landscapes of Anilao and Isabela, and even navigated the vibrant maze of Divisoria in search of the perfect Filipiniana. At the recent Vin d’ Honneur at Malacañang, I had great fun discussing my visit to — Divi’ with the First Lady.

As we look ahead to the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2026, I know that even greater things are coming. Our defense ties are being strengthened, more scholarships are on the horizon, and we are poised to take bolder steps in climate action and trade.

Here’s to our countries, to the incredible people who make this relationship thrive, and to the bright future we are building together.