Two years ago, the Royal New Zealand Navy’s HMNZS Aotearoa sailed into Philippine waters for the first time, on a mission of goodwill. Last Friday, she returned, carrying the same spirit of friendship and practical cooperation that continues to define our relationship.

At the regional level, New Zealand’s Prime Minister Christopher Luxon recently concluded his visit to Kuala Lumpur. At the ASEAN Summit, we celebrated 50 years of partnership with leaders, including President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. The Summit was a fitting reminder of how deeply our futures are tied to this region.

These two moments, one at sea and one at the summit table, tell a common story — New Zealand’s enduring commitment to the Indo-Pacific, and to the partners who share our vision for a secure, prosperous, and resilient future.

Here in Manila, since arriving in 2024, I’ve seen that commitment come to life in practical ways. The pace of our cooperation with the Philippines has been remarkable. It reflects a high tempo of engagement set in motion during our Prime Minister’s visit to Manila last year. 

During that visit we agreed to work toward elevating our relationship to a Comprehensive Partnership by 2026. We are on track — across defense and security, trade and investment, clean energy, agriculture, education and people-to-people links. 

On defense and security, our cooperation has taken a significant step forward, highlighted by the signing in April in Manila of a Status of Visiting Forces Agreement — formalizing the settings necessary to undertake exercises, training, and humanitarian and disaster response activities together.

On the economic front, trade and investment are also expanding. As of March 2025, two-way trade reached about P56 billion (NZ$1.63 billion) — strong progress toward our shared goal of lifting two-way trade by 50 percent by 2030. We see growing opportunities for Filipino and New Zealand firms to partner in food and agritech, digital services and education.

Beyond trade flows, we are also working more closely in areas where New Zealand expertise aligns with Philippine ambition: deepening collaboration in geothermal energy, climate-smart agriculture, and by tripling allocations for postgraduate study under the Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship Program. 

Above all, people remain at the heart of our relationship. A growing Filipino community in New Zealand strengthens our ties — nurses, engineers, educators, entrepreneurs and many more whose skills enrich our society. 

Our dynamic people-to-people ties are reflected in the embassy’s flagship initiative: the Indigenous Women and Girls Leadership and Empowerment in Ancestral Domains (I-LEAD) program in Mindanao. It reflects our commitment to inclusive development shaped with local partners.

Our common ground is cultural as well as strategic. In the Philippines, bayanihan — community spirit and helping one another — sits comfortably alongside New Zealand’s manaakitanga — hospitality and care — and whanaungatanga, the kinship that binds people together. These ideas show up in very practical cooperation when it matters most, from disaster response, to community health and education.

The timing is right: in 2026 we will mark 60 years of diplomatic relations between New Zealand and the Philippines, coinciding with the Philippines’ ASEAN chairship. This is a moment when our bilateral and regional partnerships stand in the spotlight — and rightly so.

The recent ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur was significant for New Zealand, as we formally upgraded our relationship with ASEAN to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. This will take our relationship to new heights, including through biennial ASEAN–New Zealand Summits, closer collaboration across emerging sectors, and continued support for ASEAN-led mechanisms.

As a small nation, we understand our security and prosperity rest on strong, trusted relationships with our partners in the Indo-Pacific. The rules-based order matters, and ASEAN sits at the heart of that effort, as a community whose success is deeply connected with our own.

As the HMNZS Aotearoa sailed once more into Philippine waters, her journey reflects our broader course — one of trust, purpose, and shared ambition. It’s a reminder that the New Zealand–Philippines relationship, and our engagement with ASEAN, continue to move forward with momentum and promise. Our door is open. Let’s build this future together.