Archive · 19 Jan 2026
New Zealand and Kiribati Sign Partnership Agreement
New Zealand and Kiribati, which is a small island country in the Pacific Ocean, have signed a new agreement to work together.
This is good news because their relationship had become a bit cold last year.
The agreement talks about important things like health, making people prosperous, and keeping the peace.
New Zealand will help Kiribati with things like preventing diseases and making sure people have clean water.
They also talked about working together on big picture issues like foreign policy.
This is the first time in a few years that New Zealand's foreign minister has visited Kiribati, so it's a big step in making their friendship stronger.
New Zealand and Kiribati signed a new partnership agreement on January 19, 2025.
The agreement includes four priority areas: foreign policy, health, prosperity, and peace and security.
New Zealand committed to supporting Kiribati in health initiatives and water security.
This signing marks a warming of ties after a period of strain in 2024.
New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters visited Kiribati for the first time since 2019.
- Who
- New Zealand and Kiribati
- What
- Signed a new partnership agreement
- When
- January 19, 2025
- Where
- Kiribati
- Why
- To strengthen ties and address mutual priorities
- Countries Involved
- New Zealand and Kiribati
- Agreement Signed
- Statement of Partnership
- Priority Areas
- Foreign policy, health, prosperity, peace and security
- New Zealand Commitments
- Prevention of non-communicable diseases, support for maternal and child health, increased funding for water security
- Last Meeting
- 2019
- Kiribati's Economic Zone
- 3.6 million square kilometres
- Kiribati's Ties
- Close ties with Beijing