Philippines, New Zealand Elevate Ties to Comprehensive Partnership

July 21, 2026: New Zealand and the Philippines signed two agreements on the sideline of the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting in Manila. Photo: Kate Judson

Announced on the sidelines of the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM) in Manila, the partnership spans defence, maritime security, trade, education, renewable energy and people-to-people exchanges. More than a diplomatic upgrade, it reflects how both countries increasingly view each other as strategic partners in an Indo-Pacific facing growing geopolitical competition, economic uncertainty and evolving security challenges.

The announcement followed a bilateral meeting between New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Ma. Theresa Lazaro, held before the formal opening of the ASEAN ministerial meetings.

During the meeting, both ministers signed a Memorandum of Cooperation on Education and renewed the Geothermal Energy Cooperation Arrangement, reinforcing two long-standing areas of collaboration while laying the groundwork for broader cooperation under the new partnership. Peters also conveyed New Zealand's support for the Philippines' ASEAN Chairmanship during this milestone year marking six decades of diplomatic relations.

"This year, New Zealand and the Philippines are also celebrating 60 years of diplomatic relations, making this a timely moment to elevate our relationship," Peters said.

The Comprehensive Partnership fulfils a commitment first announced during New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's visit to Manila in April 2024, when both governments agreed to elevate bilateral ties by 2026. With the declaration now signed, officials will begin developing a detailed Plan of Action to guide implementation across multiple sectors over the coming years.

"New Zealand and the Philippines are close friends and trusted partners on the world stage, and today we turn this friendship into concrete action," Peters said.

From Friendship to Strategic Partnership

The new framework institutionalises cooperation between the two governments through regular foreign ministry consultations, expanded ministerial engagement and the establishment of a dedicated Maritime Dialogue.

While bilateral relations have steadily strengthened over recent years, the Comprehensive Partnership provides a more structured mechanism for coordinating policy across political, economic and security issues, ensuring cooperation becomes more consistent rather than driven solely by high-level visits.

One of its most significant elements is the expansion of defence and maritime cooperation.

Both governments committed to deepen military-to-military engagement through increased joint exercises, professional exchanges and training while implementing the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement, signed in April 2025. The agreement provides the legal framework for defence personnel from both countries to undertake joint activities and marks a significant step forward in bilateral security relations.

Peters described the upgraded relationship as recognition of "the importance we place on working together to support a stable, rules-based Indo-Pacific."

Although New Zealand has traditionally maintained a relatively modest defence profile compared with some of its regional partners, Wellington has become increasingly active in Southeast Asia as the strategic importance of the Indo-Pacific continues to grow.

Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters and Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Ma. Theresa Lazaro shared a light-hearted moment during their bilateral meeting in Manila. Peters also expressed his support for Lazaro as she chairs this week's ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM) and related meetings. Photo: Kate Judson

Expanding Economic and Development Cooperation

Economic cooperation forms another pillar of the Comprehensive Partnership.

The declaration sets an ambitious goal of increasing two-way trade by 50 percent by 2030, supported by the establishment of a Joint Economic Commission that will identify new opportunities for investment and commercial collaboration.

The agreement also expands cooperation in agriculture, climate resilience, food security and exports while supporting the Philippines' long-term aspiration to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

For New Zealand, the Philippines represents one of Southeast Asia's fastest-growing economies and an increasingly important trading partner. For Manila, closer economic engagement with New Zealand supports efforts to diversify trade relationships and attract investment in high-value sectors as global supply chains continue to evolve.

"The Philippines is a dynamic partner in Southeast Asia, a regional powerhouse of 113 million people, and one of the region's fastest-growing economies," Peters said.

Education and renewable energy also featured prominently during the bilateral meeting.

The newly signed education agreement provides a framework for cooperation between schools, universities and vocational institutions, creating opportunities for student mobility, qualifications recognition and workforce development.

Meanwhile, the renewed geothermal cooperation arrangement builds on decades of collaboration between two countries recognised internationally for their expertise in geothermal energy. As both governments pursue cleaner energy systems, the agreement supports knowledge-sharing on renewable energy technologies and sustainable development.

People at the Centre of the Relationship

Despite the growing strategic focus, officials from both countries continue to emphasise that the relationship is ultimately built on people.

The Filipino community has become New Zealand's eighth-largest ethnic community, with a population of 108,000 strong, reflecting decades of migration that have strengthened social, cultural and economic links between the two countries.

Labour mobility initiatives, the Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships, tourism, educational exchanges and growing business links have helped transform what was once a relatively modest bilateral relationship into one supported by strong community connections.

Improving air connectivity and expanding opportunities for cultural and educational exchange are also expected to strengthen those links further.

July 21, 2026: Rt Hon Winston Peters, New Zealand Foreign Minister, delivers the opening remarks at an event hosted by Education New Zealand and the New Zealand Embassy in Manila to promote New Zealand as a study destination for Filipino students. Photo: Carla Teng-Westergaard/AMC

A Partnership Reflecting a Changing Indo-Pacific

The significance of the Comprehensive Partnership extends well beyond Manila and Wellington.

Across the Indo-Pacific, middle powers are increasingly strengthening ties with one another as they navigate an increasingly complex strategic environment shaped by intensifying competition between major powers. Rather than relying solely on traditional alliances, countries are building broader networks of trusted partners to enhance economic resilience, diversify trade, support regional institutions and reinforce international law.

For New Zealand, deeper engagement with Southeast Asia has become a defining feature of its foreign policy. Successive governments have argued that New Zealand's security and prosperity are closely linked to the stability of its northern neighbourhood, making ASEAN an increasingly important diplomatic and economic partner. The Philippines, as one of Southeast Asia's largest economies and an increasingly influential voice within ASEAN, occupies a growing place in that strategy.

For the Philippines, the agreement reflects its broader effort to cultivate a diverse network of international partnerships while maintaining ASEAN centrality. As tensions continue in the South China Sea, Manila has expanded cooperation with countries including Japan, Australia, Canada and New Zealand, reinforcing relationships with partners that support a rules-based regional order.

July 21, 2026: While in Manila, New Zealand Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters met with Philippine Defence Secretary Gilbert Teodoro. Photo: DND

Although New Zealand is not a claimant in the South China Sea disputes, over half of its trade passes through the contested waters. As a result, Wellington has consistently maintained that disagreements should be resolved peacefully and in accordance with international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). It has also repeatedly supported freedom of navigation and overflight, while calling for respect for international legal processes, including the principles affirmed by the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award, without taking a position on competing sovereignty claims.

Viewed in that broader context, the Philippines–New Zealand Comprehensive Partnership is less about responding to a single regional flashpoint than about strengthening the resilience of the wider Indo-Pacific. It reflects a growing recognition that practical cooperation between middle powers, in areas ranging from defence and maritime security to renewable energy, education and trade, can contribute to a more stable and predictable regional order.

A New Chapter

The Comprehensive Partnership opens a new chapter in Philippines–New Zealand relations after six decades of diplomatic engagement.

Built on shared democratic values, practical cooperation and support for international law, the agreement provides both governments with a roadmap for deeper collaboration across a rapidly changing Indo-Pacific.

Its success, however, will ultimately depend not on the declaration itself but on the Plan of Action now being developed to translate political commitments into tangible outcomes. If effectively implemented, the partnership has the potential to strengthen not only bilateral relations but also contribute to a more connected, resilient and rules-based region.

-Asia Media Centre