Though Germany and New Zealand are over 18.000 kilometres apart, they still maintain close links. What makes the relationship special?
Germany and New Zealand are on the opposite sides of the world, separated by over 18,000 kilometres and 12 time zones. Yet they still maintain a close and warm relationship with regular high-level visits, valuing one another and often holding the same views on international issues. Here’s a summary of the key facts, from politics to football.
Germany and New Zealand side by side
Covering an area of 267,000 square kilometres, New Zealand is only 90,000 square kilometres smaller than Germany. However, its population of 5.1 million is less than one tenth of Germany’s 83.8 million people. On the other hand, New Zealand boasts an impressive natural landscape, and its highest mountain Aoraki (Mount Cook) stands at 3,724 metres – 800 metres taller than the Zugspitze in Germany, at 2,962 metres.
A history of immigration
The first German immigrants came to New Zealand in 1842. By 1914, some 10,000 people had moved to the other side of the world, the majority from North Germany. Today, around 200,000 people in New Zealand say they have German roots.
Official links
The Federal Republic of Germany commenced diplomatic relations with New Zealand in 1953. Both countries are members of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, and the United Nations.
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© Sarah Kanning, deutschland.de