Wellington: Saeed Al Hajeri, Minister of State, has reaffirmed the UAE's commitment to deepening its partnership with New Zealand during a working visit from 10 to 12 June 2026. During the visit, Al Hajeri engaged in a series of bilateral meetings with New Zealand's top officials, including Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters, Minister for Trade and Investment Todd McClay, Minister of Police Mark Mitchell, and Minister of Climate Change Simon Watts.
According to Emirates News Agency, the meetings highlighted the robust and growing momentum of relations between the two nations. Discussions were centered on enhancing cooperation across sectors such as the economy, investment, security, climate change, environmental sustainability, health, people-to-people exchanges, the film industry, and the equine sector. New Zealand officials acknowledged the positive developments in bilateral relations and expressed optimism that the meetings would further bolster cooperation across these fields.
Al Hajeri also met with Leon Grice, Chair of Antarctica New Zealand, to discuss collaboration in Antarctic scientific research. Additionally, a UAE-New Zealand Business Roundtable and Networking Event was organized, bringing together UAE and New Zealand companies. The event, facilitated by the New Zealand-Middle East Business Council and the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, provided a platform for dialogue between public and private sectors, emphasizing trade and investment opportunities.
During the event, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed to establish the UAE-New Zealand Business Council. This agreement, signed by Rashed Al Qemzi, UAE Ambassador to New Zealand, and Jude Hadfield, Executive Director and Chair of the New Zealand-Middle East Business Council, aims to foster engagement between the business communities of both countries and support trade and investment flows.
The UAE delegation also participated in Fieldays 2026, New Zealand's largest agricultural event, exploring emerging technologies in sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, and food security. The delegation engaged with New Zealand entities to discuss cooperation and knowledge exchange.
In addition, the UAE delegation visited Cambridge Stud and Breckon Farms to explore cooperation in the equine industry. The discussions focused on opportunities for collaboration in breeding, training, and knowledge exchange, aiming to strengthen ties between stakeholders in both nations.
Al Hajeri's visit included high-level participation from representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, the Ministry of Foreign Trade, Masdar, Al Wathba Stables, and the Emirates Arabian Horse Society.