New Zealand Embassy - Manila, Philippines

01/06/2026

New Horizons in Defence and Security Partnership

Ambassador Catherine McIntosh, accompanied by Deputy Head of Mission Stacey Kwant, paid a courtesy call on new National Security Adviser Eduardo Oban Jr on 14 May 2026. They were joined by National Security Council Deputy Director General (DDG) and Chief of Staff Benjamin Madrigal Jr, DDG Pedro Soria, and ADG Cornelio Valencia.

The meeting focused on strengthening collaboration, with both parties highlighting the 60th anniversary of New Zealand-Philippines diplomatic relations as a pivotal milestone for strengthening the partnership.

Ambassador McIntosh reiterated New Zealand’s commitment to lifting defence and security engagement with the Philippines. She highlighted progress on the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA), currently under Senate review, and New Zealand’s inaugural participation in Exercise Balikatan. Both sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to maintaining maritime security, upholding international law, and fostering regional stability in the Indo-Pacific.

29/05/2026

Investing in women powers climate resilience and economic growth in the Philippines: The EmPower initiative is in motion in 📍 Maasin and Zarraga, Iloilo and 📍Balayan, Batangas! Women-led and solar-powered, rural micro-entrepreneurs are using clean energy to reduce operating costs, protect their livestock and grow their livelihoods.

Learn more about the joint programme of United Nations Philippines, implemented by UN Women Philippines and UN Environment Programme, with support from the Governments of Germany, New Zealand, Sweden and Switzerland: https://bit.ly/3PJm6Ka

With
UN Women Asia and the Pacific
UN Women Philippines
UN Environment Programme
New Zealand Embassy - Manila, Philippines

28/05/2026

🇳🇿🤝🇵🇭 Expanding horizons for New Zealand-Philippines trade and economic growth!

New Zealand Minister for Trade and Investment Todd McClay and Philippine DTI Secretary Cris A. Roque officially signed a new Joint Economic Commission (JEC) Arrangement on 22 May on the sidelines of the 2026 APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade (MRT) Meeting in China.

Marking 60 years of diplomatic ties, this milestone bilateral arrangement establishes a bolder economic horizon - locking in new architecture to advance our trading relationship and continue momentum towards our goal for a 50% increase in two-way trade by 2030.

New Zealand and the Philippines aim to hold the first meeting under the JEC arrangement later this year.

Sixty years of trust, and an even brighter trade future!

27/05/2026

New Zealand Ambassador meets with Philippine Airlines President

New Zealand Ambassador Dr Catherine McIntosh met with Philippine Airlines (PAL) President Mr Richard Nuttall to thank PAL for its long-standing contribution to air connectivity between New Zealand and the Philippines, and to discuss future opportunities.

The courtesy call, attended by Second Secretary David Pennycook and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise Business Development Manager Frances Carlos, covered a range of areas, from record trade and people-to-people flows, to the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year.

Discussion on aviation connectivity included PAL’s current arrangements with Air New Zealand, and the importance of strong and reliable links between the two countries.

The meeting also explored opportunities for innovation, an area in which New Zealand aviation technologies offer recognised capabilities. ✈️🇳🇿🇵🇭

25/05/2026

23/05/2026

🌿 Mapping out future climate cooperation 🇳🇿🇵🇭

Productive discussions on climate cooperation took centre stage during a courtesy call between New Zealand Ambassador Dr Catherine McIntosh and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna.

The meeting highlighted the increased tempo of exchanges between New Zealand and Philippine environment officials since the NZPH Joint Declaration on Climate Change Cooperation was signed in November 2024. Against this backdrop, discussions focused on strengthening cooperation on climate action and identifying opportunities for future collaboration.

The discussion also reflected on the strong foundations of the New Zealand–Philippines relationship - from historic cooperation on geothermal energy to broader environmental priorities- as the two countries mark 60 years of diplomatic ties.

Looking ahead, New Zealand and the Philippines remain committed to working together to support climate resilience and a more sustainable future. 🤝🌱

19/05/2026

We’re working more closely than ever with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to support a more prosperous and secure Indo-Pacific. Last week, New Zealand hosted Department of Foreign Affairs, Republic of the Philippines Undersecretary H.E. Leo Herrera-Lim from the Philippines, together with government representatives from the 11 ASEAN Member States and the ASEAN Secretariat, for the annual ASEAN–New Zealand Dialogue in Christchurch.

18/05/2026

15/05/2026

06/05/2026

: New Zealand Ambassador joins ANZCHAM’s International Women’s Day Forum

New Zealand Ambassador Dr Catherine McIntosh took part as a keynote speaker at the Australia New Zealand Chamber of Commerce (ANZCHAM’s) annual International Women’s Day Luncheon, joining a record-breaking gathering of more than 370 guests. Held under the theme “Bridging the Representation Gap”, the forum brought together leaders from the private and public sectors to discuss the advancement of women’s leadership and its impact on economic growth.

In her remarks, Ambassador McIntosh reflected on New Zealand's experience in expanding access, visibility, and participation for women across sectors, emphasising that “Representation Matters” — defined not only by presence, but by influence.

She also highlighted practical approaches that support sustained change, including the Free to Lead toolkit ondigital safety and the Embassy’s flagship development programme, I-LEAD. These initiatives reflect the Māori concept of Mana Wāhine — recognising leadership an inherent strength and supporting women to lead with confidence — when in the boardroom or ancestral domain context.

The forum served as a powerful reminder that when barriers are removed through mentorship, safety, and inclusive opportunity, both the community and economy benefit.