Chile and New Zealand are two Pacific rim nations separated by over 9,100 km of distance. Both nations established diplomatic relations in 1948 and embassies were opened in each countries capitals in 1972, respectively. In 1973, Chilean General Augusto Pinochet took power in Chile after a coup d'état against the government of former Chilean President Salvador Allende. During the Chilean military dictatorship, New Zealand did not break diplomatic relations with Chile. As a result, several protests took place in the 1970s and 1980s in New Zealand against the New Zealand government maintaining diplomatic and trade relations with the military regime of Chile. Throughout the 1970s, several thousand Chilean refugees fled their country, mostly to other Latin-American countries and to Europe. During that time period, over 200 Chileans sought asylum in New Zealand. Since the end of the military dictatorship in Chile, relations between the two countries have greatly improved. Both nations have working holiday visas and have seen several official visits made by Presidents/Prime Ministers and government officials. In 1993, Chilean President Patricio Aylwin paid an official visit to New Zealand, becoming the first Latin-American head of state to visit the country. Both nations work together to combat climate change and improve global agriculture and lobby the international community to help preserve Antarctica. In 2012, New Zealand was granted Observer status for the Pacific Alliance, a regional group that includes Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru. In 2016, Chilean Foreign MinisterHeraldo Muñoz visited Auckland to sign the Trans-Pacific Partnership. In 2017, New Zealand Trade MinisterTodd McClay visited Chile to attend the High Level Dialogue on Trade in Viña del Mar.
Chile's largest airline, LATAM Chile, operates flights between Santiago and Auckland.
Trade
In 2004, Chile and New Zealand signed a free trade agreement known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership. In 2016, trade between Chile and New Zealand amounted to US$229 million dollars. Chile's main exports to New Zealand include: wood pulp, wood, fruit and nuts. New Zealand main exports to Chile include: dairy products, machinery, oil seeds. New Zealand's largest company, Fonterra, owns a 99% share in Chile's largest dairy company, Soprole.
