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New Zealand Sport Diplomacy Strategy
2025-2030
Sport connects Aotearoa New Zealand to the world
It’s one of our most powerful tools for building international relationships, sharing our culture, and opening doors for diplomacy and economic opportunity.
The New Zealand Government Sport Diplomacy Strategy 2025–2030 sets out how we’ll use sport to achieve government goals and raise New Zealand’s presence on the world stage through a coordinated, cross-government approach.
The strategy helps government agencies reach their international business goals by making the most of New Zealand’s sporting reputation and global connections. It draws on our strengths – including our sporting events, well-known teams, respected leaders and international networks – to:
- build and maintain relations with other countries
- support the goal of doubling export value over the next 10 years through trade, investment, tourism and education
- share New Zealand’s story and showcase our culture to the world.
A whole-of-government approach
Sport diplomacy is a team effort across government. The strategy gives agencies a way to work together, share expertise and increase their impact. It helps each agency use sport to support their international goals.
The strategy is led by 9 agencies:
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- New Zealand Trade and Enterprise
- Invest New Zealand
- Tourism New Zealand
- Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao
- New Zealand Story Group
- Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (Major Events)
- Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage
- Sport New Zealand Ihi Aotearoa
This is just the beginning
The strategy builds on recent diplomatic milestones, including the Prime Minister’s Trade Mission to India and the signing of the India–New Zealand sport Memorandum of Understanding.
It sets the course for long-term collaboration and international engagement – helping New Zealand grow its global influence and deliver benefits both here at home and around the world.
Sport Diplomacy Strategy (PDF)
Sport Diplomacy Strategy (Word doc)
Sport Diplomacy Strategy one pager (PDF)
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