The Asia New Zealand Foundation Te Whītau Tūhono has
released new research exploring how informed voices across
Southeast Asia perceive New Zealand’s foreign policy and
international standing.
The Southeast
Asian Perceptions of New Zealand report surveyed 200
Southeast Asian experts in international affairs with a
working knowledge of New Zealand and its foreign policy from
Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. The
findings show that New Zealand enjoys an excellent
reputation and is seen as principled, trustworthy and
genuinely independent in its approach.
The new report
is the first of its kind undertaken by the Foundation and
complements the Foundation’s annual New Zealanders’
Perceptions of Asia and Asian Peoples survey which provides
insights for researchers, government officials and the
public on how New Zealand views Asia and its
people.
Asia New Zealand Foundation Chief Executive
Suzannah Jessep says the new research helps New Zealand see
itself through the eyes of its closest Southeast Asian
neighbours.
“After years of asking New Zealanders how
they view Asia and its cultures, we wanted to flip the
script and ask how Southeast Asian countries see us,” says
Jessep.
She adds that the research provides valuable
insights at a time when New Zealanders feel increasingly
connected to the region and our engagement with Southeast
Asia is deepening.
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“New Zealanders increasingly view
Southeast Asia as a close and trusted part of our region –
and it’s equally important that we understand how our
neighbours perceive us. That understanding helps us
strengthen relationships, tailor engagement and have a more
informed public conversation about Asia,” she
says.
Respondents describe New Zealand as a friend or
close friend to their countries, and as a like-minded
partner in several key areas. They see broad alignment with
New Zealand on economic and security priorities, though
somewhat different in political and governance
ideals.
While perceptions were overwhelmingly
positive, respondents expressed a desire for New Zealand to
take a stronger and more visible stance on global issues
such as trade, climate change and maritime
security.
Respondents also indicated a strong appetite
for deeper cooperation between Southeast Asia and New
Zealand in areas such as education, reflecting the sense
that New Zealand’s efforts in the region are valued and
make a tangible impact.
“New Zealand is seen as
investing wisely in the region and the appetite for
partnership is there- particularly on shared global
challenges, where New Zealand’s credibility and capability
are recognised,” says Dr Julia Macdonald, the Foundation’s
Director of Research and Engagement.
As New
Zealand’s relationships across Southeast Asia continue to
strengthen, the findings reinforce that the country’s
reputation in the region is both positive and valuable, but
at the same time, expectations are rising as regional
challenges evolve.
“Our Southeast Asian partners value
what New Zealand brings. They see us as a constructive,
values-driven country whose voice is worth listening to,
which is an encouraging message as we continue to grow our
engagement with the region,” says Jessep.
Report
Launch Event in Wellington
The Asia New Zealand
Foundation will be hosting a report launch event in
collaboration with the New Zealand Institute of
International Affairs (NZIIA) on Thursday, 13 November from
5:30pm – 7:00pm at Government Building Lecture Theatre 1
(GLBT1), Victoria University, Pipitea Campus.
Dr.
Julia Macdonald, Director Research and Engagement, will
present key findings. Followed by a panel discussion with
Prof. David Capie, Kenneth Leong and Prof. Jason
Young.
The event is open to the public. Event link: https://events.humanitix.com/southeast-asian-perceptions-of-new-zealand-report-launch
About
the research
The Southeast Asian Perceptions of New
Zealand research was conducted by Blackbox Research in
Singapore between 16 and 26 May 2025, surveying 200 experts
(50 each from Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and the
Philippines) aged 31-70, all with working knowledge of New
Zealand and its foreign policy. Sixty percent have more than
six years of experience in international affairs, and none
have lived in New Zealand for more than five
years.
