Two-way investment brief

Australia–New Zealand

At the end of 2025, investors from New Zealand held A$6.2 bn of direct investment in Australia, making it Australia’s 20th-largest source of foreign direct investment (0.5% of the total). That stock fell 17.3% over the year and has grown 1.0% a year on average over the past decade. Australian direct investment in New Zealand was A$145 bn — the 3rd-largest destination for Australian direct investment abroad. The relationship is weighted towards Australian investment in New Zealand (23.6× New Zealand’s direct investment in Australia). New Zealand was Australia’s 8th-largest two-way trading partner in 2025 (goods and services, A$40.6 bn; 3.1% of Australia’s trade). Globally, New Zealand was the world’s 51st-largest source of FDI outflows in 2024 ($882 m, World Bank).

Data (CSV)New Zealand global profile

New Zealand direct investment in Australia

A$6.2 bn

−17.3%vs 202420th largest

Total New Zealand investment in Australia

A$85.5 bn

12th largest · 1.7%

Australian direct investment in New Zealand

A$145 bn

+14.7%vs 20243rd largest destination

Total Australian investment in New Zealand

A$222 bn

Levels at 31 Dec 2025

Trend

Direct investment in both directions

Direct investment levels, Australia–New Zealand

New Zealand in Australia
Australia in New Zealand

Source: ABS, International Investment Position, Australia: Supplementary Statistics (5352.0).

New Zealand’s investment in Australia by type

Direct investment
Portfolio investment
Other investment

Source: ABS, International Investment Position, Australia: Supplementary Statistics (5352.0).

Annual direct investment flows

Net transactions during the year; negative = net disinvestment

New Zealand → Australia
Australia → New Zealand

Source: ABS, International Investment Position, Australia: Supplementary Statistics (5352.0).

Trade relationship

Australia–New Zealand trade

Investment and trade move together: the partners that invest most in Australia are usually major trading partners too. Goods trade is recorded monthly (latest: July 2026); services annually.

Two-way trade, 2025

A$40.6 bn

8th largest partner · 3.1%

Goods exports to New Zealand, 2025

A$13.1 bn

12 months to July 2026: A$13.3 bn

Goods imports from New Zealand, 2025

A$8.3 bn

12 months to July 2026: A$8.8 bn

Services trade, 2025

A$19.3 bn

Exports A$7.4 bn · imports A$11.9 bn

Goods trade

Calendar years, A$ (ABS merchandise trade)

Exports to New Zealand
Imports from New Zealand

Source: ABS, International Merchandise Trade (MERCH_EXP / MERCH_IMP), summed to calendar years.

Services trade

Calendar years, A$ (ABS international trade in services by country)

Exports to New Zealand
Imports from New Zealand

Source: ABS, International Trade in Services by Country, calendar years.

Economic outlook

New Zealand’s economy

IMF World Economic Outlook	2024	2025	2026forecast	2027forecast	2028forecast
Real GDP growth	−0.3%	0.2%	2.1%	2.4%	2.4%
Inflation	2.9%	2.8%	3.1%	2.3%	2.1%
Unemployment rate	4.8%	5.3%	5.4%	5.0%	4.6%
Current account, % GDP	−4.7%	−3.7%	−4.0%	−3.8%	−3.6%
Fiscal balance, % GDP	−3.2%	−3.9%	−3.9%	−3.1%	−2.1%
Government gross debt, % GDP	51.4%	54.7%	56.7%	57.8%	57.8%

Source: IMF World Economic Outlook via the IMF DataMapper API. Years from 2026 are IMF projections; recent years may be estimates and are revised in each WEO round (April and October).

2025 at a glance

New FDI from New Zealand: −A$37 m
New Australian FDI in New Zealand: A$3.2 bn
Direct investment income paid to investors: A$246 m
Direct investment income earned by Australians: A$6.6 bn

New Zealand globally (World Bank)

FDI outflows, 2024: $882 m · 51st
FDI inflows, 2025: $3.6 bn
GDP, 2025: $264 bn
Region · income: East Asia & Pacific · High income

Regulatory openness (OECD FDIRRI)

OECD index data loading — see FDI openness

Sources: ABS, International Investment Position, Australia: Supplementary Statistics (cat. 5352.0), 2025 release, released 2026-05-06 — levels at 31 December and calendar-year flows and income, A$ millions, immediate counterparty basis (investment routed via third economies is attributed to the intermediate economy). World Bank WDI (US$). OECD FDI Regulatory Restrictiveness Index. np = not published for confidentiality; included in totalsPrepared independently by FDIstats from public statistics; not an Australian Government publication and not investment advice. For foreign investment rules, see the Treasury and FIRB.