Australian High Commission

New Zealand

High Commission address: 72-76 Hobson Street, Thorndon, Wellington - Telephone: +64 (0)4 473 6411 - Fax: +64 (0)4 498 7135

Welcome to the Australian High Commission in Wellington, New Zealand.

Latest News

The Australian Prime Minster, Hon Kevin Rudd has made a speech to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce on Closer Economic Relations. Details can be found here.

The Australian Minister for Trade Simon Cream will meet his New Zealand counterpart, Minister for Trade Phil Goff, in Melbourne on Friday 15 August for the annual Closer Economic Relations (CER) Ministerial Meeting.

The Foreign Minister, Hon Stephen Smith, has said how deeply saddened he was to learn that the former Secretary-General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Greg Urwin, had passed away in Apia.

The Government has appointed Mr John Dauth LVO to be Australia’s new High Commissioner to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Mr Dauth is currently Australia’s High Commissioner to New Zealand, a position he has held since February 2006.

Prime Minister, Hon Kevin Rudd, has given a speech while visiting Singapore on
"Building on ASEAN’s Success – Towards an Asia Pacific Century".

A suite of reforms to Australia’s immigration detention system has been announced by the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans. Under them detention in immigration detention centres will only be used as a last resort and for the shortest practicable time.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon Stephen Smith, has given a major speech to the Lowy Institute in Sydney about Australia’s engagement with ASEAN and the wider Asia-Pacific region.

The Minister for Climate Change and Water, Senator Penny Wong, has released the Government’s Green Paper on the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme. It contains proposals for a new plan to tackle climate change by reducing carbon pollution.

Australia is appointing its first Ambassador to ASEAN – the Association of South East Asian Nations. Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon Stephen Smith, said the decision underscores the importance Australia attaches to ASEAN and Australia's desire to extend its engagement and cooperation with ASEAN and its member nations.

The Western Australia state election has been announced for 6 September. All enquiries about it should be directed to the Western Australia Electoral Commission. By-elections have also been announced for the Divisions of Lyne (NSW) and Mayo (SA). Information about the two by-elections can be found on the Australian Electoral Commission's website.

Events

The Australian High Commission and the Pacific Cooperation Foundation are jointly organising a half-day seminar on Bougainville on Thursday 28th August. For more details please click here.

There is a strong line-up of Australian films in the 2008 New Zealand International Film Festivals which have finished in Auckland and Wellington but are still running in other other cities around the country. The films are Donkey in Lahore, Great Australian Albums: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds Murder Ballads, Night, Not Quite Hollywood, River of No Return and Son of a Lion. For information on the films, including screening times click here.

Job Vacancies at the High Commission

The High Commission has no vacancies at present