Australia Day reception, 26 January 2026
HE Daniel Sloper PSM, Australian High Commissioner
E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e ngā iwi, e rau rangatira mā. Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.
At the start, I’d like to acknowledge the Rt Hon Sir Bill English, the Deputy Speaker, ministers, and members of parliament, as well as the Dean and other members of the diplomatic community.
And recognise all of you, distinguished guests representing the breadth of trans-Tasman relations.
I also wish to thank our sponsors for their support of this event - CyberCX, Auckland Airport, the Trans-Tasman Business Circle, Aurecon, as well as Coopers Beer and Bundaberg, our beverage supporters.
Before going further, I wish to express my sympathy and condolences for the families of victims and Mount Maunganui community as well as the communities across the north facing challenges after the deluge of rain over recent weeks.
Thank you all for joining us on Australia Day, and the first event we have held on this day since 2020.
Australia Day is a day when Australians across our country gather to reflect, respect and celebrate with their community.
Our story began 65,000 years ago. New chapters are written every day.
On Australia Day, we reflect on our history, its highs and its lows, including the recent terrible events at Bondi in December.
We respect the stories of others across our community.
And we celebrate our nation, its achievements and most of all, its people.
It is not without debate, but we're all part of the story.
New Zealand is also part of our story, with an estimated Kiwi diaspora of 1.2 million contributing to our society, economy and culture.
As we look out at a world that is less certain, Australia is placing a priority on its relationships, region, resilience and rules.
In this endeavour, Australia has no closer partner than New Zealand.
Our relationship extends beyond history and community links to continuing shared interests. We recognise that we can achieve more together.
Our efforts to strengthen the Single Economic Market, a combined market of more than 32 million people, mean Australia is New Zealand’s second largest trading partner with two-way trade of NZ$34.1 billion.
Australia is also the largest source of visitors to this beautiful country with 1.48 million Aussies visiting in the twelve months to September 2025.
This, with Australia’s role as New Zealand’s largest foreign investor, supports businesses, jobs and growth across the country.
And this year we celebrate the 75th anniversary of our alliance. This has never been more valuable in a world that - in the words of Prime Minister Luxon - is shifting from rules to power, economics to security, and efficiency to resilience.
In the region, as Pacific nations, Australia and New Zealand understand that our success is tied to that of our neighbours.
We are working to back Pacific solutions to the region’s challenges and to reinforce resilience, including in response to climate change.
We know that Australia and New Zealand will have each other’s back in times of need, including most recently Kiwi fire fighters heading off to tackle bushfires in Australia.
Australia and New Zealand also understand that international rules and norms – even when challenged – have delivered clear benefits.
As trading nations, transparent, agreed international rules have delivered growth, jobs and wealth to our countries over decades.
We continue to support these rules and demonstrate best practice in bilateral and plurilateral trade agreements.
Achieving outcomes on the many issues across the breadth of our relations doesn’t come automatically.
So, I must thank each of you and others across New Zealand who continue to work with us on these initiatives.
In the last year, there have been multiple meetings of prime ministers, ministers and senior leaders, including on foreign affairs, trade, defence, security, the economy, climate change, infrastructure, public policy, and service delivery.
We’ve seen the visit of the HMAS Canberra and multiple joint defence exercises, including more than 600 New Zealand Defence personnel and two Royal New Zealand Navy ships deploying to Australia for Exercise Talisman Sabre.
We’ve also welcomed the engagement of business, especially the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum.
These government and business exchanges benefit both our countries. As does the work of the community and arts representatives here tonight.
In turn, we are pleased to be able to support the New Zealand community. Each year, the High Commission chooses a partner charity for big events. Tonight it is Yes for Success.
We will soon hear more from Yes for Success on their important work.
Tonight, they are running a silent auction for some amazing items, including packages donated by the Bolton, Intercontinental and Sofitel hotels. I encourage you to bid and support this cause.
With thanks and appreciation to Yes for Success and to all of you for our partnership …
I ask that you raise your glasses and join me for the loyal toast.
To ‘The King and the Government and people of New Zealand’.
Thank you.
Ngā mihi nui.
No reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.
