Relations with New Zealand Bilateral Linkages New Zealand for many years supported the implementation of the United Nations programm e for the ending of the illegal South African occupation of the country and the achievement of independence. A Defence contingent of 12 engineers also went to Namibia. New Zealand has played an important role in the development of the orange roughy and other deepwater fisheries both in the Namibian Exclusive Economic Zone and adjacent seas. Sealord Products and Namibia have operated a joint venture, Gendor Fishing, since 1994. New Zealand Post have been involved in the reform of the Namibian postal service.
Trade is minimal.
Relations with New Zealand Visits Visits by Namibian officials have focused on public sector reform, in particular in transport, telecommunications and education. A group of Namibian parliamentarians visited New Zealand in October 1994. They had a busy visit and indicated that they intended to recommend a further visit to New Zealand, possibly at ministerial level. In October 1996 the Namibian Minister of Fisheries visited New Zealand for a study tour at the invitation of Sealords. The Namibian Minister of Lands, Resettlement and Rehabilitation, Pendukeni Ithana visited New Zealand in February 1997 to attend a meeting of the International Working Group on Women and Sport.