Brunei Other Connections
Air Services
New Zealand and Brunei signed a liberal Air Services Agreement in March 1999 replacing a 1995 Agreement. Along with Chile, Singapore and the USA, Brunei and New Zealand are partners in the Multilateral Open Skies agreement, which was signed in Brunei during APEC in November 2000. In October 2003 Royal Brunei Airlines (RBA) began a four flight per week service to Auckland, via Brisbane, reduced in November 2004 to three flights per week, due to cost considerations. In 2008, however, RBA introduced daily flights between Auckland and Brunei, some of which are direct.
Defence
New Zealand has a small but significant defence relationship with Brunei. Military exercises, training assistance and annual discussions under the Mutual Assistance Programme have helped to develop a relationship of substance and value for both countries.
Education
In 2007, there were 56 fee-paying students from Brunei enrolled in New Zealand (3 at schools, 3 at polytechnics and 50 at universities). Otago University has a Memorandum of Understanding with Brunei under which it takes a small number of medical and dental students. Lincoln University also has links with Brunei. Brunei regularly recruits New Zealand teachers, and more than 50 are currently working there. New Zealanders are also employed in the oil, construction, health and airline sectors.
Last updated: 14 January 2009
