The recent two-day visit of President Aquino to New Zealand resulted to three bilateral agreements that will strengthen the relationship of the two countries. The mutual agreement was signed by Aquino and New Zealand Prime Minister John Key  on the second day of President Aquino’s visit.

The presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte, reported the signing of the agreements during a press briefing in Manila.


Valte said, “The President attended a press conference together with the Prime Minister of New Zealand wherein he delivered a statement and witnessed the signing of the following bilateral agreements: first, the geothermal energy cooperation agreement; second, the working holiday scheme; and third, the memorandum of agreement concerning defense cooperation.”

The working holiday scheme will allow tourists from both countries to work in the host country. The scheme covers tourists between 18-30 years old. They can work for up to 12 months of stay but no longer than any three months for any given employer. They may also opt to study for up to three months.

Valte said “Participant may engage in work for the entire 12 months of stay but no longer than any three months for any given employer, or may study for up to three months.”

New Zealand has similar agreements with 36 other countries which include Asian nations, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore.

Meanwhile, the agreement regarding geothermal energy aims to develop better techniques on how to best utilize geothermal energy through “knowledge transfer and training.”

During a briefing in New Zealand, Communications Secretary, Ricky Carandang said that the Philippines is one of the biggest producers of geothermal energy in the world.

Defense agreement is the third agreement which calls for closer cooperation between the Philippines and New Zealand. It states that the two countries will work together on issues of military training and exercises, and information exchange.

In a state-run, Radio NZ report, Key said, “It is an important step to codify current practices, and the Government is looking forward to working more closely with the Philippines in the years to come.”