New Zealand and Sweden share a close friendship grounded in shared values and deep historical ties. Today, Swedish companies create around 3,000 jobs across Aotearoa, with many more supported through local supply chains.
Sweden’s connection to Aotearoa began in 1769, when botanist Daniel Solander arrived with James Cook and became the first Swede to set foot in New Zealand. His legacy remains visible to this day, even in the form of a New Zealand island bearing his name.
Solander’s scientific curiosity and spirit of discovery became the foundation of a strong relationship between the two nations.
Already in the 1890s, Australia and New Zealand became one of Ericsson’s largest markets outside of Europe, laying some of the foundations for the countries’ early telecommunications systems and showing just how early Swedish innovation became woven into New Zealand’s development story.
Today, that relationship is even stronger. Sweden remains an important European trading partner for New Zealand, a partnership further reinforced by the EU–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement, which entered into force in May 2024.
The FTA eliminated tariffs on major Swedish export categories, including machinery, vehicles, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, unlocking new opportunities for Swedish companies and making high‑quality Swedish products more accessible to New Zealand consumers and industries.
A recent milestone in the commercial relationship was the arrival of IKEA in Auckland in 2025. More than a new retail store, IKEA’s entry represented one of the largest single retail investments in New Zealand’s history. The Auckland store, the largest retail unit in the country, created around 500 jobs and supported additional employment across logistics, warehousing and supply chains. Its opening brought Swedish design values, sustainability standards and new career pathways to a rapidly growing market.
IKEA is just one example among many. Swedish companies such as Tetra Pak, ABB, Husqvarna, Assa Abloy, Hexagon, Scania, Essity and Ericsson have operations across New Zealand. These firms invest locally, employ New Zealanders and often manufacture or assemble locally.
Together, they contribute to key sectors such as food and beverage processing, renewable energy, transport, infrastructure, digital connectivity and advanced manufacturing.
Sweden’s global reputation for high‑tech excellence, environmental leadership and durable business relationships reflects Swedish companies’ contributions to New Zealand’s economic ambitions.
