Asia Insights
Insights is your source for the Foundation’s latest research, in-depth analysis, and news on Asia and New Zealand’s relationships across the region.
Latest articles
Expert analysis on Asia and New Zealand-Asia relations
Explainer: APEC comes to China
Ahead of the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in China, Asia Media Centre manager Graeme Acton takes a look at what we can expect to see at the November meeting.
Raising ambition in the India-New Zealand partnership
The signing of a free trade agreement in July marks a new era of closer economic ties between New Zealand and India, but there is scope to deepen the relationship further, writes Dhruva Jaishankar. Jaishankar, who is the executive director of the Observer Research Foundation America and an Asia New Zealand Foundation 2026 Senior International Fellow, spent a week in New Zealand in August, where he met with leaders across the public and private sectors.
What can New Zealand learn from Tokyo’s urban planning?
In the first of Asia in Focus’s urbanism series, Kayden Briskie examines how mixed-use development in Japan has created energised and diverse cities, and what New Zealand could learn from such an approach.
Why New Zealand and ASEAN must build middle power momentum
To address global challenges and mounting uncertainties, New Zealand and Southeast Asian states must turn their “middle power moment” into momentum, writes professor of international relations at the Institute of Malaysian and International Studies, Cheng-Chwee Kuik.
What the ASEAN Future Forum reveals about Viet Nam’s intentions for the region
Reflecting on the recent ASEAN Future Forum in Hanoi, associate professor of international relations at Victoria University of Wellington Manjeet Pardesi examines Viet Nam’s efforts to shape a changing regional order, and what its ambitions mean for countries such as New Zealand.
Opinion: The nuclear order is fraying. Abandoning it would be worse
With China’s recent test of a submarine-launched ballistic missile into South Pacific waters, Asia New Zealand Foundation director of research and engagement Dr Julia Macdonald takes a closer look at the growing nuclear threat in the Indo-Pacific.
Featured
Find out about the topics covered and conversations had at the Foundation's Asia Symposium
Asia Symposium
Policymakers, academics and business leaders from across New Zealand and Asia gathered in Wellington recently for the Foundation’s Asia Symposium: Asia in Transition – The Middle Power Moment. Hosted by the Asia New Zealand Foundation in partnership with The Asia Foundation, the symposium examined the geostrategic shifts reshaping our region and the growing role of small and middle powers. On this page, you can read a brief introduction to the symposium and watch the panel discussions and keynotes.
Latest research
Perceptions of Asia: Pacific New Zealanders’ Perspectives
Since 1997, the Asia New Zealand Foundation Te Whītau Tūhono has surveyed how New Zealanders perceive Asia and their relationships with its countries and peoples. This report, the latest in our Perceptions series, brings together perspectives and insights from Pacific New Zealanders to help understand the bonds across New Zealand, Asia and the Pacific and how they could be strengthened.
Southeast Asian Perceptions of New Zealand
Since 1997, the Asia New Zealand Foundation Te Whītau Tūhono has surveyed how New Zealanders perceive Asia and their relationships with its countries and peoples. In this report, the Foundation has reversed the lens, exploring how experts in four Southeast Asian countries—Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore—view New Zealand and its role in the region.
Asia country profiles
China country profile
In this country profile, we look at the latest New Zealanders' Perceptions of Asia and Asian Peoples research to gain an understanding of how New Zealanders feel about China.
India country profile
The India country profile is based on our latest New Zealanders’ Perceptions of Asia and Asian Peoples report. The survey was carried out in January and February 2026. Supplementary data relating to travel is from Stats NZ. The 2026 Perceptions of Asia survey was carried out after the announcement that New Zealand and India had concluded free trade negotiations in December 2025 and before the visit of Prime Minister Modi to Auckland in July 2026.
Japan country profile
This country profile is based on our latest New Zealanders’ Perceptions of Asia and Asian Peoples report. The survey was carried out in January and February 2026. Supplementary data relating to travel is from Stats NZ.
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