Singapore country profile
How do New Zealanders view Singapore in 2026?
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.
The New Zealand–Singapore relationship is underpinned by strong political, people-to-people and security ties. The two countries have maintained diplomatic relations since 1965 and work closely together on regional issues through forums including ASEAN, the East Asia Summit and APEC.
New Zealand and Singapore have a close, long-standing and highly complementary trade relationship. Singapore is New Zealand’s largest trading partner in Southeast Asia, with NZ$11.07 billion in two-way trade in the year to June 2025. Singapore is also a significant source of investment and serves as a major commercial, financial and transport hub for New Zealand businesses seeking to access Southeast Asia.
How important is Singapore to New Zealand's future?
Fifty-seven percent of New Zealanders see Singapore as important to New Zealand’s future, making it the fourth most important country in Asia, after China, Japan and India. One in five (20 percent) say that Singapore is very important.
Singapore's importance to New Zealand's future
Q: How important do you think Japan is to New Zealand’s future?
Perceptions of Asia 2026
Why do New Zealanders see Singapore as important?
Trade and Singapore’s strong economy are the leading reasons New Zealanders view Singapore as important. Travel, technology and perceptions of Singapore as a ‘role model’ for New Zealand as another small but highly developed island nation are other frequently mentioned reasons.
How much trust do New Zealanders have in Singapore to act responsibly in the world?
Sixty-five percent of New Zealanders say they have high or very high trust in Singapore to act responsibly in the world, making it New Zealander’s most trusted power in Asia after Japan.
New Zealanders' trust in Singapore
Q: How much trust do you have in Singapore to act responsibly in the world?
Perceptions of Asia 2026
Friend and threat perceptions
Singapore is seen as New Zealand’s closest friend in Asia after Japan. Seventy-eight percent of New Zealand say Singapore is a friend or close friend to New Zealand.
Just one percent of New Zealanders say Singapore is a threat to New Zealand.
“My perception is [that Singapore has] similar ethics and values based on my own visit and people I know from there. Technologically advanced and I think a country [like] New Zealand would do well to be friendly with.”
Female, 25–29 years, other European, Wellington
New Zealanders' friend and threat perceptions of Singapore
A friendly country is one you view as safe and trustworthy. A threatening country is one you view with caution or suspicion. For each country below, do you view them as a friend or a threat to New Zealand?
Perceptions of Asia 2026
Like-mindedness to New Zealand
New Zealanders identify Singapore as the Asian country most likeminded to New Zealand when it comes to engaging with people and the world, with 25 percent selecting it.
“[Singapore] is progressive and has similar values to New Zealand.”
Female, 70+ years, New Zealand European and Fijian, Auckland
“[Singapore is] very similar in size and [New Zealand] can learn a lot from their infrastructure and good fiscal environment.”
Male, 50–59 years, New Zealand European, Wellington
Defence and security
Singapore is seen as New Zealand’s second most important security and defence partner in Asia after Japan, with 38 percent of New Zealanders selecting it.
NZ Army and Singapore Armed Forces personnel provide support to the Christchurch Earthquake Operation
How much do New Zealanders know about Southeast Asia?
Forty percent of New Zealanders say they know at least a fair amount about Southeast Asia, compared to 54 percent who say the same of North Asia and 29 percent of South Asia.
New Zealanders’ travel to Singapore
New Zealanders made a total of 771,196 return trips to Asia in the year to January 2026, a 14 percent increase over the year before.
New Zealanders made a total of 24,498 return trips to Singapore during that period, an increase of almost nine percent from the previous year.
Entertainment consumption
A third of New Zealanders (34 percent) consume entertainment made in or relating to Asia at least monthly, with 17 percent doing so at least weekly.
New Zealanders were asked where in Asia produces the entertainment they enjoy the most. Six percent of New Zealanders named Singapore as the place in Asia that produces the entertainment they enjoy the most.
Download the full Perceptions of Asia report
pdf, 12.47 MB
The Foundation's research programme commissions studies that support informed public conversations about New Zealand’s relationship with Asia. We also support the next generation of scholars through our Foundation Research Grants.
Our Asia in Focus programme provides expert analysis on Asia and New Zealand-Asia relations.
