Relations between Croatia and New Zealand are very good and friendly, the two ministers agreed.
The main link between the two countries is the large and influential Croat community, the Croatian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs said in a statement.
It noted that Croats are the only immigrant group that was given a tribal name, Tarara, considering its connection with the Maori people and the fact that more than 100,000 people of Croat descent live in New Zealand.
The two ministers discussed the geopolitical consequences of the Russian aggression against Ukraine, and the situation in the Middle East as well as in Southeast Europe.
New Zealand's support for Croatia's accession to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) was expressed as well. The ministers discussed Croatia's inclusion, in 2024, in a negotiating plan on an agreement on the avoidance of double taxation, the Croatian ministry stated.
The two officials also discussed ways to strengthen bilateral trade and promote cooperation in tourism, energy, use of ports, IT, etc.
The conclusion of the EU-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement in July 2023 opens up new possibilities for trade and investments as a result of New Zealand's facilitated access to the European market, the ministers said.
They welcomed the cooperation within the EU Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, as well as New Zealand's inclusion in the Horizon Europe programme.
Grlić Radman is the first Croatian foreign minister to pay an official visit to New Zealand and the first minister to meet bilaterally with Peters, a member of the newly formed government of New Zealand.
The Croatian minister also held talks with Trade Minister Todd McClay, with whom he discussed bilateral trade and economic cooperation.
The two ministers discussed concrete measures that can promote the two countries' trade relations.
Another official with whom Grlić Radman met was Chief Justice Helen Winkelmann, with whom he discussed cooperation in judicial matters as well as the important role of numerous persons of Croat descent holding positions in New Zealand's judiciary.
He met with parliamentary deputies of Croat descent - the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries, Minister for Regional Development, and Minister for Resources in the National–ACT–New Zealand First coalition government, Shane Jones, as well as MPs Tanya Unkovich and Camilla Belich.
During his stay in Wellington, Grlić Radman met with members of the Croat community at the Wellington Croatian Club, which is headed by Ester Andrijolić and actively contributes to the preservation of Croatian culture with Croatian language courses and work on expanding the holdings of the Croatian library.
During that meeting, Grlić Radman announced that Croatia would open an embassy in Wellington to strengthen the ties between the two countries.
"I strongly believe that the establishment of the Croatian diplomatic mission in New Zealand would not only reflect the deep ties and support to the Croat community but also underline the excellent bilateral relations between our two countries that share the same democratic values and goals, freedom, peace and prosperity," Grlić Radman said.