New Zealand Embassy - Washington, D.C.

08/04/2026

Congratulations to New Zealand's U15 flag football team, finishing as the top placed high school team in the NFL Flag Championship in Indiana!
The team, comprising students from St Bernard's College and Queen Margaret College, joined more than 350 girls’ and boys’ teams at Droplight Grand Park Sports Campus in Westfield, Indiana after winning the 15U division in the NFL Flag 2026 National Championships in New Zealand.
The team won four of their six games, and won their B bracket grand final against Australia.
While in the US, the students also visited Lucas Oil Stadium, SoFi Stadium, and the NCAA Hall of Champions.

07/31/2026

Stepping up to assist when needed 🤝
New Zealand firefighters, together with Australian colleagues, are on the ground in the United States to assist with a huge wildfire response in the Pacific Northwest. Following a request for international assistance, a fire disaster emergency has now been declared in parts of Idaho.

Fire management specialists from Australia and New Zealand join U.S. wildfire operations in the Pacific Northwest, including on the Castle Fire.

07/30/2026

Sharing New Zealand with the next generation! More than 50 students joined us at the NZ Embassy from Leadership Initiatives, as part of its summer internship programme for high school students from across the US wanting to explore international relations and business. Students got to hear from Second Secretary Shea-Lee Phillips and Policy Adviser Fenella Henderson, as well as Education New Zealand’s DuBois Jennings. The team shared everything from NZ Embassy’s operations in the US to study abroad opportunities that are available to them in the future. 🇳🇿🇺🇸

07/27/2026

07/19/2026

Ryan Fox - winner of The 154th Open Championship🏆
And the first New Zealander to win The Open in 63 years! Congratulations Ryan Fox - history made 🌿🇳🇿

07/19/2026

On 28 November 1979, 257 people on board Air New Zealand flight TE901 lost their lives, when the aircraft crashed into Mt Erebus. The Erebus tragedy remains New Zealand’s worst air disaster.
In the days following, professionals and volunteers from New Zealand and the US joined Operation Overdue, to recover and identify victims. Among them was US Navy photographer, Mate Thomas (Tom) E McCabe.
Tom was one of four US Navy personnel, who assisted New Zealand during the disaster response.
At a ceremony at the New Zealand Embassy, Tom (now retired) was presented the New Zealand Special Service Medal (NZSMM Erebus) by Ambassador Chris Seed, for his contribution to Operation Overdue.
As a photographer, Tom was tasked with capturing and recording the remains of passengers and the crew to help with the identification of victims. The work involved lengthy shifts, often over 14 hours, and in temperatures of -40 degrees. For three weeks, Tom worked tirelessly. If he ever got a reprieve, he took his camera away to capture some of the beauty he witnessed on the ice – Emperor penguins keeping chicks warm, and seals frolicking.
New Zealand Police Sergeant (retired) Mark Penn travelled from New York to Washington DC to join the presentation of Tom’s medal at the New Zealand Embassy. Mark led one of the four teams, during Operation Overdue. He recalled how demanding the operation was, both physically and emotionally, on all those involved, with the impacts still being felt today.
13 American citizens who served in Operation Overdue were recognised in 2009 by the New Zealand Government.
New Zealand Police Attaché to the US, Detective Superintendent Peter Read, said Tom had been a hard man to track down to honour, with it taking some years to find a connection.
Peter said it was incredibly important Tom be acknowledged for his services to New Zealand and the families of the victims.
“You’ll always have a place in New Zealand and be welcome in our home, for all you did in 1979,” said Peter to Tom, during the ceremony.
Tom was joined by wife Aileen at the ceremony.

07/17/2026

Flag football is gaining momentum in New Zealand... and thanks to the NFL, students from St Bernard's College now get to compete on the international stage!
Students will soon travel to the US for the NFL Flag 15U international championships in Indiana, after winning the 15U division in the NFL Flag 2026 National Championships in New Zealand! As you can read in the full story, the NFL will cover all expenses for the students' travel to the US, as part of an initiative to help grow the sport in New Zealand.
We can't wait to cheer on the Kiwis very soon!

A trophy and a sense of pride is what you usually get for winning a national age group sporting competition but a bunch of kids from Wellington last month won the ultimate prize of a fully funded trip to America.

07/15/2026

Pavlova in print! It all started when we accepted an invitation from Norwegian Embassy in Washington to join their food diplomacy challenge! It was then a pleasure to share a taste of New Zealand with the Financial Times, highlighting how food diplomacy is at the heart of what we do in DC.
Photos: Caroline Gutman

The full feature is available here (with a subscription):
https://www.ft.com/content/05efcb78-32fe-4a23-9942-d6e264f94ba0

07/14/2026

From film to education and from tech to tourism, New Zealand businesses are helping to shape the fourth-largest economy in the world!
California is home to 7,000 kiwis and their impact is being felt across the State.
Ambassador Chris Seed enjoyed meeting many of the Kiwis calling LA home, on his recent visit to the West Coast as part of the All Whites FIFA World Cup campaign.
"Our community is thriving, and it was a pleasure to meet so many creatives, business and political leaders," said Chris.
On a tour of California, Chris met with United States Ambassador to New Zealand, Jared Novelly, before his departure to New Zealand, and San Francisco mayor Daniel Lurie.

07/13/2026

Sir Sam Neill leaves an incredible legacy that spans New Zealand, the US and beyond. As the film industry and all those who worked alongside him remember Sam's talent, our thoughts are with his family.