23 April 2003
Media Statement
Working holiday scheme and Dependants’ Employment Agreement signed with Belgium
Prime Minister Helen Clark and Belgium Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt today signed two new agreements between New
Zealand and Belgium at their meeting in Brussels.
Helen Clark said the new reciprocal working holiday arrangement will allow up to one hundred 18-to-30-year olds from
each country to spend up to a year living and working in the host country.
“We have a very good relationship with Belgium and share a common outlook on many issues. This scheme will allow young
New Zealanders to get to know Belgium better. It will also build on the growing people-to-people links between our two
countries,” Helen Clark said.
“We hope the agreement will help make New Zealand an increasingly popular destination for Belgian tourists. The working
holiday scheme will allow young Belgian travellers to spend more time in New Zealand, with the chance to undertake
incidental employment.”
The agreement with Belgium takes the number of working holiday arrangements with European countries to nine. Schemes are
already operating with the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, and Denmark.
The two Prime Ministers also signed a Dependants’ Employment Agreement which will allow the spouses of diplomats to work
in the country to which they are posted.
ENDS