Friendly and positive political relations between Türkiye and New Zealand are based on shared fundamental values and date back to the historical encounter at the Çanakkale Battles of 1915.

Commemorations of Çanakkale Land Battles on 24-25 April every year contribute to the friendly ties between the two countries.

The centenary of Çanakkale Land Battles were commemorated in April 2015 in Istanbul and Çanakkale with the participation of a large number of countries and international organizations. On this occasion, Türkiye hosted then-Governor General Sir Jerry Mateparae the then-Prime Minister of New Zealand, Hon. John Key.

In recent years, high-level exchanges between two countries positively contribute to bilateral ties and cooperation. H.E. Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs, paid an official visit to New Zealand on 12-14 November 2014. This was the first visit of a Turkish Foreign Minister to New Zealand after of 20 years.

Türkiye-New Zealand Joint Declaration was signed on 22 April 2010 by (then-Prime Minister) H.E. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and the Right Honourable John Key, then Prime Minister of New Zealand. This Joint Declaration is considered as a road map for bilateral relations and reflects the mutual political will to enhance cooperation in various areas.

A new Türkiye-New Zealand Joint Declaration on bilateral relations was signed by the Prime Ministries of both countries on 23 April 2015, reiterating the existing mutual political will of both countries to strengthen every aspect of bilateral relations.

New Zealand constructed four schools for Syrians under temporary protection in Adıyaman, Kahramanmaraş, Midyat and Şanlıurfa.

There are approximately 2000 Turkish citizens living in New Zealand.

Government of New Zealand offers a scholarship dedicated to Didem Yaman, a Turkish PhD student in New Zealand, who lost her life tragically in the 2011 Chirstchurch earthquake.