European Union (EU) Public Diplomacy and Outreach in New Zealand

The EU-New Zealand relationship is at a crossroads. Positively, FTA negotiations opened in 2018. Yet, the NZ-EU relationship is in flux because of Brexit. Due to various reasons, the EU is not well understood among the target groups and has been misinterpreted, misrepresented and even invisible in NZ media. DIPLO addresses the communication deficit in NZ. The proposed project, European Union Public Diplomacy & Outreach in New Zealand (DIPLO), focuses on promoting positive EU-NZ relations through increasing the visibility and understanding of the EU in NZ among the media, civil society, elites and public (including youth). The project:1. Launches an innovative EU-NZ Media Hub to inform target groups on three important areas of EU-NZ relations: Trade, Development and Foreign Affairs. 2. Establishes a team of ‘experts’, divided between the 3 issues, to directly engage with key NZ audiences, including students and the media. These experts include: European-based, local and regional experts and Early Career Researchers (who are mentored to refine practical, transferable skills relevant to their careers). 3. EU perceptions research and analysis will inform the project's dissemination and output.