Indonesia - New Zealand Discuss MoU on Culture, Film to Museum Entry Agenda

Fadli Zon received a courtesy visit from the Ambassador of New Zealand to Indonesia, Phillip Taula, at the Ministry of Culture's office, Jakarta, Friday, March 6, 2026. (IST)

JAKARTA - Indonesia and New Zealand are beginning to explore wider cultural cooperation. Minister of Culture Fadli Zon received an honorary visit from the Ambassador of New Zealand to Indonesia, Phillip Taula, at the Ministry of Culture's office, Jakarta, Friday, March 6, 2026. Both parties opened initial talks to draft a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cultural cooperation.

The meeting did not stop at diplomatic niceties. Fadli Zon said the scope of cooperation discussed was quite wide. Starting from the film industry, performing arts, cultural research, book festivals, to strengthening the museum sector and cultural heritage. He also opened the possibility of an artist residency program to encourage creative exchanges between the two countries.

Fadli emphasized that Indonesia was strengthening cultural diplomacy through various international forums. He mentioned the Indonesia-Pacific Cultural Synergy (IPACS) and CHANDI which were held in 2025. According to the Minister, cooperation with New Zealand also has the opportunity to enter the joint nomination scheme for cultural heritage elements or joint nomination.

Phillip Taula welcomed the idea. He said the New Zealand government wanted to strengthen relations with Indonesia, including through cultural and people-to-people ties.

"We are open to listening to ideas from the Indonesian government ... about cultural cooperation that can be done," said Taula. He assessed that the two countries have a number of common cultural practices, ranging from culinary to art expression, which can be a door to collaboration.

This discussion was also attended by the Director General of Diplomacy, Promotion, and Cultural Cooperation Endah T.D. Retnoastuti and the Expert Staff of the Minister of Culture in the field of Law and Cultural Policy Masyithoh Annisa Ramadhani Alkatiri.

Both parties agreed to continue discussions towards the preparation of a memorandum of understanding as a framework for future Indonesian-New Zealand cultural cooperation.