Government of Timor-Leste

The Minister of State Administration, Tomás do Rosário Cabral, and the Mayor District of Manawatū, Helen Worboys, signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a friendship relationship between the Municipality of Covalima, in Timor-Leste, and the District of Manawatū, in New Zealand. The ceremony, held in the city of Feilding, the administrative headquarters of this district, located in the New Zealand region of Manawatū-Whanganui, was also attended by the Ambassador of Timor-Leste to New Zealand, Idelta Maria Rodrigues, the President of the Municipal Authority of Covalima, Miguel Armada Cardoso, the Director-General for Simplification and Modernization of Local Administration, Maria Goretti Marques Belo, as well as representatives from the Embassy and the Ministry of State Administration. 

The document was signed within the framework of the national decentralization policy, which is being implemented by the Ministry of State Administration. The ceremony symbolized the strengthening of friendly ties between the communities and local authorities of the two municipalities, with a view to deepening bilateral cooperation at the local level. 

In her speech, Helen Worboys stated that ‘today is a historic day for the relationship between our peoples, emphasizing that this initiative deepens a connection that began with New Zealand's participation in peacekeeping missions in Timor-Leste after the restoration of independence in the early 21^st century. The signing of the Memorandum thus represents a new chapter in the relationship between the two countries, now reinforced by local authorities, based on mutual goodwill and shared cooperation. 

During the ceremony, the Minister of State Administration emphasized that ‘this partnership reflects a common vision of the role of local authorities as drivers of sustainable development, promoters of social cohesion and guarantors of proximity between the State and citizens.’ He added that ‘this is a particularly relevant initiative for Timor-Leste, which is at a decisive stage of democratic consolidation, with the aim of building a modern, efficient and decentralized public administration.

The Memorandum of Understanding now signed provides for cooperation in priority areas such as agriculture, seasonal work and education, with a special focus on agricultural training. The agreement also aims to strengthen relations between the communities of the two countries, promoting the exchange of experiences and jointly addressing common challenges.

The Minister also expressed his deep gratitude for the hospitality received in Feilding, stating that ‘this signing symbolizes not only an institutional commitment, but a bond of friendship between peoples, based on the history of solidarity that unites Timor-Leste and New Zealand.’ He further emphasized that the example of Covalima should serve as inspiration for other Timorese municipal authorities to establish international partnerships that strengthen their capacities and broaden their development prospects.

Ambassador Idelta Rodrigues, who also spoke at the ceremony, highlighted the work carried out over the past year to make this initiative possible and expressed her satisfaction at cooperating with the New Zealand local authorities. She noted that the signing of the Memorandum is also the result of the ongoing diplomatic efforts of the Timor-Leste Mission in New Zealand.

He also presented the priority areas for cooperation defined by the Embassy, which include strengthening the Seasonal Workers Program and reintegrating participants after their return; boosting relations between sister cities and schools; promoting the blue economy; and digital transformation, with a focus on inclusion, innovation in public services and e-commerce. He highlighted that, thanks to these efforts, the number of scholarships for Timorese students in New Zealand has increased from 12 to 35, and that a mission led by SEFOPE has already been carried out to discuss the Recognized Seasonal Employer Scheme, which allows the recruitment of foreign workers — mainly from Pacific countries, including Timor-Leste — for the New Zealand horticulture and viticulture sectors.

The Ambassador also announced that an initiative entitled ‘A Day with Timor-Leste and New Zealand’ will be held at the end of November 2025 as part of the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the Proclamation of Independence of Timor-Leste, with strong interest already expressed by various New Zealand sectors.

The Ambassador also announced that the initiative ‘A Day with Timor-Leste and New Zealand’ will take place at the end of November 2025, as part of the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the Proclamation of Independence of Timor-Leste, which has already attracted strong interest from various New Zealand sectors.

The ceremony was also attended by Manawatū District Vice-President Michael Ford, District Council Chief Executive Shayne Harris, representatives from the education sector, local councilors, and New Zealand citizens who participated in peace missions in Timor-Leste. END