Assistance for Timorese nationals
Support, guidance, referrals and community connection for Timorese citizens living in Auckland and the North Island.
8.5°S 125.7°E · Dili Democratic Republic
of Timor-Leste
of Timor-Leste
36.8°S 174.7°E · Auckland New Zealand
Auckland & North Island
Auckland & North Island
KAPÍTULU ASEAN / The ASEAN chapter
A historic moment
ASEAN accession is not the end of a journey. It is the beginning of one.
Timor-Leste’s formal admission to ASEAN opened a new chapter in the nation’s regional relationships. It also created a clearer path for long-term partnerships between Timorese institutions and experienced New Zealand businesses, educators and investors.
2002
Independence restored
The world’s first new sovereign state of the 21st century — a nation reborn after extraordinary struggle.
2011
ASEAN application
Timor-Leste applied for membership, beginning a fourteen-year journey of reform and preparation.
October 2025
Full ASEAN member
Formally admitted at the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur as the bloc’s 11th member.
OPORTUNIDADE / Opportunity
A rare window now open
Timor-Leste’s accession to ASEAN opens a dynamic regional economy to early movers, offering substantial opportunities for investors who take the time to understand the local environment and prioritise relationships.
- ASEAN Regional Economy
- US$4.5 Trillion
- Petroleum Fund
- US$18.43 Billion
- ASEAN Consumer Market
- ~683 Million+
- Population under 25
- 55%+
SETORES / Sectors
Where relationships can grow
New Zealand capability aligns naturally with several Timorese development priorities.
Coffee and agriculture
Timor-Leste produces high-quality shade-grown arabica coffee, recognised in specialty markets around the world. Opportunities exist for collaboration with New Zealand in agri-technology, dairy farming, sustainable land management, food production and agricultural education.
Tourism and marine
Atauro Island’s marine environment and Timor-Leste’s cultural landscape position the country as a compelling eco-tourism destination. Partnerships must develop with care for community benefit, cultural integrity and environmental protection.
Infrastructure and digital
Infrastructure and digital connectivity support education, public services and enterprise. The Consulate welcomes enquiries about potential cooperation with New Zealand organisations in these areas.
Education and training
With a notably young population, demand for quality education, vocational training and English-language instruction is growing. New Zealand’s education sector is well placed to contribute meaningfully.
Labour mobility
Timor-Leste participates in New Zealand’s Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme — an active labour mobility relationship already in place. This creates genuine community links that can grow naturally into broader relationships over time.
Energy and Greater Sunrise
Energy proposals, including those relating to Greater Sunrise, require careful assessment of current official information, project status and applicable approvals. Contact the Consulate for an introduction to the relevant authorities.
AJUDA / Guidance
Consular services
A first point of contact for Timorese nationals, and a bridge between Timor-Leste and communities across Auckland and the North Island.
SERVISU / Consular Services
A first point of contact
Support for Timorese nationals, and a bridge for cultural and commercial relationships.
The Honorary Consulate serves Auckland and the North Island north of Wellington. It is a voluntary appointment and provides a practical first point of contact, guidance and referral.
The Consulate does not issue visas, passports or official consular documents. Those enquiries must go directly to the Embassy of Timor-Leste in Wellington.
Investment facilitation
Introductions and context for New Zealand-based investors exploring opportunities and relationships in Timor-Leste.
Promotion of Timor-Leste
Raising awareness of Timor-Leste’s culture, tourism and economic potential through community and diplomatic engagement.
Business and trade introductions
Connecting New Zealand businesses with counterparts across agriculture, hospitality, education, infrastructure and digital sectors.
KÓNSUL / The Consul
Dave Ananth
The first Honorary Consul for the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste covering Auckland and the North Island.
As the first appointee to the role, Dave serves as a formal diplomatic link between Timor-Leste and the communities of Auckland and the North Island — supporting Timorese nationals, promoting Timor-Leste’s culture and economy, and facilitating connections for New Zealand investors and businesses.
The Honorary Consulate is a five-year voluntary appointment under the authority of the Embassy of Timor-Leste in Wellington, dedicated to fostering genuine cooperation and mutual understanding between Timor-Leste and New Zealand.
Whether you are a Timorese national seeking assistance, a New Zealand investor exploring Timor-Leste, or someone interested in the country and its people, Dave welcomes your enquiry.
EMBAIXADA / Wellington Embassy
Visas, passports and official documents
These services are handled by the Embassy of Timor-Leste in Wellington, not the Honorary Consulate.
For visa applications, passport services and official consular documentation, contact the Embassy directly:
Phone: 04 471 1971
HANOIN / Insights
Insights
Articles and perspectives from the Honorary Consul on Timor-Leste’s economy, labour mobility and opportunities for international partnership.
Small Country, Higher Value: Timor-Leste’s Opportunity Inside ASEAN
Timor-Leste can leverage its ASEAN membership and economic partnerships—such as with New Zealand—by shifting its focus from volume to value, specializing in distinctive, high-quality exports like specialty coffee and turmeric to capture greater economic returns.
Financing Timor-Leste's Future: Tax Reform and Foreign Investment Beyond Petroleum
An examination of how tax reform, stronger administration and foreign investment can help Timor-Leste build a durable economy beyond petroleum.
Timor-Leste’s Progression in New Zealand’s RSE Scheme: From Initiative to Implementation
A timeline of the diplomatic and bilateral work that led to Timor-Leste’s participation in New Zealand’s Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme.
Timor-Leste's Organic Highlands Present Untapped Opportunities for New Zealand and International Investors
A firsthand account of the investment potential in Timor-Leste’s coffee, spices and naturally grown agricultural products.
Timor-Leste: An emerging opportunity New Zealand investors should not overlook
A case for early, patient New Zealand engagement in Timor-Leste’s infrastructure, agriculture, tourism and education sectors.
KONTAKTU / Contact
Contact the Consulate
Contact the Honorary Consulate directly by mobile or email. Visits are available by appointment.
Mobile
+64 21 021 68888Location
97 Great South Road, Epsom, Auckland, New ZealandVisits are by appointment.
Jurisdiction
Auckland and the North Island
The Honorary Consulate covers Auckland and the North Island, north of Wellington.