28 November 2016 —President Rodrigo R. Duterte of the Republic of the Philippines, was in Auckland, New Zealand during a stopover on his way to and from Lima, Peru where he had attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' Meeting on November 19 to 20. 

Philippine Ambassador to New Zealand Jesus S. Domingo accompanied by Philippine Honorary Consul General to Auckland, Atty. Paulo Garcia, assisted and met President Duterte and his Official Delegation during the Presidential flight’s technical stop at Auckland en route to Lima, Peru on November 18. 

Ambassador Domingo accompanied by Minister and Consul General Arlene Gonzales-Macaisa, Cultural Officer Ms. Ma. Victoria Reyes, and Information Officer Ms. Ma. Katrina Ciara P. Garcia, were at hand to receive President Duterte and his delegation when they arrived in Auckland for the stopover on the way back to the Philippines on November 22. 

President Duterte received New Zealand’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Murray McCully, when he made a courtesy call on the President on November 22.

The discussion between the President and Minister McCully touched on a wide range of topics including the two countries’ desire to boost bilateral cooperation, particularly through improved trade and investment in key areas such as the dairy industry cooperation, people-to-people cooperation, and high-level exchanges as well as exchanging views on domestic and international developments

During the meeting, President Duterte took the opportunity to express sympathy for the victims of the strong earthquake that hit New Zealand's South Island on November 14.  He also thanked the New Zealand Government for the welcome and for the assistance it extended to him and his delegation during his brief stopovers in Auckland.

President Duterte also took the time to greet members of the Filipino community and took photos with them while he was in Auckland. 

On his final day in New Zealand, the President extended his “warm wishes to all Filipinos” in New Zealand and stated that he would “like to urge the Filipinos to be just like New Zealanders, well-behaved and following the law”. END