Foreign policy officer career

Āpiha take tāwāhi

Foreign policy officers represent New Zealand’s interests overseas and advise the Government on foreign affairs and trade issues.

Foreign policy officers represent New Zealand’s interests overseas and advise the Government on foreign affairs and trade issues.

What would you do as a Foreign policy officer?

Foreign policy officers

  • usually work regular business hours but may work evenings or weekends or be on call
  • usually work in embassies, high commissions and consulates, and may travel nationally and internationally
  • need to be responsible, communicate well and identify and solve problems

Tasks

  • develop foreign policies
  • promote New Zealand overseas
  • report on government decisions and money matters
  • propose solutions to international issues
  • work with local officials overseas
  • enable selling of New Zealand goods
  • give advice about environmental policies
  • write reports about international trade
  • tell businesses about trade rules

How can you become a Foreign policy officer?

You need a qualification and experience to become a foreign policy officer.

You need

  • a bachelor's degree
  • experience in similar work
  • to pass a police check

If you're in school

You usually need University Entrance to do the study or training for this job.

Qualifications

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Foreign policy work draws on International Relations, offered flexibly across three undergraduate degrees, so you can pick the wider degree focus that suits you while still building the diplomatic and policy knowledge this career needs.

Pairing it with a language and a security-focused minor strengthens your profile further, and postgraduate study offers a direct route to specialise beyond the undergraduate level.

View all qualifications

Foreign policy officer FAQs

Scholarships

A range of scholarships are available to help with the cost of studying at Waikato. Options are available across a wide range of subjects and study levels, including scholarships for new students, current students and specific areas of study.

Find a scholarship

QS ranking

QS World University Rankings 2027

Waikato is ranked equal 293rd globally, placing us in the top 1.5% of universities worldwide, and 2nd in New Zealand by citations per faculty.