signed a new arrangement intended to strengthen bilateral cooperation on research, science and innovation related policies. The arrangement will be managed by the New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and the British Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. Co-involvement in international organizations and multilateral treaties New Zealand and Britain are both members of a number of international bodies, including the United Nations, the Commonwealth of Nations and the OECD. Defence arrangements involving both Britain and New Zealand include the Five Power Defence Arrangements, and the UK-USA Security Agreement for intelligence sharing. Since 2006, New Zealand has been a party to the ABCA interoperability arrangement of national defence forces, which has always included Britain. ANZUK was a tripartite force formed by Australia, New Zealand and Britain to defend the Asian Pacific region after Britain withdrew forces from the east of Suez in the early seventies. The ANZUK force was formed in 1971 and disbanded in 1974. The SEATO anti-communist defence organisation also extended membership to both countries for the duration of its existence from 1955 to 1977. Bilateral representation New Zealand has maintained a resident Head of Mission in the United Kingdom since 1871. The current High Commissioner from New Zealand to the United Kingdom is Sir Jerry Mateparae. The current High Commissioner from the United Kingdom to New Zealand is Laura Clarke. The governor-general of New Zealand fulfilled the role of the High Commissioner from the United Kingdom to New Zealand from its inception until 1939. Subsequently, separate appointments were made; this distinguished the representation of the British Government in New Zealand from that of the shared monarch, in sympathy with the principles set out under the Balfour declaration thirteen years earlier. Several New Zealand public bodies have official representatives in Britain and Honorary Consuls are based in the UK constituent countries of Scotland and Northern Ireland. Official visits Regular ministerial and VIP visits from New Zealand to Britain, and vice versa, take place each year. During 2009, at least 10 such official visits took place from New Zealand to the United Kingdom and at least 8 from the United Kingdom to New Zealand. See also Independence of New Zealand, stages independence of New Zealand from Britain References External links United Kingdom Bilateral relations of the United Kingdom Relations of colonizer and former colony