Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and New Zealand, bilateral cultural exchanges have seen a continuous development.

From 1972 to 1980, there were a few exchanges of visits by the two countries' art ensembles and art exhibitions. Since China's reform and opening-up, the cultural exchanges and cooperation field between New Zealand and China has been broadened.

In 1981, New Zealand's Minister of Internal Affairs and Art visited China. During the visit, the two sides reached a verbal agreement on the 1982/83 cultural exchange programs. That visit was followed by the respective visits to China by the Director of New Zealand Elizabeth II Art Committee, and Secretary of the NZ Ministry of Internal Affairs and Art and by the visit to NZ by a Chinese Cultural Study Group. Since then, there has been a steady increase of contacts between the two countries' cultural officials as well as culture and art exchange programs.

In April 1992, Mr. Liu Deyou, Vice Minister of Chinese Ministry of Culture visited New Zealand.

At the end of April 1995, after attending the annual meeting of Pacific Asia Travel Association, Mr. Liu Yi, Minister of the Chinese National Tourism Administration visited New Zealand and signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Tourism Cooperation between the National Tourism Administration of the People's Republic of China and the New Zealand Tourism Board.

In 1996, New Zealand's Secretary of Ministry of Culture visited China.

In 1997, Ms. Jennifer King, Program Manager of Media and Culture of the New Zealand Asia 2000 Foundation visited China.

In November 1997, Chinese State Council approved New Zealand as an official tourist destination for Chinese tourists travelling abroad. In May 1999, the two sides exchanged letters on the implementation arrangements regarding that travel operation. The operation officially started in July.

In 1999, Chinese Tibetan Performing Arts Troupe sponsored by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries toured New Zealand and achieved great success.