In launching this site I express the hope that it will not only foster a better understanding of the nature and extension of the consular activity provided by the Portuguese Consular Services in Australia and New Zealand , but also might be instrumental in helping Australians and New Zealanders ,in particular Portuguese-Australians and Portuguese - New Zealanders, to access more updated information online about Portugal.

Direct Consular assistance is available in Australia and New Zealand , through the Consular Section of the Portuguese Embassy in Canberra ,as well as through this Consulate-General and its Honorary Consulates spread throughout Australia - in Darwin, Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide and in New Zealand - in Auckland and Wellington. The Portuguese Trade, Investment and Tourism Institute Delegation in Sydney will also be available for further guidance on trade, investment and tourist matters and its coordinates can also be found under “entities”.

The Portuguese Communities in Australia and New Zealand are well advanced in taking up the challenge of deepening their harmonious integration in their new Country of settlement. The challenge is to ensure that links to their Country of origin - Portugal - remain close and invigorated. It is my sincere hope that this site will help them and their children in this important process.

Sydney August,2 ,2004

João Perestrello

Consul-General of Portugal