This agreement aims to bolster defense and security cooperation between the two nations amidst increasing geopolitical tensions, particularly in the South China Sea.

New Zealand Ambassador to the Philippines Peter Kell stated that this VFA would facilitate joint military exercises, training, and other forms of defense collaboration.

Philippine Department of National Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. emphasized the significance of the agreement in strengthening regional stability and responding to shared security challenges.

The initiative aligns with the Philippines' broader efforts to enhance ties with like-minded nations to ensure sovereignty and peace in the face of growing Chinese aggression in the region.

It would take until the 1990s before highly populated regions such as Wellington and Auckland (especially the suburbs of Henderson and Mount Roskill) began to see exponential growth in their respective Filipino communities.