Businesses going global

North America

There has been a significant victory for New Zealand’s seafood industry this month with the lifting of a temporary ban on some fish exports to the United States. This decision reinstates trade for popular species like snapper, demonstrating the effectiveness of New Zealand’s robust measures to ensure sustainable fishing practices that meet and exceed US standards. This win not only reopened a valuable market for these high-quality products but also strengthened New Zealand’s reputation as a leader in sustainable seafood production.

The AI debate in the US continues to demand headlines this month with high-profile court cases such as the Authors Guild’s victory against Microsoft-backed OpenAI, setting precedents which will impact global AI development. These legal battles underscore the importance of a robust intellectual property framework and highlight concerns about the use of copyrighted materials without proper permissions. New Zealand businesses can navigate these complexities by prioritising the protection of creators rights and ensuring our strong copyright laws serve as a model for balancing innovation with rights protection. The AI landscape is seeing increasing dominance from larger tech companies which has the potential to limit the competitiveness of smaller New Zealand startups, however, this also presents an opportunity for New Zealand to become a leader in providing vetted, legal datasets and ensuring our AI sector remains ethical, innovative, and compliant with international standards.

Finally, this month Rosemary Banks has been reappointed as Ambassador to the United States. This move signifies a continued commitment to strengthening ties between the two countries and Ambassador Bank’s extensive diplomatic experience, including her previous tenure in Washington DC and her leadership of the NZ-US Council, positions her well to navigate the complexities of the relationship. This appointment ensures a seamless transition for New Zealand’s diplomatic efforts in the US, fostering stability and continuity in a time of evolving global dynamics. Ambassador Banks leadership is expected to focus on areas of mutual interest, including security cooperation, economic collaboration, and cultural exchange.

Gary Fortune, Kea North America Regional Director

UK and Europe

The big news out of the UK this month is the announcement of a snap general election to be held on 4 July. UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has informed King Charles III of the rare summer poll, firing the starting gun on a six-week campaign. Sunak was required to hold a vote by January 2025, and had long resisted calls to be specific about his plans. But a fall in inflation rates, announced earlier Wednesday seems to have provided the backdrop for his announcement.

This month also marked the New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the European Union (EU) coming into effect. The hard-won agreement was expected to save a hundred million dollars a year in tariffs with duties removed on 91 percent of New Zealand’s goods exports to the EU, rising to 97 per cent after seven years. EU Ambassador Lawrence Meredith says the agreement was “ambitious and has real potential for substantial gains. Meredith’s message for New Zealand businesses is: “let’s do it today”.

The FTA will provide favourable access to the EU market for New Zealand exporters. While tariffs will remain for some goods like meat and dairy, there will be an increase in quota volume with reduced in-quota tariff rates, resulting in significant savings for exporters. Key outcomes under the FTA include tariff elimination on horticulture products, fish and seafood, wine, honey, manufactured products, butter, cheese, milk powder, beef, and sheep meat.

Kea was delighted to support several events in London this month including our London Community Meet-up at the recently opened Pacific Tavern in Canada Water. We were joined by New Zealand musician, Arjuna Oakes and those who attended enjoyed sharing a Kiwi pie and stories of home.

Sara Fogarty, Kea UK/Europe Regional Director

China

This month, China welcomed its 5-Day May Day holiday which typically sees a surge in travel and consumer spending. The country’s domestic tourism trips totalled CYN 295 million, up 7.6% year-on-year. New Zealand is a popular travel destination for Chinese nationals during this time with many flights and tours to New Zealand fully booked since mid-April. China is now New Zealand’s third largest source of international tourists with travellers spending an average of about NZ$5,000 per holiday.

This month also marked Mother’s Day in China. The event is a big opportunity for brands to increase sales and brand awareness. However one Chinese Brand ‘Blue Moon’ went all out on an advertising campaign which did just the opposite. The 32-year-old home cleaning company brought in a top KOL, Mr. Dong, and plastered him all over office buildings and apartment elevators with a message which translated to: “In the past, mum used a big bottle of laundry detergent to wash our clothes, which was heavy and tiring. Now, with extraordinary future laundry technology, mum’s laundry is easier, lighter, and more effortless.” In addition, on a Mother’s Day gift box, they printed the slogan “妈妈，您先用 (Mum, you use it first).”

Many Chinese consumers have moved on from beliefs around traditional gender-stereotypes, such as the role of laundry being exclusively a mother’s duty and the backlash was swift with 1000’s of people taking to social media to express their outrage. Others went a step further and wrote notes expressing their disgust which they stuck on the brands billboards and elevator ads. A very costly PR exercise followed, but the damage will linger for some time. For those brands who get it right, Mother’s Day can be a huge success, one example of this was L’Oréal, Babycare and lingerie brand AIMER, whose messaging was all about freeing mums from those traditional societal roles and looking out for themselves on Mother’s Day. A good lesson for Kiwi brands to make sure you always understand your audience.

And finally this month, it was great to see more than 50 Kiwi and friends of the community to join us at this month’s Kiwi drinks. Kea World Class New Zeander’s Charlotte Lockhart and Andrew Barnes joined the event enroute to Beijing for the Peking to Paris Rally. The couple are the founders of 4 Day Week Global and the community in China were eager to hear about the concept and its success.

Rebecca Bao, China Regional Director

New Zealand

This month marks the release of the coalition government’s first budget. In addition to the Budget, Treasury will also publish its latest Economic and Fiscal Update (BEFU). This will be the first chance to scrutinise the books since the Half-Year Economic and Fiscal Update late last year. Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Prime Minister Christopher Luxton are setting this up to be one of the least frilly of no-frills Budgets. Not an austerity Budget, but with no big spending surprises. All eyes will be on the “meaningful but modest” tax cuts Nicola Willis has promised, and exactly how she plans to pay for them. Willis maintains the government will not need to take on any debt for the tax cuts, and that Treasury modelling has told her they will be “fiscally neutral”.

New Zealand’s budget comes on the heels of the third Albanese government budget delivered this month. The Australian budget delivered a second consecutive surplus and centred on the ‘Future Made in Australia’ (FMIA) policy. To support FMIA, the budget included a range of significant announcements in support of investments in innovation, science and the digital agenda, and support for emerging industries.

New Zealand’s stoush with Canada over dairy trade continues this month with Trade Minister Todd McClay saying he’s asked for urgent legal advice in respect of his ‘next move’ when it comes to Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) trade dispute ruling in New Zealand’s favour. Mr McClay says the Canadian government still has time to honour its obligations to New Zealand both in the spirit and substance of the agreement. New Zealand initiated the dispute because Canada was not complying with CPTPP rules, blocking dairy exporters’ access to its market.

And finally, Minister for Land Information, Chris Penk, travelled to Peru this month to attend a meeting of trade ministers from the Asia-Pacific region. Minister Penk held meetings with Ministers from Australia, Indonesia, Peru, Malaysia and the UK. He also engaged with New Zealand businesses focused on the Peruvian and Latin American markets.

Kellie Addison, Global Director Stakeholder Affairs

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Matt and Hope first started OtherNature as a side hustle while they were living and working in London. The couple had long been fans of mushroom supplements as a way to support their own health and wellbeing, and Matt says they wanted to not only build a brand that took a science-based approach to efficacy but also allowed them to move into an area of business that was much more purpose-led.

“We really wanted to create a brand that goes above and beyond just products. Sustainability is important to us and really links back to our products and the importance of fungi in the environment. Although just at the beginning of our journey, OtherNature already has a circular packaging model, partners with 1% For the Planet, and is working to become a carbon-neutral and B-Corp business.”

The sustainable focus of OtherNature was one of the key reasons the couple wanted to launch their brand in New Zealand. Matt is Canadian, but Hope is originally from Christchurch and so the couple began to look at the support offered to startups in the Canterbury area. Hope says New Zealand Trade and Enterprise were hugely valuable in connecting the couple with other people and when they arrived, they found the support provided by organisations like ChristchurchNZ incredible.

“We were lucky enough to be accepted into The Founder Catalyst Incubation Programme, run by the Ministry of Awesome, which is designed to support, nurture, and accelerate the growth of early-stage startups with global ambition and that was a huge boost for us. We were also paired with two incredible mentors at ThincLab out of the University of Canterbury, who worked with us on a fortnightly basis, which was also a huge benefit.”

Hope and Matt say there were some definite hurdles to overcome ahead of the initial launch of their business. OtherNature’s mushrooms are grown in China and imported to New Zealand where they are then blended with native New Zealand ingredients and finished into supplement form by a specialist lab based in Hamilton. When they arrived back in New Zealand, pandemic restrictions and supply chain issues were still very much a problem.

Despite the challenges, their business has started strong, in part Matt says because of the time they took with their team of industry experts to design their product and the increased focus on the benefits of mushrooms and natural supplements in general.

“Lately the science has really caught up and there’s been a renewed interest in all facets of medicinal mushrooms from psychedelic ranges to functional mushrooms. Mushrooms can be beneficial for all sorts of things from gut health to sleep to stress. The global medicinal mushroom market is worth $25 billion globally, and it’s growing at around 9% a year.”

Hope and Matt launched OtherNature with one product designed for focus and cognitive health but have several others in the pipeline. The feedback on their business has been amazing and they are seeing a really strong sales growth and return rate from customers.

Outside of work, the couple both agree that living and working in Christchurch has given them the lifestyle balance they were lacking in London and while Hope is enjoying being closer to her friends and family, Matt is enjoying the outdoor options that Christchurch offers and says the city has offered the couple a lot more long-term options.

“Compared to London, the cost of living in Christchurch was a welcome change, it’s also a lot more affordable in terms of getting around. We were expecting the start-up scene to be a lot more of a grind, but we do notice that people work hard all day but tend to be gone from the workspace by 5-6 o’clock. There is a far healthier culture here in terms of building your business but also making sure you have time to step away from it.”

Hope says coming from London, the couple definitely had to adjust to life back home and that adjustment took some getting used to, but the support they have received has made the move more than worth it.

“When we first moved, we knew we were going to be in Christchurch for at least a year, but because we received so much support through various organisations and we had this amazing workspace with Founder Catalyst, it made the city a really great place for us to continue to be based. We would like to expand as the business grows and we are looking at setting up an office in Australia or the UK, but we always see the business as having a base in New Zealand. I really love the new scene in Christchurch, there are great restaurants and cafes, and the city is really vibrant – the only problem is that we are pouring everything into the business so we can’t enjoy the food and wine scene as much as I might like to.”

Tram in Christchurch city New Zealand — Christchurch has a lot to offer Kiwi looking for a change of lifestyle

Matt says he wants other founders to know about the amazing support on offer in cities like Christchurch and would encourage anyone looking to launch a business to put the time and effort into making connections in their chosen area as it really pays off in the long run.

“I would tell others to have a list of people that you need to connect with, organisations like Kea, NZTE, the startup communities and the startup accelerator programs. These connections immediately insert you into the community you need to be in and it just makes everything so much easier. This is my number one thing, because if you’re going to make that jump to becoming a founder, you need the additional support and a group of like-minded people around you because entrepreneurship can be lonely. Both Hope and I came from big teams and big corporations and then all of a sudden it was just the two of us and that was a huge shock to the system that we hadn’t truly anticipated, and it was hard. But people here are so friendly and willing to chat, it’s not just a transactional conversation they really want to help.”

For Olivia, it was never a question of if the family would move to New Zealand but rather a question of when.

“In the UK I was the only person in my social group who had an expat partner, which meant I was the only one who knew my life was definitely going to change. Most of my friends were making plans to buy homes near their families and look at schools, they understood how their lives would unfold, whereas I didn’t. James has always helped me see the adventure in moving abroad but it was a scary notion that at some point we would be leaving everything I knew and starting over. It was probably a good thing that it happened quite suddenly in the middle of the pandemic, James was offered the right job and we decided quite quickly to just do it.”

While Olivia had some reservations about the move, she says she recognised it as a great opportunity to support her partner while also introducing her two preschool-aged boys to a different culture. However, her perceived timeline of how long it would take to adjust to living in
New Zealand was quite different from the reality.

Olivia with her husband James and two young boys.

“We arrived in the pandemic, so it was really desolate, nothing was open, there were no groups to join, or places to go to meet people, then we sort of headed into Christmas and I wasn’t prepared for how long the holiday period lasts here – in the UK, Christmas is celebrated in a more intensely social December, but over here everyone seems to go on holiday until about February. It was much harder than I expected to initially meet people and make friends and I was really lonely.”

“It’s really taught me the value of social connections. I always knew I liked people and I liked socialising, but I didn’t realise how much I needed it until it was gone. The moment I found that social connection again, I felt better, happier, and I’m very grateful for any connection that I have now.”

Olivia decided to use her background as a personal trainer to help her meet more people and after some discussions with an old boss in the UK, she launched a New Zealand franchise of One Element, a UK based social fitness company, which aims to bring people together for friendship, fitness and fun, much like that of a sports team.

“One Element aims to create a welcoming community sense through our group workout sessions and events. After every training session, there is the chance to go out for coffee, or a drink after the evening session; we have just celebrated 6 months with a ‘HIIT and Hooley’ social and in a few weeks we’re going to hike Rangitoto. I’m planning a mid-winter Christmas event too. As the business grows I want to introduce more events. One Element aims to create a team nature, because the belief is that if people turn up for each other, the fitness will take care of itself.”

Through the launch of her business, Olivia has met a lot of other expats or partners of expats
and says she’s come to realise that her experiences of struggling to create a community are
fairly common.

Olivia’s using her experience as a personal trainer to connect with her community

“My advice to other people who are moving home with Kiwi partners would be to say that it might feel bleak to begin with because there aren’t as many open invitations to join new groups as you might expect, but if you take your time and hunt out your communities, or take part in groups connected to your passions, you will settle in, and when that happens it will be really meaningful and there’s probably a lot that you’ll learn about yourself during that time. I would also recommend people actively work to meet people and make friends, no matter how long it takes, don’t give up. It can feel like it’s impossible to meet people and break into a group but all you need to do is meet that one person and all of a sudden you end up with an abundance of opportunity and it’s so worth it. Seek out community groups and activities and people you think
you could click with – I treated meeting people almost like finding a job, it can be hard work but it’s worth it in the end.”

Almost 18 months into their Kiwi adventure Olivia says she’s now found a group of people she
clicks with and their life has picked up momentum. There are still uniquely Kiwi things she says
she can’t imagine getting on board with – such as New Zealanders tendency to walk around barefoot in places like shopping malls and supermarkets, but other quirks such as DIY she is
embracing.

“I have quite a lot of banter with my British friends because we are like, right, we’re really going
to have to sharpen our DIY skills. We’re just going to have to start painting a deck or building a fence or mowing the lawns. When we first arrived I couldn’t get over how everyone works on their homes on the weekend – how are you supposed to meet anyone if they are all home mowing the lawns or painting something? In the UK if you want something done you call someone, but here you guys just get on and do it, which is admirable. We have a deck out the back of our house that was covered in moss and black stains; the father of a friend at my group fitness sessions came round with some ‘Hit the Deck’ and showed me how to clean it. I was genuinely proud of myself to clean a deck properly for the first time!”

She’s also embracing the Kiwi outdoors and appreciates the unique experiences New Zealand
has to offer.

“I love how vegetables taste like vegetables in this country, I love how easy it is to drive places, I can get from St Heliers to Takapuna in 25 minutes off peak, and there is so much free parking. In the UK you have to pay to park on your street and you can never get a park right outside a place like the museum, or Kelly Tarltons, or a restaurant. New Zealand is also ridiculously beautiful on its calm and sunny days; I took the boys up to the Whangaparaoa Peninsula one day and we were the only people on Army Bay beach. Out of nowhere, a pod of dolphins swam into the bay – I couldn’t believe it, it was just a regular day and here we were swimming with dolphins, that’s really special. As the boys get older we can’t wait to explore further and discover more of this country and all of the special things it holds.”

One Element is a social fitness group operating in the Auckland suburb of St Heliers. If you’re
interested you can find more information here.

Darren Straker, Shanghai

How long have you lived offshore? About 30 years I’ve lived in the UK, Germany, France, US, UAE, Oman, Japan,Hong Kong and now China.

What do you love most about Shanghai? It’s a cosmopolitan area vibrant, with plenty to do and historically very interesting. There are good bars, restaurants etc. Workwise, there’s plenty of technology development and it’s possible to generate funding and potential for new projects with access to venture capital and investors.

If someone was coming to visit the area what are two places you would recommend them visiting and why? Any of the museums and/or the art galleries plus walking around the historical areas of Shanghai, the Bund etc. I also have a number of favourite restaurants.

What’s the best thing about being a Kiwi offshore? Higher relative salaries, working in high tech industries at levels not possible in New Zealand. Living in other cultures, developing a global network of contacts both business and socially plus being able to see the world, travel and experience different cultures, languages, perspectives

What do you miss the most about New Zealand? Access to fantastic sports areas – skiing, cycling, mountain biking and sailing. No endless expat bureaucracy for work visas etc plus the

space and open areas, including beaches and quality of life options.

What do you think will be the big issues or events which will command attention this year? Assisting Chinese civil aviation to get European certification for their new passenger aircraft will be a major game-changer. EU certified aircraft opens huge export potential with the obvious advantages of increased manufacturing and export market potential. The global multi-polarization of trade and industry as exemplified through the BRICS agreements. Markets will open, with changes to a trade balance that is not European or US centric. We will see Russia, Asia, Africa and South America emerging as potential trade and market influences as historical hegemony transitions to a balanced trade zone with emphasis on the APAC region and developing markets and zones. My specific area is aviation, within the aviation research and development sectors, new emerging technologies with venture capital funding as these new technologies move into industrialization with significant Government and offshore funding

available.

Finish this sentence “In 2023 the world needs more…..”Funding in developing APAC countries to lift the standards and increase the levels of manufacturing capability, more cross border tech projects to establish multinational consortiums for the application of new technologies and less barriers to the movement of people around APAC.

Tim Drysdale, Edinburgh, Scotland

How long have you lived offshore? Since 2002

What do you love most about Edinburgh? The mixture of capital city culture, proximity to professional critical mass, and fabulous outdoors right on the doorstep. Not to mention sometimes I see the hills by the city and forget I am not in Christchurch anymore.

If someone was coming to visit the area what are two places you would recommend them visiting and why? The first is my favourite mid-bike-ride cafe (Drift, North Berwick). It’s a couple of repurposed containers with glass walls on a coastal cliff, so it has a lovely view and it’s also a reminder of the great spirit Christchurch showed post-quake with its container mall. You can probably tell from the photo I have a fondness for repurposed containers – the model containers hold remote experiments we developed for our students here at the University of Edinburgh to access from their laptops/phones. The second is the single-track road across the heather moorland by Longformucus – it’s both stark and beautiful and it feels like you are in the middle of nowhere, yet only an hour east of town. Plus it has great corners if you are on two wheels.

What’s the best thing about being a Kiwi offshore? The Kiwi culture of ingenuity and hard work lends itself to creative disruption, and our egalitarian approach tends to help dissolve social barriers. That’s a great set of ingredients to bring to the international arena because you can do rewarding work with them, but there is also a lot to learn from other cultures – and together the results are greater than the sum of the parts.

What do you miss the most about New Zealand? The scale of the scenery, BBQ Shapes, kiwi dip, and the ridiculously friendly banter at all times. But most of all, it’s the family connections. My nieces are growing up fast! Fortunately it’s much easier to keep in contact with modern comms.

What do you think will be the big issues or events which will command attention this year? In the Higher Education sector we’re getting to grips with the rapid emergence of generative artificial intelligence. I’m almost certain we’re not the only sector responding to this development. It’ll be a great opportunity for many, if handled well.

Finish this sentence “In 2023 the world needs more…..” understanding and empathy for ourselves and others, as we go about our day-to-day lives and contributing to the world around us.

Kat McMillan, Paris, France

How long have you lived offshore? On and off since January 2017, I move all over and work remotely.

What do you love most about Paris? The food! My key reason for travelling and spending my time somewhat nomadically is to discover and enjoy food from all over the world which I document and share through my IG blogs @what_kat_eats and @foodkatmade. Paris has some amazing classic foods (pastries and baguettes will never be the same elsewhere) as well as a plethora of top notch international food spots including the best Ramen and Middle Eastern food I’ve ever tried.

If someone was coming to visit the area what are two places you would recommend

them visiting and why? The Marais because it is uber central but not touristy and filled with unique eateries, boutique shops, quaint streets and colourful buildings. The 11th arrondissement because of its endless eateries, wine caves, gardens and seriously good boulangeries. It’s a fantastic mix of young families, elderly that have lived here most their lives and young people. You will also spot the red michelin stamp of approval often here. It’s the perfect area to meander and feel safe without the (sometimes) parisian annoyance you get in more touristic areas.

What’s the best thing about being a Kiwi offshore? People everywhere love kiwis – you don’t really see the impact of this until you travel offshore. This alone opens you up to more experiences, meeting new people and making connections because Kiwis as a whole are seen as good, kind, fun, down to earth and hard working.

What do you miss the most about New Zealand? Green spaces that are not curated. Being able to drive to some nature or a space without people very easily.

What do you think will be the big issues or events which will command attention this year? The cost of living – it’s global and maybe we will see a shift in how people live based on this both at home and overseas. Thanks to the silver lining of covid where remote work has become more accepted, this could mean that we see more people living ‘off the grid’ or choosing to sell up and spend chunks of time living and working remotely in countries where the base cost of living is lower.

Finish this sentence “In 2023 the world needs more…..” Kindness and connection.

James Turnbull, Slany, (a small town 30 minutes outside Prague in the Czech Republic)

How long have you lived offshore? I moved to the Czech Republic in 2003.

What do you love most about the Czech Republic? The Czech Republic is a great place to visit, but it’s also a great place to live. People here are friendly and happy and there is so much to see and do. Czechs have a wicked sense of humour much like our own and they love their wine and beer. As the economy transitions from the post-communist phase there are also all kinds of great business opportunities – although to be fair, that transition is pretty much complete. We are right in the centre of Europe. From my front door I can be in a different country in just over an hour. Berlin and Vienna are a day trip.

If someone was coming to visit the area, what are two places you would recommend them to visit and why? Everyone who comes to Czech visits the ‘standard attractions’: Prague Castle, the Charles Bridge and Old Town Square. But there is far more to see than that. I would encourage everyone to try to stay a couple of days extra and get outside Prague to visit places like Cesky Krumlov or Karlovy Vary (Carlsbad).

What’s the best thing about being a Kiwi offshore? People here know and like New Zealand. A surprisingly large number of the younger generation have been there – on holiday or fruit picking. Those that have not been, want to go. Local Kiwi are something of a novelty item there are only a few hundred of us in the entire country – so it is never that difficult to start conversations.

What do you miss the most about New Zealand? The sea! We are 7 hours’ drive away from the nearest beach, and if you want actual waves, then that jumps to 15 hours. Almost worse, because there is no sea, there is also not much sensibly priced fresh seafood. So an annual trip to the ocean to ‘get my fix’ becomes absolutely essential. In New Zealand I lived close to Muriwai beach, but of course you don’t really appreciate the value of something until you don’t have it anymore. Oh, and lamb. Lamb is not really a thing here. Pork, chicken, beef; that’s it!

What do you think will be the significant issues or events which will command attention this year? From where I sit as I write this the distance to the Ukraine is roughly the same as the distance from Auckland to Wellington. Because of that there is only one big issue – the war. It is having an immense impact on life here in every way. People here have genuinely welcomed hundreds of thousands of refugees with open arms. It was just 54 years ago that Russia last invaded the Czech Republic. Czech membership of NATO changes everything, but people here take what’s happening on the other side of the fence very personally.

Finish this sentence “In 2023; the world needs more…..” Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc

North America

The important role that Kiwi aerospace companies have to play in the wider global industry was front and centre in California this month with a visit from Minister of National Defence Judith Collins. Minister Collins met with Senior Advisor to Californian Governor Gavin Newsom, Dee Dee Myers, and Kea World Class New Zealander and Rocket Lab CEO Peter at Rocket Lab’s Long Beach facility. The visit aimed to explore business opportunities with the state, speak at the Space Symposium, and promote New Zealand’s growing role in the aerospace industry. Minister Collins also visited Colorado to meet with Governor Jared Polis and discuss ongoing negotiations to reduce barriers to investments in technology, aerospace, and artificial intelligence industries. With over 30 Kiwi companies already present in Denver, the agreement has the potential to significantly deepen economic ties and create more opportunities for businesses looking to break into the US market.

Foreign Minister Winston Peters was also in the US this month, meeting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington, D.C. Both sides emphasised cooperation on pressing global issues – climate change, geopolitical competition, and the war in Ukraine. Additionally, discussions highlighted ongoing collaboration with regional partners like Australia and support for Pacific Island nations. These high-level meetings come at a time of increasing global complexity. The emphasis on regular dialogue and collaboration in defence, intelligence, and technology suggests a strong commitment from both the US and New Zealand to navigate these challenges together.

Finally, New Zealand’s Public Service Commission announced the appointment of Bede Corry as the new Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT). His proactive representation of New Zealand in the U.S. market has been a valuable asset in the region. We wish him all the very best on his new journey.

Gary Fortune, Kea North America Regional Director

UK and Europe

The UK is still presenting challenges for Kiwi businesses with high inflation dampening consumer spending. This month Britain’s inflation rate slowed by less than expected, adding to signs that a first interest rate cut by the Bank of England could be further off than previously thought. Some analysts say there is a risk that Britain will follow the trend in the US and see inflation stall. A slowdown in food prices was the main contributor to the decrease with prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages increased by 4% over the 12 months to March, their weakest rise since November 2021. However, an increase in fuel prices slowed the fall in the headline rate. International oil prices climbed last month amid growing tensions in the Middle East.

More and more brands are using Tik Tok to showcase products and services to audiences but this month the social media platform has landed itself in hot water over the launch of a version of its app that pays users for viewing videos. The European Commission has asked TikTok for details of the risk assessment it carried out before launching the feature in France and Spain and says its concerns relate to the impact on children, mental health and addiction. According to the French newspaper Le Monde, users can only earn rewards on videos suggested by their algorithmic feeds and not videos which they search for specifically. While social media presents an engaging way for brands to connect with their audiences, a version which pays users may cause some brands to rethink their strategy or at least question if this is the way they want to engage communities.

Sara Fogarty, Kea UK/Europe Regional Director

China

China’s tier one cities have always represented the ultimate growth spaces for premium brands looking to capture their share of one of the world’s biggest markets. These cities represent huge wealth and allow brands to command higher prices for their products. However, in the current climate, living in China’s tier one cities is becoming less attractive and increasing numbers of Chinese youth are moving out to lower tier cities, attracted by a lower cost of living, increasingly sophisticated consumer infrastructure and relative improvements in job prospects.

As these consumers return to lower tier cities, they bring with them the sophisticated habits from living in the metropolises. For example, Lululemon, a brand usually aligned with tier 1 and 2 audiences, is increasingly attracting consumers based outside the main centres. In their highest-selling Douyin livestream in January, 5 of the top-10 cities in the audience were lower-tier cities without any physical Lululemon stores. Kiwi brands looking to enter the Chinese market should consider whether lower tier cities could present much-less tapped opportunities for growth than saturated higher tier cities especially if this supports them to get a foothold in the Chinese market.

Rebecca Bao, China Regional Director

New Zealand

This month the Government announced immediate changes to the Accredited Employer Worker Visa (AEWV), in an effort to help protect migrants from exploitation and address unsustainable net migration. The changes to the work visa scheme will include introducing an English language requirement for migrants applying for low-skilled jobs. A number of construction roles will also no longer be added to the green-light list due to less demand, and the franchisee accreditation category will be disestablished. Businesses looking to gain more details around the changes can visit the AEWV website.

The latest biannual BDO Business Wellbeing Index was also released this month, while many businesses are facing a number of challenges right now, the index showed that business leaders were typically more optimistic about their future business performance than their current outlook, with 60 percent more positive when looking six months ahead, compared with just 53 percent in the shorter-term. While economic conditions were a large concern, business leaders were also grappling with new technologies and artificial intelligence. Just 46 percent felt positive about the adoption of new technologies, which was one of the lowest-scoring business performance attributes and suggested leaders may still be getting their heads around how to effectively leverage AI in their organisations. However, 55 percent expected to feel more positive about technology in six months time.

And finally some good news is on the horizon for business owners with annual inflation easing to its lowest level in nearly three years. Stats NZ figures released this month show consumer prices rose 0.6 percent in the three months that ended March, taking the annual rate down to 4.0 percent, the lowest since June 2021.

Kellie Addison, Global Director Stakeholder Affairs

HOW KEA CAN HELP YOUR BUSINESS GROW

Kea Connect

Kea Connect is a free service that will help your business grow offshore. We connect you personally with regional, sector-specific experts and peers.

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Resources

Kea is here to help New Zealand businesses grow offshore. Be inspired and hear advice from businesses who have created their export path.

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Jobs Portal

Looking for the right talent for your team? Reach our global Kiwi community through the Kea international job portal.

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Alex Reedijk (UK): Alex is the General Director at Scottish Opera, the Vice Chair, Citizens Theatre, and Chair of The Beacon Arts Centre Greenock. Alex joined the Scottish Opera as General Director in February 2006, following four years at the helm of The NBR New Zealand Opera. Prior to that he was Executive Director of the New Zealand International Festival of the Arts. He’s worked with opera companies and festivals across the world and was responsible for the New Zealand performance of the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, which made its first highly successful visit to Wellington in 2000. During Alex’s 15 years at Scottish Opera the company has flourished, bringing opera performances to over 45 communities across Scotland every year. He has led the company to create an array of new initiatives for young people, and for people living with Dementia, including the world’s first Dementia Friendly opera performances in 2016. Alex has also worked closely in partnership with Music Director Stuart Stratford to sustain and develop a very strong commitment to both 20th century opera and new commissions. In November 2011, Alex was awarded a Fellowship of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Outside of the Opera, Alex is generous in providing guidance and support for many within the creative industries. He is always open and enthusiastic to connect and support Kiwi looking to learn, develop their careers offshore.

Joanne Mceachen (NZ):Joanne started her career as a teacher and principal before joining the Ministry of Education in 2008. With the MoE she managed multiple whole-system initiatives and began down the path of systemic reform centred on equitable outcomes and authentic assessment. After moving to the United States in 2012, Joanne founded ‘The Learner First’ to take a systemic approach to the integration of academic and social and emotional learning and then co-founded the global initiative New Pedagogies for Deep Learning. (NPDL) More recently she has helped design the Contributive Learning framework to help school communities design purposeful learning experiences, measure the outcomes that matter, and guide every student to academic success and well-being. In 2020 Joanne moved home to New Zealand and founded the Kia Kotahi Ako trust to address educational, climate, and other important challenges facing Papatūānuku (our planet). Joanne is a celebrated author, speaker, and change leader, Joanne’s insights are illuminated by continued, hands-on experience partnering with diverse countries, school communities, and students around the world.

Melanie Brown (UK): Melanie launched Specialist Cellars (formerly The New Zealand Cellar) in 2014 building an online platform and an exclusive New Zealand wine shop and bar in Brixton. She is the driving force connecting New Zealand wineries and consumers in the UK, regularly hosting a diverse range of tasting events, bringing to life the people and stories behind the wines. Specialist Cellars has been particularly instrumental in transforming perceptions of New Zealand wine in the UK and has gained critical acclaim as the most extensive offering of premium New Zealand wine outside Aotearoa. Melanie began her hospitality career as a chef with Peter Gordon at The Providores in London in 2005 and transitioned quickly to her wine studies. Her deep knowledge of wines and their origins coupled with her expert palate means she is a sought after judge for many wine competitions. Before the pandemic hit, Melanie opened her first restaurant ‘The Laundry’ in Brixton, and after navigating several challenging years through Covid The Laundry has become a neighbourhood hot spot. Melanie has been instrumental in helping Kiwi F&B businesses explore and enter the UK market and also offers up her restaurant as a space for the community to come together. She has held several Kiwi Christmas dinners at The Laundry in combination with Kea.

Nathan Hight (NZ): Nathan has spent 20 years in the safety industry and has been a global leader within drowning prevention, applying risk management frameworks and developing global strategies in collaboration with other nations to reduce the global drowning toll. Nathan has led operations in Australasia, South America, Asia, Middle East and Europe. He is the former General Manager of Surf Life Saving New Zealand and Surf Life Saving Australia. The latter included leadership of significant safety culture reform in an iconic Australian organisation with 50,000 workers exposed to unpredictable, high risk working environments every day. Nathan was the former Chairman of ACC Drowning Prevention Strategy, Environmental Advisory Committee which was responsible for developing a risk based approach to drowning prevention in NZ. Nathan is also the Co-Founder of Safe365, a B2B SaaS platform that supports thousands of businesses around the world with understanding and improving work health, safety & well-being outcomes. Nathan advises executives and Boards of some of the most well-known brands on the planet, in some of the most complex work environments to ensure companies have strong, aware and enabled leadership, people are safe and business outcomes are maximised.

Paul Gough

Paul Gough (UK): Paul is the Managing Partner at STAR Capital in London. He has over 20 years experience in covering a wide range of merger, acquisition, divestment and finance projects across several countries, leading and shaping the investment landscape, especially on transport and energy-related investment activity. Paul currently serves on many boards as an Independent Non-Executive Director, including Infratil NZ. He is a Member at the Institute of Finance Professionals New Zealand. He has a Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) in Finance & Quantitative Analysis from the University of Otago, New Zealand and is a member of the New Zealand Society of Investment Analysts. Paul is incredibly supportive of many of the NZ community based organisations here in the UK and to and to offshore Kiwi, including Kea NZ, Te Papa Foundation, NZ UK Link Foundation and YES! Youth Experience in Sport. His support and dedication to help create opportunities for fellow kiwi as well as supporting those in-market is unparalleled.

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HOW KEA CAN HELP YOUR BUSINESS GROW

Kea Connect

Resources

Jobs Portal

North America

UK and Europe

China

New Zealand

HOW KEA CAN HELP YOUR BUSINESS GROW

Kea Connect

Resources

Jobs Portal

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