Tim McCready event MC
European Union – New Zealand Business Summit (European Union in New Zealand)
European Union – New Zealand Business Summit
It was a real privilege to MC the inaugural top-level EU–New Zealand Business Summit – a standout event that brought together an incredible line-up of leaders and thinkers, including Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and EU Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič.
The discussions throughout the day reflected just how far this partnership has come. The EU–NZ FTA has exceeded expectations, and there is real growth in innovation and collaboration through Horizon Europe. As Minister Todd McClay put it: “In just over one year, we have proven that when Europe and New Zealand work together, extraordinary things happen.”
For me, the best sign of momentum was the buzz and energy in the room. The level of conversation between the almost 500 delegates showed there’s a genuine desire to do more together. Getting everyone back in the room after the breaks required some finely tuned diplomatic MC timing of its own!
Huge congratulations to Ambassador Lawrence Meredith and his entire team for pulling off something so exceptional. A refreshing and energising day that showed both the European Union and New Zealand how far we’ve come, and how much opportunity there is to do more. #EUNZTrade #StrongerTogether
Summit Agenda & Video Catch Up
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Thursday 23 October – The Maritime Room, Princes Wharf, Auckland |
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5:30 – 7:00pm |
Mihi Whakatau (traditional Māori welcome) |
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Friday 24 October – EU-NZ Business Summit, Viaduct Event Centre, Auckland |
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07:15 |
Registration and breakfast |
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08:00 |
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08:05 |
Opening Address – Prime Minister of New Zealand Rt Hon Christopher Luxon |
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08:15 |
Fireside chat with Prime Minister of New Zealand Rt Hon Christopher Luxon |
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08:40 |
Coffee & Networking |
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09:10 |
Video: Trade Partnership from New Zealand Story |
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09:13 |
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09:23 |
Address: Hon Dr Shane Reti, Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology |
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09:33 |
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09:35 |
Address: Hon Todd McClay MP, New Zealand Minister for Trade and Investment |
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09:45 |
Address: Maroš Šefčovič, European Union Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security |
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09:55 |
Fireside chat with Minister McClay and Commissioner Šefčovič |
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10:20 |
Panel – From the ground up – trust builds growth Facilitator: Felicity Roxburgh, Executive Director, New Zealand International Business Forum |
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10:50 |
Panel – Powering Change – Clean Tech and Renewable Innovation Facilitator: Tara Druce, Trade Commissioner, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise |
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11:20 |
Address: Hon Simon Watts, NZ Minister, Climate Change and Energy |
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11:30 |
Coffee & Networking |
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12:00 |
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12:05 |
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12:15 |
Panel – Building What’s Next: Investment and Infrastructure Facilitator: Stephen Jacobi, Chair, NZ/EU Free Trade Agreement Domestic Advisory Group |
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12:50 |
Lunch and networking |
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14:00 |
Quickfire with Central and Eastern Europe Facilitator: Simon Bridges, Chief Executive, Auckland Business Chamber |
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14:20 |
Panel – the Future is Here: Advanced Tech and AI Facilitator: David Downs, Chief Executive, New Zealand Story |
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14:55 |
Partnership Plus: Professor Frank Bloomfield, from University of Auckland |
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15:00 |
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15:05 |
Address: Marko Mihkelson, Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, Estonian Parliament |
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15:15 |
Panel – Aerospace and Defence Facilitator: Hema Sridhar, Deputy Director, Koi Tū Centre for Informed Futures |
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15:50 |
Vision for the Future: Hon Todd McClay and Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič |
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16:00 |
Networking Reception |
New Zealand ASEAN Forum (ASEAN New Zealand Business Council)
New Zealand ASEAN Forum (ASEAN New Zealand Business Council)
What took New Zealand and ASEAN a year in 1975 now happens in just three days: $220m in two-way trade. This week’s ASEAN Forum celebrated 50 years of ASEAN–New Zealand relations, with a bold new goal to double trade to $50 billion.
Minister for Trade and Investment Todd McClay highlighted why this relationship matters, pointing to the complementary strengths of ASEAN and New Zealand across food, manufacturing, education, and tech. Chair of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council for Malaysia, Tan Sri Nazir Razak, framed it in global terms – a “time of monsters” as the old order shifts, where ASEAN must integrate, diversify, and push ahead on digital and trade agreements.
The business panels brought the lessons to life.
Gavin M. Faull (Swiss-Belhotel International) reflected on his five decades of work in the region, saying trust is the most critical currency, alongside cultural understanding and win-win partnerships. Michelle Noordermeer (CarbonClick) echoed this, stressing the importance of being present in-market to build credibility and navigate hierarchies.
Singaporean entrepreneur Jerel Kwek founded Addiction Pet Foods, a New Zealand manufacturer of pet food that exports to the world. He urged Kiwi firms to treat ASEAN not just as a market but as a partner, to move up the value chain, embrace innovation and use technology like AI to overcome complexity and drive growth.
It was great to MC such a fantastic event. Congratulations to the ASEAN New Zealand Business Council for making it happen.
China Business Summit 2025: Prize Draw
Prizes courtesy of Air New Zealand and Silver Fern Farms
Katy Riddell, Summit Event Director
Sam Winstanley, Senior Manager Corporate, Government & SME Sales, Air New Zealand
Tim McCready, Summit MC
The 2025 China Business Summit was held on 18 July 2025 at Cordis, Auckland.
Brought to you by NZ INC. and Auckland Business Chamber.
China Business Summit 2025: Perceptions Matter with New Zealand Story’s David Downs
David Downs, CEO of New Zealand Story, unpacks the latest China Market Perception research from New Zealand Story, revealing how Chinese consumers view their nation, and how this shapes their perception of other countries, including New Zealand. David covers what the research shows for sectors like education, food and beverage, and tech – including the need to leverage our strengths in safety and innovation, emphasise our technical capability, and tell stories that resonate with Chinese consumers.
Moderator: Tim McCready, Summit MC
The 2025 China Business Summit was held on 18 July 2025 at Cordis, Auckland.
Brought to you by NZ INC. and Auckland Business Chamber.
China Business Summit 2025: Tourism and Education turning the tide
Tourism and international education were among the hardest-hit sectors during the pandemic. While global travel has largely rebounded, New Zealand’s recovery in the China market continues to lag behind.
What’s holding us back, and how do we turn it around?
In this session, Lisa Li MNZM (China Travel Service), Professor Dawn Freshwater (Vice Chancellor, University of Auckland), Carrie Hurihanganui (Chief Executive, Auckland Airport) and Jessica Miao (United Media Solution) share insights on how the landscape has shifted, explore strategies to reignite growth, and discuss what a sustainable rebound to pre-pandemic levels looks like.
Moderator: Tim McCready, Summit MC
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The 2025 China Business Summit was held on 18 July 2025 at Cordis, Auckland.
Brought to you by NZ INC. and Auckland Business Chamber.
China Business Summit 2025: Nick Mowbray and Zuru
Nick Mowbray took us inside the “Just in Time” building revolution that Zuru Tech has sparked to disrupt the manufacture of homes and commercial buildings for international markets. Zuru Tech’s flagship product, DreamCatcher, is the world’s first BIM software directly connected to automated production systems, enabling users to design, price, and manufacture buildings with unprecedented efficiency and precision.
It’s the latest chapter in the Zuru story, which began over two decades ago in Guangzhou with a toy company founded by the Mowbray siblings, now a global powerhouse in innovation and scale.
Moderator: Tim McCready, Summit MC
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The 2025 China Business Summit was held on 18 July 2025 at Cordis, Auckland.
Brought to you by NZ INC. and Auckland Business Chamber.