China Business Summit 2013

By Brierley Penn In 2012, China became the largest outbound market of any in the world, growing 40 per cent relative to the 2011 period. In the next 12 months, China had become the second most important travel market for New Zealand, said Kevin Bowler, CEO of Tourism NZ, with Chinese visitors to NZ spending $645m each year. However, Bowler …

By Brierley Penn “New Zealand brand perception has been created over the past 100 years,” said Marco Marinkovich, CEO of Creative Bank at the 2013 China Business Summit. “Perception is reality.” “If I said Ronald Regan, you would think Watergate. If I said Bill Clinton, you would think Monica. If I said Lance Armstrong, you would think drug cheat.” It …

By Tim Groser First, I would like to congratulate the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, NZ Inc and all the agencies and sponsors for putting this event together. I know and have worked with many of you on the New Zealand side over the years either on the China relationship or closely related matters. Many of you are genuine China specialists. …

By Brierley Penn Cathy Quinn, Chair of Minter Ellison Rudd Watts, shared her success strategies for Chinese investment transactions in New Zealand at the China Business Summit this morning. Most importantly, she reminded the audience that it is vital to both understand and invest in your relationship with Chinese counterparts. “We’re the little guys, so we need to understand how …

By Brierley Penn “I think that we are world class in manufacturing and in food safety, but we have to lift our game,”said Theo Spierings, CEO of Fonterra, at today’s China Business Summit, held in Auckland. “We have to become the NASA of food safety and quality.” Spierings brought a message of collaboration and unity in rebuilding New Zealand’s reputation …

By Christopher Adams, NZ Herald Fonterra chief executive Theo Spierings says a “she’ll be right attitude” was one of the causes of the company’s botulism fiasco. Business leaders have gathered in Auckland today for the annual China Business Summit. The event’s main focus this year is the ongoing impact of Fonterra’s whey protein contamination scare, which led to a global …

By Laura Walters The Ministry for Primary Industries is under-resourced and communications inadequate to deal with the food-safety issues facing New Zealand exports to China, Trade Minister Tim Groser says. Groser told the China Business Summit in Auckland today that it was undeniable the ministry did not have enough resources in China to deal with the recent DCD residue issue, …

Kevin Bowler Cheif Executive, Tourism New Zealand Biography Kevin Bowler joined Tourism New Zealand as Chief Executive in January 2010. He has marketing and business leadership experience spanning consumer packaged goods, technology, and media brands in New Zealand and internationally. Before joining Tourism New Zealand, Kevin was the inaugural CEO for start-up Yahoo!Xtra, a joint venture between Yahoo!7 and Telecom …

David Caselli General Manager, Business Attraction & Investment, ATEED Biography David is the General Manager, Business Attraction and Investment, Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED). David’s background is in international business and investment banking. He has amassed a wealth of trade and investment experience through varied roles in the public and private sectors, leading trading and corporate finance companies …

Deputy Chairman, Academic Colleges Group Danny Chan Deputy Chairman, Academic Colleges Group Biography A third-generation New Zealand Chinese, Danny was brought up in Wellington. After spending 16 years in the investment management field in New Zealand during the 70s and the 80s. Danny was appointed by Fidelity Investments of USA, the largest fund management company in the world, to the …