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