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.
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.
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.
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.
Tim McCready and Renata Blair of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei get the China Business Summit underway.
The 2025 China Business Summit was held on 18 July 2025 at Cordis, Auckland.
Brought to you by NZ INC. and Auckland Business Chamber.
I enjoyed joining Anna Thomas on RNZ’s Summer Times show this morning to chat about my recent visit to Hong Kong for the Asian Financial Forum (AFF). Our discussion covered:
📈Cautious optimism in the financial sector: Despite the uncertainty looming over markets caused by the Trump administration, there’s a prevailing sense of confidence in global markets.
🌏Markets to watch: Southeast Asia and the Middle East stood out at the Forum as hotspots for growth and investment opportunities.
🤖AI’s impact on finance: Artificial intelligence is transforming the financial sector, from predicting trends and outperforming humans, to making financial services more accessible to everyday investors.
🛍️Changing shopping trends: Many Hong Kong locals now head to mainland China for shopping, dining and even dental work – thanks to the convenience of high-speed trains and the allure of lower prices and wider options across the border.
🦢The (non-work) highlight: Of course: food! Including a comparison of budget vs. high-end roast goose. (Spoiler: the budget spot came out on top!)
Summit Close
MC: Tim McCready
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US Business Summit 2024
22 November 2024 at Cordis, Auckland. Brought to you by NZ INC. and Auckland Business Chamber.
Summit event director Katy Riddell, Air New Zealand’s Reuben Levermore and MC Tim McCready conduct the prize draw.
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US Business Summit 2024
22 November 2024 at Cordis, Auckland. Brought to you by NZ INC. and Auckland Business Chamber.
Co-founder of Shasta Ventures and a 24-year veteran of venture capital, Rob Coneybeer discussed how New Zealand can position itself to attract foreign direct investment. Rob shone a light on New Zealand’s appeal as an investment destination, sharing insights into how the country could attract much needed foreign direct investment and thrive in the global market.
He was joined by Hon Barbara Edmonds, a former tax lawyer and Labour’s Finance Spokesperson, who spoke about how New Zealand can take advantage of US investment, bringing a fresh perspective on Labour’s approach to fostering stronger economic ties and capitalising on opportunities.
Moderator: Tim McCready Summit MC
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US Business Summit 2024
22 November 2024 at Cordis, Auckland. Brought to you by NZ INC. and Auckland Business Chamber.
Two visionary New Zealand leaders shared how advanced technologies in green metal extraction and aerospace innovation were addressing global challenges, from climate change to resource scarcity, while also creating vast opportunities in international markets.
Will Barker, CEO of Mint, highlighted how urban waste can be transformed into valuable green metals, reducing reliance on traditional mining and enabling a low-carbon, circular economy.
Professor Delwyn Moller presented cutting-edge innovations in aerospace technology, showcasing how Earth observation systems and advanced remote sensing are being used to address global challenges.
Moderator: Tim McCready – Summit MC
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US Business Summit 2024
22 November 2024 at Cordis, Auckland. Brought to you by NZ INC. and Auckland Business Chamber.