Articles
John Key set high bar in relationship with China
When it came to New Zealand and China, John Key was acutely aware of the high stakes. He knew China was an economic lifeline following the Global Financial Crisis, as export growth to our traditional markets stalled or went backwards. He knew our living standards...
Is Auckland stuck in second gear with China?
A question for my friend and incoming Auckland mayor Phil Goff: How will you lift the city’s economic relationship with China? One in 12 Aucklanders now identifies as Chinese; it is the country’s commercial capital and the gateway for Chinese visitors, students and...
A Trade policy for our times
The Government’s “refresh” of its Trade Policy Strategy is both timely and appropriate. Hopefully it will prove substantive as well. The existing strategy coined a generation ago by former Trade Minister Tim Groser, while still an MFAT official, has served New...
If not TPP then what?
This op ed was kindly published by The Spinoff on 16 August 2016. Trade has been described as “war by other means”. That led the US Defence Secretary in peak hyperbole to declare that the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) was as important to him as another aircraft...
No this is not a trade war!
In this article I argue for calm when trade issues arise. Some years ago I wrote “when elephants fight, it gets tough on the grass”. That was when the United States under President George W Bush was blocking steel imports from New Zealand and other countries. It...
Stephen meets Chinese Ambassador HE Wang Lutong
As Executive Director of the NZ China Council Stephen was honoured to call on Chinese Ambassador Wang Lutong. See a readout of their meeting here.
“Friends with benefits – CER, SEM and TPP”
Stephen was pleased to address a business breakfast organised by the Australian Consulate-General, Austrade and the University of Sydney. The subject was the economic relationship with Australia - here's Stephen's speech: It’s a pleasure to be with you this morning...
Stephen is appointed Executive Director of the NZ China Council
Stephen has taken over the reins - at least until January 2017 - of the NZ China Council, an organisation funded by government and business to promote a strong and resilient relationship with China. Read more about the appointment here. Stephen will continue his...
TPP Unwrapped
Stephen is giving a number of addresses about the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the implications for New Zealand. See here for an address he gave in Nelson to the NZ Institute for International Affairs on 5 April. Other addresses are available on the Tradeworks...