An agreement to boost New Zealand-China trade was today signed by Customs Minister Nicky Wagner and China’s Ambassador, His Excellency Mr Wang Lutong.
The Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) ensures border agencies in New Zealand and China recognise one another’s trusted exporter programmes.
“New Zealand and China Customs enjoy a strong working relationship. This arrangement will further strengthen ties by helping streamline the movement of goods,” Ms Wagner says.
“Companies signed up to New Zealand Customs’ Secure Export Scheme will automatically benefit from faster cargo clearance, reduced document checks and less examination.”
The MRA will come into effect on 1 July 2017. More details on the implementation and benefits will be provided to New Zealand exporters and Chinese importers in the coming months.
China and New Zealand Customs also recently launched a Joint Electronic Verification System, which automatically sends New Zealand’s Certificate of Origin data to China for greater assurance over the authenticity of goods.
| A Beehive release | March 27, 2017 |||
New Zealand has enhanced its air service agreement with China by 20 per cent Transport Minister Simon Bridges announced today.
“New Zealand and Chinese airlines can now operate 59 passenger services per week,” Mr Bridges says.
“We’ve seen strong growth with visitors from China and we expect this to continue. China is our second largest source of visitors after Australia, so it’s important that we have the appropriate agreements in place to support this.
“The amendment will also allow additional airlines to enter the market, ensuring a competitive environment that will benefit New Zealand and Chinese travellers.
“Officials also have the opportunity to further expand the agreement later this year if certain conditions are met.
“Chinese airlines can now operate between airports in New Zealand during the course of their international service, allowing airports that do not receive flights by Chinese airlines the opportunity to do so.
“We have progressively enhanced this agreement. In 2014 the agreement provided 42 offerings per week and was increased in 2016 to 49. We will continue to work towards an open skies agreement with China,” Mr Bridges says.
Five Chinese airlines currently operate to New Zealand and a sixth, Sichuan Airlines, will enter the market in June.
“New Zealand is committed to liberalising air services, allowing for competitive markets, increased air traffic, lower air fares and stronger international trade links,” Mr Bridges says.
New Zealand now has 61 air service agreements with countries and territories with a further 20 awaiting signature.
Arrivals from China in 2016 were 421,000 – an increase 12 per cent (54,000) from 2015.
| A Beehive release | march 27, 2017 |||
New Zealand and China will begin talks on an upgrade of the Free Trade Agreement between the two countries on April 25, Prime Minister Bill English announced today.
The announcement followed official talks between the Prime Minister and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in Wellington today.
“The FTA with China has been an enormous success,” Mr English says.
“Since coming into force in 2008 two-way trade between our two countries has tripled to $23 billion, creating jobs and opportunities for people in both countries. An upgrade will ensure this momentum continues and ensure that the FTA remains a modern agreement that tackles barriers our exporters face. It will assist progress towards our target of $30 billion two-way trade by 2020.
“The agreement to commence of negotiations also confirms the commitment of both countries to open trade and economic growth,” Mr English says.
“Trade openness and strong ties in the region are critical to New Zealand’s economic growth, prosperity, and job creation.”
Mr English says today’s meeting with Premier Li provided an opportunity to reflect on the successes achieved since New Zealand established diplomatic relations with China 45 years ago, and to set the agenda for the future.
“Premier Li and I also reiterated the value we see in people-to-people links between our two countries, including the nearly 35,000 Chinese students studying in New Zealand, and the 400,000 Chinese who visit annually.
“Both countries also confirmed their commitment to open trade, sustainable development, and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.
In addition to agreeing a date for talks to begin on a FTA upgrade, the two leaders also announced a number of other initiatives, including:
This is the Premier’s first visit to New Zealand as Premier, but he previously visited as Vice Premier in 2009.
“It was a pleasure to host Premier Li in New Zealand once again, together with his wife Madame Cheng Hong.
“I look forward to hosting them both at a China-New Zealand Gala in Auckland tomorrow.”
Related DocumentsList of Initiatives announced between China and New Zealand (pdf 213.9 KB)
| A Beehive releas | march 27, 2017 |||
Downer mounts A$1.2 billion takeover for Spotless Group
Ξ Rodd & Gunn Branching Out in the US
Ξ P3 is the mantra for Kiwi business in India
Ξ While you were sleeping: Wall St falls as investors consider Trump's recent decisions
Ξ China FTA upgrade talks to begin next month
Ξ Chinese Premier Li rejects steel dumping claim, cites larger NZ dairy exports
Ξ NZ US Council to take Trade Agenda 2030 to Washington
A number of US steelmakers are expanding capacity and upgrading mills in the same region where Australian company BlueScope Steel operates its highly profitable North Star mill.
According to BlueScope, its North Star mill in Ohio achieved a profit of $211 million in the first half of 2016-17, which accounted for 35 per cent of its overall profit. This is double the profit from the year prior.
With rivals getting wind of this, a number have announced expansions and upgrades of their Ohio plants, supported by new policies from US President Donald Trump designed to stimulate local manufacturing.
For example, Nucor recently announced its plan to spend US$85 million (AU$111 million) to upgrade a steel mill in Marion, Ohio, in order to keep a “cost-competitive position”. Charter Steel also announced its plan to build a new $150 million steel mill in Cuyahoga Heights in Ohio, and US Steel has stated its intention to spend up to US$200 million on steel mill expansions.
According to Deutsche Bank analyst Paul Young, producers are being incentivised to bring under-utilised capacity back into market as demand increases. Despite Trump’s protectionism policies and higher tariffs on imported steel, increased US steel mill utilisation is expected to limit profit margin expansion, said Young.
| A ManufacturersMonthly release | March 27,2017 |||
It's always a buzz to see whatt's going on on the factory floors of businesses in New Zealand. Here is a prime example of innovation, persistance and application about Nick Fentan MD of Tino Marine and published in the mornings NZHerald . . .
> > > Continue here to read the article in full with images . . .
New Zealand Post this last week signed an agreement with the Henan Bonded Logistics Centre (HNBLC) and Trademonster that will simplify access for New Zealand companies to one of world’s largest consumer markets.
The signing, at New Zealand Post’s Auckland Operations Centre on Wednesday, was attended by senior representatives of the People’s Government of Henan Province, including Chen Run’er, the Governor of the Province.
HNBLC processes more than 90 million domestic parcels in China, and more than half of all cross border ecommerce trade. Trademonster has a strategic alliance with NZ Post and has strong relationships with the major ecommerce platforms in China, which is key for New Zealand SME businesses looking to enter China.
NZ Post chief executive Brian Roche said the agreement is testament to the trust and loyalty that has been developed between the New Zealand Government and the Henan Government.
“Chief Executive of Henan Imported Materials Public Bonded Center Group Co Ltd Madam Xu Ping brought her senior team to New Zealand to meet with our heads of business and to consolidate the business trading lanes that are now actively open between our two countries.
“This provides New Zealand traders with simplified access to one of the largest consumer markets in the world.”
Dene Green, General Manager of NZ Post International, said the Trademonster relationship, which is headed by Managing Director Gavin Yang, is one of the most exciting and supportive cross-border agreements NZ Post has ever had.
“NZ post carried more than 7 million items between New Zealand and China last year. Supported by strong relationships such as these, this is forecast to grow by up to 15% over the next 12-18 months as more Kiwis shop online and more Kiwi companies grow their ecommerce capability and sell into overseas markets.”
| An NZPost release | March 27, 2017 |||
In 2012 it was reported, based on a Public Trust survey, that over half of New Zealanders over the age of 18 don’t have a will! Since that time it appears little has changed, as Public Trust referred to the same statistic in its 2016 Annual Report. It’s even worse for younger people, where 66% of 25 to 39 year olds don’t have a will.
Given that wills are so important, how can this be?
Public Trust thought that part of the problem is that many people believe that if they die without having made a will, their entire estate would automatically go to their partner, so they wouldn’t need a will. Of course that is not what actually happens, and there is a need for ongoing education on the need for a will and the issues that can arise without one.
Younger people may also believe that don’t have any assets, which is unlikely to actually be the case at the time they die, particularly when KiwiSaver is taken into account.
There are likely to be other reasons though:
Over the past few months we’ve been looking hard at this issue with leading wills and trusts lawyer Matt Hay, of Succeed Legal. We just didn’t feel that the existing situation is anywhere near good enough, and wanted to do something about it.
Then we hit on an idea. At LawHawk we have been wanting to create a free document that anyone can use, without obligation, to see just how powerful our HotDocs document automation solution really is. Rather than create a pretend document people could play with, we thought why not create a real will that anyone can use for free in the privacy of their own home? That would resolve any issues of cost or emotional difficulty. They can play with various options, and see what their will might actually look like in real time.
Of course there’s a concern that non-experts using a real will could get themselves into trouble, which is why there’s a need for expert advice and we still want to see people using lawyers for wills. Maybe more will if they know it will be easy and affordable. We decided to strip out some of the more complex options which are in our paid version that is better suited for lawyers to use, and to make it really easy for people to get help from Matt and his team at Succeed Legal, or any other law firms that would like to work with our will to offer high quality advice to will makers at great value.
Lawyers - join our legal directory here
Most wills – particularly for those who currently don’t have them - are likely to be quite simple, and would involve the will maker giving everything to their partner, or if they had also passed away, to their children. Additionally, the will maker should make clear who will be guardian to any minor children, and what they want to happen to their body. This is all possible within the completely free version.
Available until 30 April
We’re planning to run the free will as a trial until 30 April to see how it goes. We would love to see as many people as possible try the will during that time and, if they’re happy with the outcome, drop those terrible numbers of people without wills.
The system – both free and paid versions - is also open to any lawyers and trustee companies who would like to use it. Please just get in touch if you have any questions, and we are happy to offer training so you can provide your clients with high quality and efficient additional advice.
The intestacy process costs both time and money, and lack of clarity as to the will maker’s intentions can lead to ugly family disputes. This could make a real difference to the lives of many New Zealanders. If you know anyone who doesn’t have a will, or whose will may no longer be up to date, please encourage them to do something about it this month. It will only take a few minutes, and there is no cost. What is there to lose?
| A LawHawk release | March 26, 2017 |||
Five questions for ex United Nations Security Council President Terence O’Brien.
Few practitioners from any nation have enjoyed quite such an extended career at the heart of the global firmament as British-born diplomat Terence O’Brien (above). He was president of the Security Council of United Nations during the Balkans conflict. He was one of the principal access negotiators on behalf of New Zealand when Britain originally entered the European Common Market. He has occupied posts in London, Brussels, Bangkok and Geneva. He was the founding director of the Institute of Strategic Studies.
You have been an outspoken opponent of mixing trade with foreign affairs?
This is not strictly accurate. I take issue rather with the jargon that “all New Zealand foreign policy is trade” which is a holdover from earlier times and reflected today in a sense promoted by some New Zealand leaders, that NZ’s success and place in the world is to be judged primarily by the number of Free Trade Agreements that it is able to secure.
NZ’s modern experience especially in respect to emergent Asia proves emphatically that successful trade arrangements depend firstly and vitally upon sound political and diplomatic relationships (China is a prime but by no means solitary example). NZ’s accomplishments in Asia and indeed elsewhere rely in other words, upon earned trust with other governments. Fostering that trust is a political/diplomatic responsibility.
Predictable trade relationships require a great deal more than nimble private sector commercial skills- although those are indispensable of course to overall success and the New Zealand private sector plus NZ primary producer groups have been notably effective in this regard.
To what extent do you view the recent NZ sponsorship of the UN Israel censure as a development of this blend?
There may have been in the minds of some on the NZ side, the thought that sponsorship might earn credits in some Gulf States where NZ seeks to formalise free trade arrangements; but around the UNSC table there is genuine concern about the danger for the future of ‘two state solution’ to the Israel/Palestine conflict ,that has been the long established diplomatic basis for eventual peace. The present Israeli government appears openly to resile from this formula as it continues resolutely to expand Jewish settlements on the West Bank, a practice deplored by the UN Security Council. From the moment it gained a place on the 2015-16 UNSC NZ committed itself to contributing to the search for progress on this key issue. Co-sponsorship of the eventual UNSC resolution which calls as well for Palestinians to desist from provocation and terrorism, was the logical consequence.
Looking back on your days as a dairy sector negotiator during Britain’s entry into the Common Market, how do you view Brexit now in terms of NZ diplomacy and trade?
From the perspective of a small, distant but companionable partner of Europe, Brexit appears to be a mistake. It comes too at a time when conservative populism is on the rise within Europe with the emergence of right wing nationalist political groups in several countries. Twentieth century experiences of European mistakes and miscalculations and their devastating global consequences, not once but twice, are not to be overlooked.
British entry into Europe was a taxing experience for NZ. The deals struck for safeguarding NZ trade interests represented a stay of execution rather than reprieve for this country . Within relatively short periods of negotiated transition the New Zealand farm economy was obliged to diversify production and markets. That process drove foreign policy extending NZ political and diplomatic interests to a wide range of new partners (in the Middle East, Communist Europe, Latin America and, most notably Asia) . It consolidated NZ as a genuine world trader with global interests. Global interests are inextricably bound up with global responsibilities even for small countries, and require contributions to global wellbeing and stability.
The process deepened NZ support for international rules based behaviour particularly in trade but also in directly related areas such as peace and security, freedom for transport and navigation, responsible behaviour in global environmental and resource protection and so forth. Because of the very nature of its own being the European Union (EU) has been a notable champion of an international rules based system. But the fact of BREXIT places a question mark over how influential a collective European voice will now be in the future. At a time when American commitment to global rules is questionable under a new inexperienced President Trump, the need for sustained collective European support for the system has never been greater. The foreseeable future suggests that New Zealand will crucially need the courage of its convictions.
How do you feel about the Helen Clark bid to be the UN Secretary General especially in regard to her role as an officer of the UN at the time?
The selection process for a new UN Secretary General in 2016 sought to break new ground - which is always difficult in the UN. Formal candidatures backed by governments and involving public job interviews were decreed for the first time in 70 years. Hitherto candidatures had been exclusively personal affairs and selection decided behind tightly held UN Security Council doors where the votes of the five permanent Council members (US, UK, France, Russia and China) were decisive. This time a new approach was defined in the interests of greater transparency and democracy in the selection process. It is stretching things somewhat to suggest those goals were achieved.
There was a general sentiment beforehand that the new appointee should be from Eastern Europe (which has never supplied a UN Secretary General ) and also be female (which would be a first). In the event neither aspiration prevailed and the choice, of a Portuguese male, was once again taken behind closed doors at the UNSC.
Helen Clark was a creditable candidate and the NZ government campaigned for her, but her success depended first and foremost upon her own efforts. She came as a candidate from within the ranks of the UN itself, but this is not without precedent (Kofi Annan one the most effective SGs, was a UN Secretariat employee). As head of the UN’s largest aid institution she was well known across a very wide number of UN member countries ( especially developing countries).The reasons for her lack of success will probably never be known in full. Her relatively poor showing in the straw polling of UN member countries before the final appointment, was an undeniable disappointment. The most that can be said is that she was a serious contender; and NZ can take some consolation from that.
What are your views on Russia and NZ’s participation in the US-EU trade embargo?
With Russia and NATO we are reaping what was sown. At the end of the Cold War there was an opportunity for the Americans and Europeans to consolidate a cooperative inclusive (of Russia) security system for a post CW Europe. The Soviet led Warsaw Pact subsided into oblivion which is what military alliances historically do when conflicts end, and/or the reason for their existence disappears. NATO in direct contrast did not. It was enlarged with new members, new bases installed and its boundaries extended into Russia’s borderlands - which for the US anyway potentially included Ukraine. But who was the adversary? An enfeebled Russia could do nothing but (as George Kennan amongst others warned) one could not rule out economic recovery by Russia and new leadership that objected to NATO expansion (which included into the affairs of the Middle East) and would push back. Enter Mr Putin, and so it has come to pass. His preemptive seizure of Crimea (where the Russian fleet has had a base for two centuries or so) is contrary to the international rule of law - but hardly surprising in the wake of western foolhardiness.
NZ should sustain a suitably detached policy position over present NATO-Russia. We do not have a dog in the fight. Russia does not threaten the US although Putin clearly intends that Russia be assertive and taken seriously internationally. Russian interference in the US electoral process may or may not have occurred. If it is proven Russians would presumably point to equivalent American policies in the name of “spreading democracy” in Russia ,its satellites, and including Ukraine. They are, on both sides, ‘pots calling kettles black’
| From the MSCNewsWire reporters' desk | Monay 27 March 2017 |||
Out of Europe is the new visual identity features for Fanta Orange an innovative spiral bottle and a new recipe which contains a third less sugar.
Nearly two years in the making, the bottle is an industry-first, replacing traditional, symmetrical designs with a spiral version which twists the plastic to form a unique, eye-catching shape.
CCEP said driving the new look is a fresh new logo which was created using hand cut paper and transformed into a digital logo to depict movement and spontaneity.
Fanta’s personality is brought out by a hidden smile, and the iconic Fanta orange is highlighted by a new colour palette, which has been designed to create impact on shelf.
The logo also complements a fresh twist on the Fanta bottle.
Simon Harrison, operational marketing director at CCEP, said: “The evolution of Fanta is another example of how we’re energising our portfolio of leading brands to ensure they remain relevant to consumers whilst helping to drive sales for our retail customers.
“This year looks set to be the biggest in Fanta’s history, with a fresh new look inside and out and a multi-million pound investment support plan.”
| A packaging News release | March 26, 2017 |||
Palace of the Alhambra, Spain
By: Charles Nathaniel Worsley (1862-1923)
From the collection of Sir Heaton Rhodes
Oil on canvas - 118cm x 162cm
Valued $12,000 - $18,000
Offers invited over $9,000
Contact: Henry Newrick – (+64 ) 27 471 2242
Mount Egmont with Lake
By: John Philemon Backhouse (1845-1908)
Oil on Sea Shell - 13cm x 14cm
Valued $2,000-$3,000
Offers invited over $1,500
Contact: Henry Newrick – (+64 ) 27 471 2242