Latest news with #Kiwi-made
Otago Daily Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Luxon plays down Cook Islands funding pause
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has down-played a pause of nearly $20 million in funding to the Cook Islands during his second day of his trip to China. Luxon spoke to media in Shanghai hours after it became public that New Zealand paused $18.2 million in development assistance to the island nation after its government signed a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership agreement with China earlier this year. The Cook Islands operates in free association with New Zealand, and while it governs its own affairs, a 2001 Joint Centenary Declaration signed between the two nations requires them to consult each other on defence and security. Speaking to reporters on Thursday morning Foreign Affairs minister Winston Peters said the Cook Islands had failed to give satisfactory answers to New Zealand's questions about the agreement. However Luxon said the dispute lies squarely with the Cook Island government - not China. He said the Cook Islands has obligations to disclose partnership agreements with New Zealand, irrespective of who they're signed with. "Part of our constitutional arrangements as a realm country and free association is that we actually have responsibility for matters around defence and security, and as a result, what we've said from the beginning of the year, we were unhappy and dissatisfied with the fact that the Cook Islands government wasn't open and transparent about its international agreements." Luxon is currently in China on his first official visit and is due to meet with President Xi Jinping shortly. Asked if he expected the topic to be raised in his meeting with the Chinese President, Luxon said the issue was between New Zealand and the Cook Islands. "The Cook Islands people [have] made a massive contribution to New Zealand. They are New Zealand citizens, there's not a Cook Islands citizenship... they get the huge benefit of being part of New Zealand and being citizens of New Zealand with respect to accessing our public services. The Foreign Affairs minister informed the Cook Islands government of the funding pause decision in early June. However, it only became public on Thursday after media reports in the Cook Islands. "We're really proud of them, our issue is not with Cook Islanders, our issue is with the Cook Islands government and Prime Minister Brown not being sufficiently transparent enough," Luxon said. Luxon tore through a blitz of promotional events on his first day in Shanghai, spruiking New Zealand's wares before the serious diplomacy began. When visiting "New Zealand Central" - an event facility run by NZ Trade & Enterprise - the PM announced a new government certification scheme clearing the way for Kiwi-made cosmetics to be sold on Chinese shelves.
Scoop
5 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
New Certification Scheme Unlocks $200M Market For Kiwi Cosmetics In China
Hon Todd McClay Minister for Trade and Investment Hon Scott Simpson Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay and Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Scott Simpson have welcomed a new certification scheme, announced by the Prime Minister in Shanghai today, that unlocks access to China's $200 million cosmetics and skincare market — a move that will drive stronger returns for New Zealand exporters and boost the economy. 'This is a smart, practical step that removes a long-standing trade barrier and opens up valuable new channels for our exporters,' McClay says. 'It means more high-quality, innovative New Zealand products on shelves in China - not just online, but in stores across one of the world's fastest-growing consumer markets.' The scheme, developed with International Accreditation New Zealand (IANZ) and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), provides exporters with a Government-issued Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certificate that meets Chinese regulatory requirements. 'This certification allows Kiwi-made cosmetics to be sold through traditional retail channels in China, significantly expanding market reach beyond cross-border e-commerce and supporting our goal of doubling exports by value in 10 years,' Mr McClay says. Minister Simpson says the scheme is a strong example of the Government's commitment to backing New Zealand businesses and removing barriers to growth. 'With global demand for health and beauty products rising, this gives our exporters the confidence to grow and compete in China; quickly, credibly, and at scale,' Mr Simpson says. 'It's another example of how we're cutting red tape and aligning our standards with key trading partners to give Kiwi firms the certainty they need to succeed.' How it works: Exporters complete an independent GMP assessment with IANZ. If successful, MBIE confirms compliance with a certificate signed on behalf of the Government. New Zealand's ban on animal testing for cosmetics remains in place, giving Chinese consumers assurance that Kiwi products are high-quality, safe, sustainable, and ethically produced.
Scoop
21-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
2025 Budget Must Prioritise Support For Small Businesses
Press Release – Buy NZ Made 'Small businesses are facing a tough economic climate – rising costs, uncertain demand, and global competition. What they need now is a Government that steps up with strategic, long-term investment in local enterprise.' Buy NZ Made is calling on the Government to deliver meaningful support for New Zealand's small businesses, the backbone of the economy and the heart of our local communities. With small businesses making up over 97% of all enterprises in New Zealand and employing more than 600,000 Kiwis, Buy NZ Made Executive Director Dane Ambler says it is essential that the 2025 Budget includes targeted initiatives to ease cost pressures, encourage innovation, and drive local consumer confidence. 'Small businesses are facing a tough economic climate – rising costs, uncertain demand, and global competition. What they need now is a Government that steps up with strategic, long-term investment in local enterprise. 'Ideally, we would like to see increased access to low-interest loans, grants, and tax relief for small businesses, especially those recovering from the impacts of inflation and global supply chain disruptions.' Ambler says the government's recent move to a 'local-first' approach in procurement to ensure New Zealand-made products and services are given fair consideration in public spending decisions was a good start. 'Backing small businesses is not just good economics – it's good nation-building. 'When the Government supports local, it sends a powerful message to every New Zealander that choosing Kiwi-made products and services creates jobs, strengthens communities, and keeps money circulating within our own economy.' Buy NZ Made is encouraging the public and policymakers alike to think local, buy local, and back the businesses that make New Zealand unique.
Scoop
20-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
2025 Budget Must Prioritise Support For Small Businesses
Buy NZ Made is calling on the Government to deliver meaningful support for New Zealand's small businesses, the backbone of the economy and the heart of our local communities. With small businesses making up over 97% of all enterprises in New Zealand and employing more than 600,000 Kiwis, Buy NZ Made Executive Director Dane Ambler says it is essential that the 2025 Budget includes targeted initiatives to ease cost pressures, encourage innovation, and drive local consumer confidence. "Small businesses are facing a tough economic climate - rising costs, uncertain demand, and global competition. What they need now is a Government that steps up with strategic, long-term investment in local enterprise. "Ideally, we would like to see increased access to low-interest loans, grants, and tax relief for small businesses, especially those recovering from the impacts of inflation and global supply chain disruptions." Ambler says the government's recent move to a "local-first" approach in procurement to ensure New Zealand-made products and services are given fair consideration in public spending decisions was a good start. "Backing small businesses is not just good economics - it's good nation-building. "When the Government supports local, it sends a powerful message to every New Zealander that choosing Kiwi-made products and services creates jobs, strengthens communities, and keeps money circulating within our own economy." Buy NZ Made is encouraging the public and policymakers alike to think local, buy local, and back the businesses that make New Zealand unique.
Scoop
13-05-2025
- Scoop
NZ-made ‘Cutting-Edge' VR Experience Tours The UK
Press Release – Antarctic Heritage Trust The VR experience uses a combination of LiDar and photogrammetry data to give the public access to the first expedition base on Antarcticas Ross Island built in 1902 – making it over 122 years old. Captain Robert Falcon Scott's Discovery Hut has opened its doors to the UK public thanks to Kiwi-made cutting-edge technology. The New Zealand Antarctic Heritage Trust (NZAHT), in collaboration the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust (UKAHT) are touring England and Scotland for the first time with two immersive virtual reality (VR) experiences. The virtual reality tour will visit schools, museums and Antarctic organisations where the British public can don the VR headset, hold the controllers and come face to face with penguins, feed huskies, and meet heroic-era explorers. Among those seeing first-hand how VR is transforming Antarctic education was UKAHT Patron HRH The Princess Royal at a special event at Gilbert White's House and Gardens in Hampshire. HRH The Princess Royal officially launched NZAHT's Ross Sea Heritage Restoration Project at Scott's Discovery hut in 2002. 'It was wonderful to update The Princess Royal on the significant work we have undertaken, and continue to do, to conserve the explorer bases of Antarctica's early explorers including Captain Robert Falson Scott and Sir Ernest Shackleton,' says NZAHT Executive Director Francesca Eathorne. 'We're excited to bring Scott's expedition base to people virtually, making it accessible to those who may not have the opportunity to visit these historic sites in person,' 'It gives great insight into the everyday items the explorers had with them and how they used the hut to support the important science and exploration they undertook.' NZAHT launched its new VR experience of Scott's Discovery Hut with Auckland-based virtual reality tech company StaplesVR in August last year. The VR experience uses a combination of LiDar and photogrammetry data to give the public access to the first expedition base on Antarctica's Ross Island built in 1902 – making it over 122 years old. 'To create something as realistic and true to real world form as Scott's Discovery Hut VR, the team at StaplesVR spent over 1000 hours modelling each artefact and piece of timber to be painstakingly accurate. It was incredibly important to ensure we accurately captured the heritage and significance of the building along with the items inside,' says StaplesVR Technical Manager Krystal Paraone. Christchurch man Clarence Hare was on the 1901-1904 expedition with Captain Robert Falcon Scott's. Some of his descendants living in the UK will be taking the opportunity to virtually visit a place that is important to their family history. A significant amount of the funds for the initial conservation of Scott's explorer bases was raised in the UK. NZAHT is delighted to now be able to share their work to save Scott's Discovery Hut – including conserving over 500 artefacts inside – with those who supported them. 'The conservation work our teams undertake is world-leading and sharing it through VR helps us to educate people around the importance of saving this cultural heritage for future generations,' Eathorne says. NZAHT and UKAHT have a long history of successful partnership, helping each other with cold-climate heritage conservation work in one of the world's most extreme environments. The joint tour marks an exciting step forward in their collaboration, combining their expertise in digital technologies and storytelling to make the remote cultural heritage sites that they care for more accessible to all. There will be two virtual reality experiences on offer during the tour. The UK Antarctic Heritage Trust's A Frozen Night is a 30-minute-long VR experience which transports participants to a fully immersive reconstruction of a historic scientific base where they will step into the shoes of over-wintering Antarctic scientists. UKAHT's Chief Executive Camilla Nichol says those taking part will be among the first in the UK to engage with Antarctic heritage sites in this new and unique way. 'A Frozen Night is UKAHT's first virtual reality experience based on a true story from the archives and narrated by those who lived and worked in our southernmost base, Stonington Island. One of the earliest British sites, established in 1948 and a key dog sledging base, Stonington Island enabled teams to travel far inland into the Antarctic Peninsula. 'Now, for the first time, A Frozen Night allows people to virtually travel into Stonington's past to experience the wonders and risks of Antarctic field work.' The virtual reality tour, generously funded by The Charles Hayward Foundation and donors to NZAHT's Inspiring Explorers™ Fund, will also visit the Scott Polar Research Institute and Discovery Point Museum, home to Scott's Discovery ship About New Zealand Antarctic Heritage Trust Antarctic Heritage Trust is a New Zealand-based not-for-profit with a vision of Inspiring Explorers. A world leader in cold-climate heritage conservation, the Trust cares for the expedition bases and more than 20,000 artefacts left behind by Antarctic explorers, including Carsten Borchgrevink, Captain Robert Falcon Scott, Sir Ernest Shackleton and Sir Edmund Hillary. To date the Trust has restored and conserved Scott's huts at Cape Evans and Hut Point, Shackleton's hut at Cape Royds and Hillary's hut at Scott Base. This has led to a number of significant discoveries including 114-year-old whisky under Ernest Shackleton's hut, a notebook from surgeon and photographer George Murray Levick at Scott's Cape Evans hut as well as lost Ross Sea Party photographs. In 2017, conservators discovered a century-old fruitcake and a 118-year-old watercolour amongst artefacts from Antarctica's first buildings at Cape Adare. The Trust shares the legacy of exploration through outreach programmes and encourages the spirit of exploration through expeditions to engage and inspire a new generation. You can read more at About UK Antarctic Heritage Trust The UK Antarctic Heritage Trust (UKAHT) is a UK-based charity dedicated to conserving Britain's fascinating history and legacy in Antarctica. UKAHT was born out of a small group's passion to champion the legacy of all those who went before us in the Antarctic. Since 1993, the organisation has worked to protect this, from conserving the huts left by those first pioneers and managing the historic site of Base A, Port Lockroy, to collaborating with other groups to ensure that science and tourism on the Antarctic Peninsula are sustainable. Following a conservation survey in 1994, British Base A, Port Lockroy, was recognised for its historic importance and designated as a Historic Site and Monument 61 under the Antarctic Treaty. The huts were renovated in 1996 by a team from the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) and have since been open to visitors during the Antarctic summer. UKAHT took over the running of Port Lockroy in 2006. The charity also runs the world's southernmost post office at Base A, Port Lockroy, on behalf of the Government of the British Antarctic Territory, which in turn donates a portion of the Post Office revenue to UKAHT. Anyone wishing to help protect and share the wonder of Antarctica and its heritage can support the charities and New Zealand Antarctic Heritage Trust and the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust by becoming a member or making a donation.
