HSBC NZ China Trade Association China Business Awards

Supreme Winner of HSBC New Zealand China Trade Association China Business Awards

Last night’s HSBC NZCTA Supreme Award Winner – Milk New Zealand Holding Limited – is a great example of the success of foreign investment in New Zealand, says DLA Piper New Zealand partner (and Chair of the NZCTA) Martin Thomson.

Milk New Zealand Holding Limited also won the category award the DLA Piper Award for Inward or Outward Investment with China.

Milk New Zealand Holding Limited is the New Zealand based company owned by Shanghai Pengxin. The company purchased the Crafar farms, and has since renovated and rehabilitated the farms, under a management contract with New Zealand’s Landcorp. It purchased Synlait Farms’ interests in 13 New Zealand farms. The company is committed to a partnership with Maori owned Miraka, which manufactures UHT milk for export. It also has other New Zealand investments.

“New Zealand needs foreign investment like this,” says Mr Thomson. “According to government figures, the amount of foreign direct investment in New Zealand per capita is much lower than the average for ‘small nations’ in the OECD. Put simply – foreign direct investment brings jobs, skills, more trade, international linkages and cultural exchange. You can see that in the quality of the improvements Milk New Zealand has made to farmland and their overall record here.

“Foreign direct investment is important in New Zealand because we lack the capital in the country to bring about large change and major steps forward in our industry, including in dairy. Milk New Zealand Holding Limited has helped pave the way.

“Their category win and overall supreme win in these important awards are important to New Zealand, and also significant to Chinese who see recognition like this as noteworthy. It could help attract further interest from investors.”

Mr Thomson said that the quality of finalists in this year’s awards was extremely impressive.

“New Zealand is developing a great connection with China. There’s mutual respect there, and that’s reflected in the extraordinary things companies are doing – both NZ companies and Chinese owned companies,” he says.

Other category winners include:

Mainfreight Award for Excellence in Export or Import: Synlait Milk Limited

Auckland International Airport Award for Excellence in Tourism: Ngaitahu Tourism Ltd

Award for Supply Chain Innovation: Comvita New Zealand Limited

Cathay Pacific Award for Outstanding Contribution: Natural History New Zealand Limited

HKNZBA Award for Hong Kong Business: NZ Focus Limited

Special Individual Recognition: Liu Feng (CCNZ); Donald Sew-Hoy (Glacier Investments Ltd)

The New Zealand China Trade Association Awards are the leading national accolade for New Zealand companies doing business with China, and Chinese companies doing business in New Zealand. They were held at Auckland’s Viaduct Events Centre on 7 May 2015.

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