NZ firms urged to re-create UK economic ties

British High Commissioner Vicki Treadell is on a mission "to re-engage and re-energise" the political and trade relationship between New Zealand and Britain.
She said in Tauranga yesterday that both countries went back in history, shared so much together, and developed a level of trust and similar values.
"Some people bemoaned the fact that Britain joined the European Union and New Zealand now sends only 4 per cent of its exports to the UK. It has diversfied and is no longer dependent on the 40 per cent of exports, primary produce, that went to Britain," said Mrs Treadell.
"The past is the past. We can now find new models of economic development/exporting and form a different type of relationship, whether it is partnerships, joint ventures or alliances.
"New Zealand is an interesting investment because of its free trade agreements in South East Asia and China. We can match British and New Zealand research and development, and business capability and create a win-win for everyone," she said.
Mrs Treadell said New Zealand exporters can link up with British companies that have distributor networks in Europe and in other parts of the country.
"London is the financial centre and we want to see British finance helping New Zealand companies to grow and to engage in the wider world market."
She was in Tauranga, for the first time, to attend the unveiling of the first Enviro200 bus off the production line at Kiwi Bus Builders.
The modern, environmentally-friendly buses for the Auckland and Wellington public transport services were designed and built by Alexander Dennis in Scotland, sent to Tauranga in kitset form and assembled by Kiwi Bus Builders.
Mrs Treadell said the production was a great example of the British-New Zealand partnership. Alexander Dennis is Britain's leading bus and coach manufacturer with staff of 2000, and has 16,000 Enviro200 buses operating around the world.
She said Alexander Dennis can use the Tauranga (assembly) platform and export buses into the wider Australian and Pacific markets.
"The long term potential is very exciting. You haven't been assembling vehicles here for a long time and this partnership is restoring a form of manufacturing, using the latest technology. We still make some magnificent stuff (in Britain). The partnership is creating new and different jobs here that should help the local economy," said Mrs Treadell.
The British High Commission is helping to organise a business networking event in Auckland on September 29, during the Rugby World Cup, and aiming to match British firms with New Zealand companies wanting to expand overseas.
"It's a bit like speed dating," Mrs Treadelol said.
She is also making sure there will be annual bilateral talks between Cabinet Ministers of New Zealand and Britain, with a clear agenda of topics.
Mrs Treadell was born in Malaysia and has a Cantonese mother and father of French-Dutch ancestry. She is the first female British High Commissioner to New Zealand, and Samoa.