China Business Summit speaker's warning

Investment strategist David Mahon. Photo / Supplied

New Zealand is on a winning streak with China despite the perception of setbacks, says China investment strategist David Mahon.

But cautions Mahon, who is chief executive of Beijing-based investment advisory firm Mahon China, NZ has to box clever to retain its pole position.

Mahon who is a keynote speaker at the forthcoming China Business Summit forecasts the dairy industry will recover and investment will continue to flow to New Zealand.

He will debate China's prospects and the strategies NZ should adopt with influential columnist Andrew Browne from the Wall St Journal in a special summit session.

The Shanghai-based Browne said earlier this year that the Chinese growth model which has relied on investment and exports has now unravelled with big implications for global growth.

But contends Mahon, China will still deliver 6.8-7 per cent GDP growth this year: "What is interesting is how rapidly that New Zealand has adapted to the concept that China has become the arbiter of NZ's economic success ... It is an interesting time because China is now so crucial to New Zealand's economy."

The 2015 China Business Summit - which has a focus on the major game changers in China - takes place at the Langham Hotel in Auckland on Monday November 9.

Speakers include: Fonterra chief executive Theo Spierings and Air New Zealand CEO Christopher Luxon who will share their views on the major Chinese game changers affecting New Zealand and their companies, Dean Hamilton, CEO of Silver Fern Farms, which recently won approval to proceed with a joint-venture with Shanghai Maling, will talk about the realities of taking part in China's rapidly evolving supply chains and NZ Super Fund chief executive Adrian Orr will join ANZ's China CEO Huang Xiaoguang in a panel debating whether the Chinese economy is heading for a hard landing and NZ business' relative positioning as Australia nails a free trade deal with China and the Trans Pacific partnership changes the balance in the Asia-Pacific.

Other China-based speakers coming down to Auckland include Hongbo Xu, the chief executive of Innohub which recently announced a $20 million fund to invest in Auckland startups, and, Kestrel Lee, executive creative director for George P Johnson (Great China). with more than 100 awards for campaigns for global brands in China and Asia such as Mars, adidas, Martell VSOP and HP.

The event is a joint-venture between NZ INC and the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and will be co-chaired by Fran O'Sullivan and Michael Barnett.

Further details of the Summit including registration and the full programme can be accessed at www.chinabusinesssummit.co.nz or www.aucklandchamber.co.nz