KEY POINTS:
New Zealand has to get it right at Shanghai.
That's the message from the man who will lead the kiwi contingent at the 2010 World Trade Expo in China, Phillip Gibson.
"It is imperative New Zealand does it not just well - but better than well", exhorts the career diplomat.
Gibson, currently Ambassador to Indonesia, was recently appointed New Zealand's Commissioner-General for the expo.
He told a New Zealand business group in Shanghai earlier this week that, along with the Beijing Olympics, the expo would be "China's coming out party."
"The re-emergence of China and what it means to the world, the Asian region and New Zealand is one of the most important issues for the next several decades.
"China is increasingly critical to New Zealand's well being." Gibson said.
He described the expo site as "mind boggling."
"As usual, we are going to have to punch above our weight. We did that a couple of years back at the expo in Aichi Japan, but this time the bar will be that much higher."
Phillip Gibson said 70 million visitors were expected over the six months that the expo will be open (compared with the 22 million who visited the Japan expo). Some 40,000 (about as many as in a packed Eden Park) are expected to visit the New Zealand pavilion every day of the expo's duration.
While design details for the New Zealand pavilion were still to be formalised, Gibson said the pavilion would be distinctive and "resonate" with the theme of the expo - "better cities, better living".
He said New Zealand would be presented in such as way that "shows we are smart and innovative."
The pavilion would need the right mix of "quality, creative design, presentation and technological innovation, as well as practicality."
While budget details had yet to be finalised, Gibson said an investment three to four times the $8.5 million spent on participation at the Aichi expo could be anticipated.
