Govt hopes for tailwind from transport forum

Simon Bridges (right) with German State Secretary Dorothee Bar and Federal Minister Alexander Dobrindt.

Businesses as well as the Government are hoping for a spinoff from a high profile at the World Transport Forum in Germany.

Air New Zealand was showing off its Sky Couch seats, Gallagher fencing had its security systems on display and roading firm HMI Technologies had a prominent spot at Leipzig's impressive convention centre among chief executives from Auckland Airport and the Port of Lyttelton.

It was New Zealand's turn to hold the presidency of what is now a 57-nation organisation and Transport Minister Simon Bridges said it gave this country the chance to punch above its weight on the world stage meeting political leaders from Germany and other countries.

Delegates were treated to New Zealand lamb and wine in the centre's main reception building where a Maori group from London performed and a tourism video played.

Bridges would not put a figure on what the presidency has cost New Zealand but said it was "modest".

"I'm very clear in terms of the taxpayer's money spent and what we can achieve with our responsibilities as a small player in a big world and the outcomes we can achieve, then it's exceptionally good value for New Zealanders."

The summit is dominated by European transport players and was attended by more than 1000 delegates from 65 countries.

Bridges had around 35 meetings and was in the spotlight at the main set-piece events.

"This is nowhere near at the level of being on the United Nations Security Council but people like us, and as a small remote country we're not threatening to anyone."

New Zealand holding the presidency had opened doors.

"I've got meetings I wouldn't have otherwise got. We will get some outcomes for New Zealand from this for the businesses that have come along and for the Government."

Bridges signed an air services agreement with Greece and said there were now more of those in the wind and other countries were interested in New Zealand's position on drones.

This country was regarded as a testbed for a number of technologies and systems and because airspace was seldom given to military uses it was ideal for trialling drones, he said.

This year summit leaders vowed to push to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as a new round of global climate talks are about to start.

While there was plenty of political and government official rhetoric, there was an edge in panel sessions featuring Russian and Ukrainian representatives on the same stage, and with the traditional taxi industry being pitted against challengers such as Uber.