Expo offers Asia trade 'speed-dating'

Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated chairman Ngahiwi Tomoana is organising a trade expo for "a leap into China".

An international trade expo in February will be a full three days of "speed dating" for Asia trade contacts.

The Taniwha Dragon Economic Trade Expo is being hosted by Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated (NKII) from February 19 next year.

"I want to give confidence to Maori and Hawke's Bay businesses to leap into Asia," NKII chairman Ngahiwi Tomoana said.

As well as providing the opportunity for new contacts it would highlight successful existing trade relationships.

"Nobody has said no they can't come, so we have to whittle it out to see what we can do in two days."

He said it would be akin to "speed dating" between Maori/Hawke's Bay and Asia business representatives.

Major exporters including Brownrigg Agriculture, Bostock New Zealand, T&G and First Light foods were already "on board".

Asia business people, including Alibaba Group founder and executive chairman Jack Ma, had been invited, as has New Zealand Prime Minister John Key. Mr Key and Mr Ma met in April at a conference in China.

Expo attendees will have no shortage of entertainment with a waka and kapa haka festivals happening at the same time in Napier.

Te Matatini is the largest kapa haka festival and is held bi-annually in varying parts of New Zealand, attracting audiences of more than 50,000.

The national Iwi Asset Holding Company summit of chairs will be held on the day before the expo.

The venue for the conference is a new one, Clubs Hastings.

An artificial floor will be installed on top of Bowls Heretaunga's indoor bowling greens and the brand new hospitality facilities next door would also be utilised.

The use of the bowling green and adjoining facilities was Mr Tomoana's idea and expected to be an ongoing facility option.

Clubs Hastings, an amalgamation of Hastings RSA, Heretaunga and Hibernian Clubs, is on the site of the former Heretaunga Club and has more than 4000 members.

It will be a busy month for Hawke's Bay accommodation providers. Tremains Art Deco Weekend runs from February 15 to February 19 and Te Matatini from February 22 to February 26.

Mr Tomoana said he had booked the 42-room Porters Boutique Hotel in Havelock North, currently under-construction, for some of the trade expo accommodation.

Much of February looks fully booked for accommodation in the region, with online booking sites showing no rooms available.

An accommodation provider told Hawke's Bay Today there were plenty of rooms available. Declining to be named, the accommodation provider said with bookings for the period assured due to demand, many providers withdrew online listings to avoid hefty commissions.

Rooms could be booked directly with providers, but not all. Some would be held back for late-notice bookings which would be available at a premium rate.