New Zealand China Council

What New Zealand China Council does

The New Zealand China Council is a non-profit, New Zealand government-funded cross-sector peak body for the New Zealand–China relationship, headquartered in Auckland and founded in 2012/2013 with a staff of 1–10. It is governed by a Chair (John McKinnon) and an Executive Director (Alistair Crozier), with a Council that includes senior figures such as the incoming Air New Zealand CEO and NextGen young professional representatives.

Its core "products" are a portfolio of programs rather than software: the annual China Business Summit (entering its 12th edition in 2026, co-hosted with the Auckland Business Chamber), commissioned research reports on education, trade, investment and science collaboration, a multi-topic podcast series, a journalist media visit program to China run jointly with the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs, the NextGen dialogue network for emerging leaders, a paid internship program, support for the Schwarzman Scholars Programme at Tsinghua University, the Building the Southern Link logistics initiative, and an Insight video series on Chinese culture. Underlying operations are relational rather than technological: the organization convenes stakeholders, runs delegations, and publishes content across its website, podcast platforms, LinkedIn, X, Instagram, YouTube and WeChat.

The business model combines NZ government funding with a corporate membership base (including Air New Zealand, Meat Industry Association and other China-exposed firms) and individual memberships. Services are offered largely free of charge to advance the mission of maintaining a resilient and balanced NZ–China relationship; revenue is not disclosed and no commercial pricing is published. Customer segments span government officials, NZ businesses, the education sector, media, and NextGen professionals aged roughly 18–35.

Name

New Zealand China Council

Legal name

New Zealand China Council

Website

https://nzchinacouncil.org.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The New Zealand China Council is a non-profit, New Zealand government-funded cross-sector peak body that convenes research, events, delegations and dialogue to strengthen the New Zealand–China relationship for government, business, education and emerging-leader stakeholders.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Relations Advisory Services

NAICS

Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Business Associations (813910), International Affairs (92812)

SIC

International Affairs (9721), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Technical Committees, Working Groups & Expert Panels (BPADANAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Development Cooperation & Foreign Aid Administration (BPAIAIAG), Finance, Economics & Public Administration Congresses (THAHAJAL), Regional/Field Leadership Meetings (Territory/Market Summits) (THAHAMAK)

Keywords

• Bilateral council relations
• Trade policy research
• Diplomatic dialogue facilitation
• People-to-people programs
• International relations advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Auckland

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Council Membership: The Council operates as a membership-based organization with corporate members including Air New Zealand, Meat Industry Association, and other businesses engaged with China. Members contribute to and benefit from the Council's activities, events, and bilateral facilitation services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The New Zealand China Council is the leading non-partisan, non-government organisation in New Zealand dedicated to advancing and deepening the country's relationship with China. It convenes cross-sector engagement through policy research and submissions, the annual China Business Awards, the Track II Dialogue with the China Federation of Industrial Economics, Election Observer Missions to China, the NextGen leadership programme, and university and community forums. Membership comprises government, business, academia, media, and community stakeholders.

Product overview

The New Zealand China Council is a bilateral trade and cultural organization that serves as a cross-sector peak body for the NZ-China relationship. Rather than a unified software product, the Council offers a portfolio of programs and services including: research reports and publications providing analysis on bilateral topics; a podcast series covering trade, education, AI, and cultural topics; the annual China Business Summit as a premier NZ-China engagement platform; an internship program for university students; support for the Schwarzman Scholars Programme at Tsinghua University; a NextGen Dialogue network for young professionals; a journalist media visit program to China; the Building The Southern Link initiative for trade logistics; and an Insight video series on Chinese culture and relations. These services are offered free of charge as part of the Council's mission to promote a resilient and balanced NZ-China relationship through research, dialogue, events, and public engagement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• China Business Awards Annual awards programme recognising New Zealand businesses and individuals demonstrating excellence in the NZ-China relationship. For member companies, sponsors, and the wider NZ business community engaged with China.
• Track II Dialogue Formal policy dialogue held with the China Federation of Industrial Economics bringing together New Zealand business, academic, and policy leaders with Chinese counterparts.
• Election Observer Mission to China Triennial delegation of New Zealand political and civic leaders observing elections in China, organised in cooperation with the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs.
• NextGen Programme Leadership development programme for emerging New Zealand professionals across government, business, academia, media, and community to build the next generation of China-capable leaders.
• NZ-China University Forum First-of-its-kind bilateral forum bringing together New Zealand and Chinese universities to strengthen education-sector ties.
• Policy Research and Submissions Original policy research, reports, and formal submissions to the New Zealand Government on NZ-China bilateral issues, available to members and the public.
• Annual Membership Paid annual membership programme for organisations and individuals supporting the Council's work, with tiered benefits including access to events, research, and the bilateral network.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly NZ$20 billion in annual bilateral trade facilitated through Council activities
• +2 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• Tsinghua UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 October 2025Key Chinese academic institution visited during Track 2 visits. Home of the Schwarzman Scholars Programme and center for China policy and economic research.
• Meat Industry AssociationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 29 October 2025Council member organization that organizes red meat promotion events at CIIE and represents NZ's meat export interests in China.
• Asia New Zealand FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint partnership for events and initiatives including AI sector visits to China, joint event sponsorship, and collaborative programming for NZ-China engagement.
• AI Forum New ZealandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint delegation to China focusing on AI and robotics sector insights, with AI Forum leading the technical aspect while Council provides bilateral facilitation.
• Tech New ZealandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in AI sector visit to China, contributing technical expertise and participating in the delegation alongside the Council.
• New Zealand China Trade Association (NZCTA)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerLongstanding partnership for the China Business Summit and China Business Awards. NZCC is a supporting sponsor of the annual awards and collaborates on events.
• Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs (CPIFA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Council's key Chinese counterpart for Track 2 dialogue. CPIFA is an affiliate of the Chinese Foreign Ministry and facilitates high-level political and policy exchanges between China and other countries.
• China Development Institute (CDI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThink tank partner for economic and policy dialogue, participating in the annual Track 2 visit program alongside the Council.
• Auckland Business ChambermajorGTM or Marketing PartnerJoint co-host for China Business Summit and other events including the 'Trends in China and the evolving role of brands' fireside chat.
• New Zealand Business Roundtable in China (NZBRiC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegular collaboration on business surveys and insights. NZBRiC conducts annual surveys of Kiwi business mood in China, with results shared through Council podcasts and events.
• Australia-China Young Professionals Group (ACYG)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDialogue partner for NextGen Network joint programming, bringing together young professionals from NZ and Australia for China-focused career development.
• Institute of Directors NZminorGTM or Marketing PartnerJoint event programming for 'China from on the Ground' events in Wellington and Christchurch, bringing business insights to director-level audience.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Asia Society Policy Institute: Global Asia-focused policy convening body; relevant broader-incumbent comparator on Track 1.5/Track 2 dialogue infrastructure between Western and Asian governments and businesses.
• US-China Business Council (USCBC): Larger incumbent bilateral business council for US-China relations; serves as a scale benchmark and indicator of how mature bilateral business bodies operate research, advocacy, and convening functions.
• China-Britain Business Council (CBBC): The prototypical national bilateral business council for another major Western economy with China; useful benchmark on programme design, membership tiers, and policy convening at larger scale.

Emerging players

• Lowy Institute: Australia-based Asia-policy think tank producing independent research on China and the Indo-Pacific; analogous to NZCC's research publications line of work and the broader Australia-China dialogue partnership via ACYG.
• Australia-China Business Council (ACBC): Direct regional analogue across the Tasman: bilateral trade and policy convener for Australia-China business ties; offers a relevant scale and model benchmark for NZCC's mandate.

Direct peers

• New Zealand Business Roundtable in China (NZBRiC): Direct peer: NZBRiC surveys Kiwi businesses operating in China and shares results through NZCC podcasts and events; complementary institutional positioning serving the NZ-China business constituency.
• New Zealand China Trade Association (NZCTA): Direct peer running parallel NZ-China trade body work: hosts the China Business Awards, with NZCC a longstanding supporting sponsor and event partner; both serve NZ businesses engaged with the China market.
• Asia New Zealand Foundation: NZ's premier Asia-focused people-to-people foundation. Most direct peer: cross-sector convening body on NZ-Asia relations (with significant China overlap), funded by NZ government, runs delegations, research and leadership programmes.
• New Zealand China Friendship Society: Civil society counterpart focused on people-to-people NZ-China ties; the NZCC Chair delivered a keynote at its 2026 annual conference, indicating close bilateral network overlap.

Others

• Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) Asia-Pacific operations: Foreign-affiliated political foundation running bilateral policy dialogue, leadership programmes and research in the Asia-Pacific; analogue as a government-funded but nominally independent international engagement body.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/nzchinacouncil
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCcverGwMKH9lsC03pGjb-yA/featured
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/new-zealand-china-council
• Instagraminstagram.com/nzchinacouncil

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about New Zealand China Council