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"The Primary Mission of the United States - New Zealand Council is to foster and strengthen the relationship between these two countries in every area where it is in their respective best interests to do so."

Welcome to the United States - New Zealand Council, an independent non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to promoting a strong bilateral relationship between the United States and New Zealand. It is the premier private organization in the United States engaged in encouraging the expansion of trade, investment and commercial ties between the two countries and in the Asia-Pacific region and is a well - recognized source of information and support for American companies seeking business opportunities there.

Headquartered in Washington, DC, the Council's principal functions are education, research, convening, and building networks. The Council provides information on a range of economic, political, and security issues affecting the two countries and on their increasing collaboration, historical links and shared values, outlooks, and approaches on economic, political, and legal systems.

The Council hosts receptions, luncheons, dinners, and conferences involving visiting NZ officials and American leaders which further understanding, broaden networks and facilitate cultural exchanges. In addition to the highly praised Partnership Forums - held in 2006, 2007 and 2009, events hosted by the council included those honoring Prime Minister Helen Clark, Leader of the Opposition, now Prime Minister, John Key, Trade and Defense Minister Phil Goff, and US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Christopher Hill.

A board of distinguished Americans from corporate, political and cultural life directs the Council's activities. The Council also draws heavily for support and advice from the eminent members of its Advisory Board. Council membership includes many of America's leading corporations with business interests in New Zealand as well as New Zealand companies with links to the United States.

United States New Zealand Partnership Forum 2009

The 2009 Partnership Forum, held October 6-8, was the third in a series that began in Washington in 2006 and continued in Auckland in September 2007. This landmark event has been acclaimed by both NZ and U.S. governments as a catalyst for the positive changes over the past four years that have led to the strongest bilateral relationship in a quarter-century. It is co-hosted by the US-NZ Council and its New Zealand counterpart, the NZ-US Council.

The 2009 Forum was attended by over 120 US and NZ delegates, including top current and past administration officials, Members of Congress, NZ Ministers, MP's, former Prime Ministers, and Chairs and Chief Executives of NZ's major companies. The Co-Chairs for the United States were former Congressman Cal Dooley and former US Trade Representative Ambassador Susan Schwab. Former three-term Prime Minister Jim Bolger was again a NZ Co-Chair alongside former Director General of the WTO Mike Moore.

Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership

The Council works closely with the business communities, government agencies and legislatures in both countries to demonstrate the mutual benefit of and build support for free trade, bilaterally and in the Asia-Pacific.

The Council applauds the recent announcement by President Obama that the US would;

"be engaging with the trans-pacific partnership countries with the goal of shaping a regional agreement that will have broad-based membership and the high standards worthy of a 21^st century trade agreement."

The US entry into the negotiations is strategically important for the United States in terms of trade with the dynamic Asian - Pacific economies that account for 60% of world GDP, almost half of global trade, 41% of the world's population, and markets of 2.7 billion consumers.

The Council will continue to work closely with our Corporate Members, the broader US business community, trade and other business organizations, bilateral and regional groups, and US and NZ government entities to build support for the TPP agreement.