About the Council

The United States - New Zealand Council was established in 1986 to promote a better understanding of New Zealand in the United States, and to foster communication, friendship, and co-operation between the two countries.   The Council was organized by former U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand, Anne Martindell, who served as Council President.  Ambassador Martindell assembled a board of distinguished American diplomats, bankers, businessmen and attorneys.

Ambassador Martindell was succeeded as President by another U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand, Paul Cleveland.  In 2001, he was succeeded by Fred Benson, a former Vice President for Federal and International Affairs at Weyerhaeuser.  All three former Presidents remain involved with the Council, Ambassador Martindell as Chair Emeritus, Ambassador Cleveland as Chairman of the Board, and Fred Benson as Vice Chairman of the Board.

The Council is the premier private organization in the United States engaged in encouraging the expansion of trade, investment and commercial ties between the United States and New Zealand and facilitating cultural exchanges.  A principal current focus is support for a free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries.  On this and other matters, the Council works closely with the U.S. and NZ business communities, the NZ government and its U.S. Embassy, and U.S. Government departments and agencies involved in foreign affairs, commerce, trade and international finance.

Corporate membership of the Council includes many of America’s leading companies with business interests in New Zealand.  The Council also has assembled an ever-growing list of companies and other organizations that support free trade negotiations between the two countries. 

The Council keeps its members and the broader signatory list advised on developments on the FTA campaign and other trade, investment, and political matters of interest.  It provides frequent opportunities for members to interact with high-ranking officials of the NZ Government and others on matters of importance to the two countries.  It sponsors periodic luncheon roundtable discussions with corporate members featuring distinguished speakers from both countries.  Since 2002, the Council has awarded its Torchbearer Award to WTO Director General Mike Moore, former US Trade Representative and Secretary of Agriculture Clayton Yeutter, former New Zealand Prime Minister Jim Bolger, and Congressman Cal Dooley of California.  The Torchbearer Awards honor the contributions of distinguished New Zealanders and Americans in promoting the relationship between the two countries and in providing global leadership on issues of importance to both nations.

The Council works closely with its counterpart in New Zealand, the NZ-US Council.  Support for an FTA is a principal agenda item for both Councils, as is the establishment of a Leadership Dialogue involving business, political, and professional leaders from the two countries.  The Council also works closely with business and trade associations with links to the two countries, including the US Chamber and the American Chamber in New Zealand

The Council is non-partisan and does not advocate any  single point of view on controversial issues. It is committed to keeping both nations' business and political leaders in touch with their counterparts and to promoting greater cultural awareness.

Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the Council maintains close ties with departments, offices and embassies of both governments, as well as key business organizations in both countries, including the American Chamber of Commerce in New Zealand and the Business Roundtable.

Free Trade Agreement

Read Council Correspondence Regarding a US-NZ FTA

Click here for the California Chamber of Commerce statement on the reasons for pursuing a Free Trade Agreement with New Zealand.

The Free Trade Agreement between the United States and Australia was approved by both houses of Congress on the 15th of July 2004.  The US - NZ Council commended this move by the US administration in the following press release:

Read Council Press Release on Australian FTA

Information regarding the US - Australia FTA is accessible via the website of the Office of the United States Trade Representative.  Click here to access this information.

Information

Read Thomas Lambie's paper Miracle Down Under: How New Zealand Farmers Prosper without Subsidies or Protection on the prosperity of New Zealand farmers without subsidies or protection. Mr. Lambie owns and operates an organic dairy farm in  New Zealand. He is also president of the Federated Farmers of New Zealand. This paper is based on remarks he delivered at a Cato Policy Forum on June 8, 2004.

 

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