2006 Functions and Events

November 2006: Council President John Mullen traveled to New Zealand, where he discussed the 2007 Partnership Forum with NZ-US Council Executive Director Stephen Jacobi and Chairman Jim Bolger.  Mr. Mullen had meetings with a range of various NZ government officials and Members of Parliament, NZ business leaders, and US Ambassador Bill McCormick.  Mr. Mullen visited several potential sites for the Forum including the Auckland Museum Conference Center, which will be completed in December.  In addition, Mr. Mullen attended the American Chamber of Commerce in New Zealand’s 2006 AmCham – UPS Success & Innovation Awards as well as the launching of the Parliamentary Friendship Group, a parliamentary caucus in support of strengthening relations with the United States.

On November 24, 2006, the NZ-US Council announced the dates for the Second US-NZ Partnership Forum, which will be held in Auckland on September 9-11, 2007.  A link to the news release can be found here:  www.nzuscouncil.com/index.php/views/release/2007_partnership/

September 2006: The Council held its Annual General Meeting, which normally takes place each year in May, on September 18 at the CPA Library of the US Chamber of Commerce. Following the board meeting Ambassador Ferguson gave remarks and answered questions. Subsequently the group discussed planning for the 2007 Partnership Forum to be held in New Zealand.

July 2006: NZ Foreign Minister Winston Peters came to Washington and called upon a number of senior figures of the US administration, Senators and Congressional Representatives, including Ellen Tauscher and Jim Kolbe co-chairs of the Friends of New Zealand Congressional Caucus. The Minister met with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Assistant Secretary of State for Asia and the Pacific Chris Hill, Deputy National Security Advisor JD Crouch and Senators John McCain and Richard Lugar, chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Discussions covered a wide range of global and regional issues, including New Zealand ’s contributions in Afghanistan , East Timor, and the Solomon Islands .

In New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark joined US Ambassador to New Zealand Bill McCormick in Wellington at a function celebrating the 4th of July. She delivered a speech that emphasized the importance of New Zealand ’s relationship with the US and highlighted the countries’ common values and shared history.

April 2006: From April 20 - 22 the US-NZ Council, in conjunction with the NZ-US Council, held the inaugural United States – New Zealand Partnership Forum, a two-night, one and a half day conference, in Washington DC . The Forum successfully brought together New Zealand and American leaders and opinion makers for the purpose of discussing today's key strategic issues and forging personal and business relationships in a balanced, non-partisan fashion in order to strengthen the foundations of US-NZ friendship. Several articles and speeches regarding the Forum and relationship can be found here (click on name of article to open): The Washington forum has made a difference, New Zealand, the United States, and the Asia Pacific Region: A Common Agenda, Different Paths to Common Values (US) and Different Paths to Common Values (NZ) and  US-NZ Partnership Forum to reconvene in 2007.

Click here to see a report on the Partnership Forum.

January 2006: Stephen Jacobi, new Executive Director of the NZ-US Council, visited Washington in preparation of the Partnership Forum in April. In addition to a number of calls on Capitol Hill and with key government officials, Mr. Jacobi was also able to attend a US-NZ Council joint Board/Member meeting.  

2005 Functions and Events

December 2005:  President, John Mullen , and Director of Operations, Jeremy Quinn, traveled to New Zealand to meet with government and business leaders as well as the Council’s counterpart, the NZ-US Council, to further discuss the upcoming Partnership Forum.  The two were warmly welcomed and met with high ranking officials, including the Prime Minister Helen Clark, and business leaders to discuss FTA strategies and other issues of mutual interest. Click Here to read the “President’s Report” for more details.

November 2005:  The US-NZ Council hosted a luncheon for former Prime Minister and Ambassador James B. Bolger. Among those in attendance were the Friends of New Zealand Caucus co-chairs, Reps. Jim Kolbe (R-AZ) and Ellen Tauscher (D-CA).  Mr. Bolger, as chairman, was in the United States for a World Agricultural Forum meeting earlier in the month.

October 2005: National Party’s Dr. Don Brash concedes to the Labor Party after final tallies are calculated. On 17 October, Helen Clark announced a new coalition agreement that saw the return of her minority government coalition with the Progressive Party.  The US-NZ Council congratulates PM Helen Clark and the Labour Party on their success.

September 2005: New Zealand ’s general election took place on Sept. 17th.  No single party or recognized bloc won a majority in the unicameral House of Representatives, but the Labour Party of Prime Minister Helen Clark faired slightly better than the closest rival, the National Party, thus retaining its primacy.

July 2005:  The US-NZ Council hosted a breakfast meeting for corporate members and New Zealand Embassy staff to discuss post-election New Zealand , US-NZ FTA strategies, and the next steps of the Friends of New Zealand Congressional Caucus. 

June 2005: The US-NZ Council met with Mike Hearn and Alister Brown of the American Chamber of Commerce in New Zealand to discuss trade linkages and issues surrounding the initiation of a US-NZ Free Trade Agreement. Their visit coincided with a successful ‘Washington Doorknock’ in which members from 12 countries belonging to the Asia-Pacific Council of American Chambers of Commerce convened for meetings in Washington

May 2005: The US-NZ Council held a luncheon featuring New Zealand Foreign Minister Phil Goff at Van Scoyoc and Associates.  The luncheon corresponded with Minister Goff’s trip to the United States to meet with Members of Congress, State Department and other government officials in Washington, and United Nations officials in New York.  A lively roundtable discussion took place at the luncheon, with an exchange of ideas between Minister Goff and corporate members.  Also in May, former Congressman and Torchbearer Award winner Calvin Dooley and Ambassador John Wood spoke at the 2005 Annual Board Meeting of the US-NZ Council.  The featured speakers focused on current issues in the area of free trade agreements and responded to questions from the board members. 

April 2005: US-NZ Council President, John Mullen, traveled to New Zealand where he had meetings with business and government officials and the leaders of the NZ-US Council.  In his absence, former Council president Fred Benson stepped in to welcome a visiting Parliamentary Speaker’s Delegation led by Hon. Margaret Wilson, Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives.  The delegation included Hon. David Carter of the National Party, Gerrard Eckhoff of the ACT Party, Nanaia Mahuta of the Labour Party, and Ron Mark of the New Zealand First Party.  Corporate members of the Council, Embassy officials, and the featured delegation engaged in an open dialogue over breakfast. 

March 2005: The US-NZ Council announces the selection of Jeremy Quinn as Director of Operations to replace Gareth Smith.  Jeremy is an American.  He has an MBA from the Monterey Institute of International Studies in California, lived in Asia for three years, and speaks Japanese.   While he has no direct NZ experience, his business/international background and interest in the Asia region are a perfect fit for the Council.  Jeremy’s email is jquinn@usnzcouncil.org. 

 

February 2005: On February 16, Reps. Jim Kolbe (R-AZ) and Ellen Tauscher (D-CA) announced the creation of the Friends of New Zealand Congressional Caucus at a press conference in the Capitol. Ambassador John Wood, Dan Christman of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and Council President John Mullen also spoke.  The U.S.-N.Z. Council hosted a reception on that evening to celebrate the launch of the Caucus. The event was held at the Rayburn Congressional building dining room. Among the 150 guests were Representatives Kolbe and Tauscher and over a dozen other House Members, Hill staff, Council Corporate members and other US business officials. Also attending the event were a visiting delegation of NZ companies, NZ Ambassador John Wood and staff from the Embassy. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers, (NAM), and ECAT were associate sponsors of the event.

 

January 2005: January was the last month of Gareth Smith as Council Executive Director. He returned to New Zealand on February 8, to be married and to resume his Foreign Service career.  The Council is deeply indebted to Gareth for his outstanding and loyal service.

 

2004 Functions and Events

November-December 2004: US-NZ Council President, John Mullen, visited New Zealand. Click here to read a brief summary of his trip.

 

May 2004:  The US-NZ Council presents its second Torchbearer Awards at a luncheon honoring Rt. Hon. James Bolger and Hon. Calvin Dooley.  Click here for further information.

 

April 2004:  NZ Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Phil Goff, speaks to US-NZ Council corporate members at a round table luncheon hosted by Hogan and Hartson LLP.  Minister Goff's visit followed a round of meetings in Europe.  He discussed global tensions, terrorism and war, free trade and the global economy and security concerns.

 

March 2004:  NZ Ambassador to the US, John Wood, invites Council corporate members to a pre-premiere US screening of the NZ film Perfect Strangers, at Mazza Gallerie in Washington.

 

February 2004:  NZ Minister for Trade Negotiations, Hon. Jim Sutton visits Washington DC, meeting with US corporate members to discuss "Global and bilateral trade issues from a New Zealand perspective" in a round table session hosted by Blank Rome LLP.

 

2003 Functions and Events

December 2003:  Former President of the US-NZ Council, Fred Benson visits New Zealand, meeting with Prime Minister Helen Clark and our counterpart council in New Zealand, the NZ-US Council, among other engagements.

September 2003:  NZ Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Phil Goff visits Washington DC speaking at a luncheon and briefing held by the US-NZ Council and the NZ Embassy and hosted by Hogan and Hartson LLP.

July 2003:  NZ Minister for Trade Negotiations, Hon. Jim Sutton meets with US-NZ Council Representatives following meetings with Congressional Representatives Jennifer Dunn, Calvin Dooley, John Tanner, Charlie Stenholm and United States Trade Representative Ambassador Robert Zoellick.

June 2003:  The Council is a contributor to a fundraising dinner honoring Sir Edmund Hilary held by National Geographic.  The dinner is attended by a number of Council members.

June 2003:  The NZ Ambassador to the United States, John Wood, invites US-NZ Council corporate members to a special Washington DC preview of the New Zealand film Whale Rider, winner at multiple international award ceremonies including the Sundance Film Festival and the People's Choice Awards.

March 2003:  The US-NZ Council holds a breakfast with Ambassador John Wood, Congressman Jim Kolbe, Congressman Cal Dooley, Congressman Peter Defazio and President of the US-NZ Council Fred Benson on Capitol Hill for an update on the US-NZ Free Trade Agreement.

January 2003:  The US-NZ Council hosts a trip to New Zealand that includes key Congressional Representatives and a number of corporate members.

See photographs of this trip

2002 Functions and Events

November 2002:  The US-NZ Council holds an Ambassador's Roundtable with the Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly at the New Zealand Embassy attended by corporate members.

October 2002:  US-NZ Council President, Fred Benson visits New Zealand, meeting with the Prime Minister Helen Clark, WTO Director-General Mike Moore and representatives from the NZ-US Council.

September 2002:  The US-NZ Council holds its inaugural Torchbearer Awards dinner honoring Ambassador Clayton Yeutter and WTO Director-General Mike Moore for their respective and joint contributions to free trade, trade liberalization and market-opening measures worldwide.

Click here for information on the inaugural Torchbearer Award Ceremony

Click here for information on the most recent Torchbearer Award Ceremony

September 2002:  New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs Phil Goff meets with Ambassador John Wood, US-NZ Council President Fred Benson and others at the Ambassador's residence in Washington DC.

July 2002:  Council members participate in golf classic at Westfields Golf Club organized by key House sponsor and Advisory Board member Congresswoman Jennifer Dunn.

July 2002:  The US-NZ Council and Ambassador John Wood invite US corporate members to join them for a round table discussion with Ambassador John Huntsman on the topic of the US-NZ trade relationship.

June 2002:  The US-NZ Council and The New Zealand Embassy with the support of the New Zealand Film Commission present Short Films From New Zealand, eight extraordinary and award-winning films.

March 2002:  New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark visits Washington DC, meeting with President George W. Bush, Secretary of State Colin Powell, National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice and United States Trade Representative Ambassador Robert Zoellick, also attending a reception held by the US-NZ Council at the Hay-Adams Hotel.  

2001 Functions and Events

December 2001:  The US-NZ Council hold "A Kiwi Christmas Do" at the New Zealand Embassy in Washington DC.

October 2001:  A farewell dinner at Mount Vernon is held by the US-NZ Council for former New Zealand Prime Minister Rt. Hon. James Bolger, and his wife Mrs. Joan Bolger.

 

 

 

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