Consulate-General of New Zealand

Consulate General of New Zealand 🇳🇿
Location: Room 6501, 18 Harbour Rd, Wan Chai

Kia Ora y’all (A greeting in Maori), welcome to our first interview with a Consul General! Given this was the case, we felt the need to dress up for the formal occasion, clad of course in Hawaiian shirts and blazers. The New Zealand consulate was adorned with a traditional Maori carving and a comfortable seating area opposite the gorgeous view of the Hong Kong skyline. Sitting down, we admired the remarkably modern interior that still felt homely. After waiting for a couple moments, we were introduced to Mr. Riley, the Consul General of New Zealand in Hong Kong. At the same time, we were given two ice-cold glasses of water, dripping with condensation, the best tasting water so far. We were surprised to find that Mr. Riley spoke fluent Korean (of which he spoke with David), and was even cast in the Korean reality show “Where is my friend's home?”. Another thing to note was Mr. Riley’s emphasis on his Maori heritage, (the Maori are the indigenous people of New Zealand).

Following the introduction, we were given an in-depth look into New Zealand - Hong Kong relations. We learned that while the New Zealand Consulate still performs the regular duties of most other consulates (visas, advocating for the country), there was a large emphasis placed on the economic relationship between Hong Kong and New Zealand. Hong Kong and New Zealand share a lot in common, with a similar legal structure, strong rule of law, and a principle of free trade inherent in the cultures of both regions. With these commonalities, both governments were able to negotiate a free trade agreement in 2010. This has also led to Hong Kong being New Zealand’s second-largest source of investment, New Zealand's eighth-largest export destination, and a hub for tourists.

Given that Mr. Riley was also a trade negotiator, we learned more about the process of a trade negotiation and some strategies. We'd like to thank the New Zealand consulate for their hospitality and dedicating an hour of their time to this project, and we encourage y’all to visit New Zealand in the future!