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Home / General • News / New Zealand Trade and Enterprise in Canada
Posted inGeneral News

New Zealand Trade and Enterprise in Canada

Posted By admin Posted on January 24, 2021

Rip Takhar, is a Business Development Manager with New Zealand Trade and Enterprise Canada and based here in Toronto. 

New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) is a government agency charged with helping NZ businesses to grow internationally. They use their extensive knowledge and global networks to help exporters of all sizes make better decisions and connect to the right partners and investors. They also connect international businesses and investors with high-value growth opportunities in NZ.

Rip has provided a some information on the work NZTE does.

Download NZTECanadaDownload

Kia Ora and Seasons Greetings after what has been a tough year for us all in Canada and right across the world. No doubt we are all wondering when we will be able to see our extended families and travel again. I trust that you were all able to take a small break over Christmas and the New Year period.
My name is Rip Takhar and it is my pleasure to introduce myself to the Kia Ora Canada members and readership. It’s also a great opportunity to share information about New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE), and its role in supporting NZ Companies in Canada.

I have been in Canada for three years and spent most of that time employed by L3Harris in Burlington, Ontario. Prior to my time in Canada, I spent 18 years in the Royal New Zealand Navy as an Engineering Officer. I worked in Auckland and Wellington and was fortunate to have several overseas deployments. It has been an exciting journey in which I have made great friends around the world.

Like most, I always enjoy meeting other Kiwis and sharing stories of common backgrounds and the odd mutual friend. The work that Kia Ora Canada does is an important part of this dynamic. They bring us together and allow us to create new friendships and a sense of belonging no matter how far we may be from home. For me, it is this deep connection with NZ that led me to the great team at Kia Ora Canada, but also a reason why I joined NZTE in Nov 2020.

The NZTE Canada Office is in Vancouver and I am the first Toronto based employee, so it’s great to be able to connect with Kia Ora Canada and Kiwi’s living in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) – virtually for now, and hopefully, in-person soon. Many of you may not be familiar with NZTE and the work it does, so below is a short summary. If you are interested in learning more, I have added a link at the end of this article.

New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) is a government agency charged with helping NZ businesses to grow internationally. We use our extensive knowledge and global networks to help exporters of all sizes make better decisions and connect to the right partners and investors. We also connect international businesses and investors with high-value growth opportunities in NZ.

By supporting NZ businesses, we boost NZ’s economy and reputation, and help to share what’s special about NZwith the rest of the world. We work with companies in a wide range of sectors including Dairy, Food and Beverage, Advanced Manufacturing, and Technology. So, when you see NZ products and services in Canada, chances are that NZTE played some part in making that happen. One of the key aspects of NZTE at the moment is to track how our NZ Companies are faring in light of COVID-19.
We have been asking NZ exporters to rate themselves using the traffic light system. Red for significant disruption, orange for minor disruption, and green for businesses that are doing well.

AprilNovember
Green31%51%
Orange59%43%
Red10%6%

It is great to see so many exporters moving from red and orange to green over the last six months. However, this has taken a large amount of work including many hours of video calls, webinars, product innovation and pivots to markets and channels. Depending on what sector businesses have been targeting, fortunes have been vastly different. Some common trends did emerge, for example a significant opportunity to shift towards more digital commerce, and more effective use of technology for business functions such as marketing, sales channels, and events.

The NZTE Canada team also provide consular services for NZ Citizens in BC. For those not in BC, you can get in touch with the NZ High Commission in Ottawa if you need Consular services support. If you’re a NZ citizen, staff at NZ embassies can help you in several ways if you get into difficulties overseas:

  • provide advice re lost or stolen passports if you need to travel urgently.
  • help you contact family or friends to request emergency funds.
  • provide a list of English-speaking lawyers, and contact family and friends on your behalf, if you are detained or arrested.
  • provide advice on local medical facilities, help contact your family and or insurance provider if you are ill or injured.
  • help with arrangements following a death overseas.
  • in certain circumstances, provide notarial services such as witnessing affidavits, statutory declarations, and other documents for use under New Zealand law.
  • account for New Zealanders who may have been affected by a major overseas crises, such as civil unrest and natural disasters.

Last year was entirely disrupted, hugely challenging and not at all what we expected just twelve short months ago. We have experienced working life and personal life in ways that we never thought possible and have seen things here in Canada and internationally that we could never have imagined. These services can be invaluable, especially in the current environment.

I look forward to the year ahead and meeting more Kiwis in the GTA. Wishing you all a safe, happy, and enjoyable 2021!

Ngā mihi, kia kaha!

Rip Takhar
Business Development Manager – Tech Sector
NZTE Canada.

For more information on NZTE or The NZ High Commission in Canada, please visit the following sites.

https://www.nzte.govt.nz/

https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/countries-and-regions/north-america/canada/new-zealand-high-commission/

Previous Article Lets try that again…
Next Article Traveling between New-Zealand and Canada

Related Posts

Posted inGeneral News

Traveling between New-Zealand and Canada

We have compiled some information on travelling between Canada and New Zealand based on first hand experiences. You may find this helpful if you are planning on travelling between the two countries.

You can download the below information as a .pdf for referenceDownload

Traveling between New Zealand and Canada
(info drafted as of early Jan 2021)

When contemplating any travel between New Zealand and Canada you will want to be certain that you are right up to date with all the requirements and rule changes that will be applicable on your travel date. The following is designed to provide you with some insight, guidance and advice on staying informed.

Rules are changing and flights are being canceled frequently around the world – do not be complacent and think Canada/US to NZ will not be hit.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: The responsibility is yours and yours alone to ensure you do not have stale or inaccurate information. After all, it will be you that will be off to the airport to travel, not someone else, and you who won’t want to be one of many unprepared, or surprised and sorely disappointed travelers, that get turned back before their journey even gets underway.

Don’t just take someone’s word for it, or ours, be vigilant and check, re-check and check again… and then check it all over again!!!

Links and acronym definitions will be provided to assist you in interpreting this write up of a journey to the South or North.

Read More
Read More about Traveling between New-Zealand and Canada
Posted By admin Posted on January 24, 2021
Posted inNews

Lets try that again…

Happy New Year 2021!
Well, 2020 was a bit of a dud, the COVID-19 pandemic has put our lives on hold for the good part of a year so far. As we move into 2021, we look towards a brighter future and hopefully the return of some our regular events as the year progresses.

Our Facebook group Kia Ora Canada – Toronto continues to have a lively participation and discussion on all things New Zealand.

Join our mailing list to get details of events sent directly to your email inbox. We generally send a newsletter out once a month.

We have compiled some information on travelling between Canada and New Zealand based on first hand experiences. You may find this helpful if you are planning on travelling between the two countries.

Read that article here http://www.kiaoracanada.com/traveling-between-new-zealand-and-canada/

Rip Takhar, is a Business Development Manager with New Zealand Trade and Enterprise Canada and based here in Toronto. Read about the NTE here
http://www.kiaoracanada.com/new-zealand-trade-and-enterprise-in-canada/

Read More about Lets try that again…
Posted By admin Posted on January 20, 2021
Posted inNews

Kia Ora

Happy New Year 2020! And with this New Year comes a new and updated website. We’ve tried to keep it simple and easy for you to navigate and find information.

Information on all our events, activities and other things of a New Zealand in nature will be posted here and in our Facebook group Kia Ora Canada – Toronto.

Join our mailing list to get details of events sent directly to your email inbox. We generally send a newsletter out once a month.

Join our Facebook group which is where you will find the most up to date and active side of our network of kiwis and events happening.

Read More about Kia Ora
Posted By admin Posted on January 9, 2020

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