NZ business leaders urge US to review tariffs
New Zealand’s top business leaders are urging the US Administration to review “unjustified and discriminatory tariffs” imposed on Kiwi exporters.
The New Zealand International Business Forum (NZIBF) has announced Felicity Roxburgh will take over as its new executive director.
She will take up the role on 7 July 2025.
Roxburgh comes to the role with close to 20 years' experience in international trade, foreign policy, and regional engagement, with a strong focus on the Indo-Pacific.
Most recently, she served as New Zealand's Consul-General in New Caledonia and has worked extensively with businesses operating across Asia and the Pacific.
Previously, she was director business at the Asia New Zealand Foundation, where she led efforts to strengthen New Zealand's business and people-to-people links across Asia.
Roxburgh has also held senior roles at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, including postings in Hong Kong, New York, and the Pacific, where she was closely involved in geopolitical and trade negotiations.
NZIBF chair Philip Gregan says the organisation is "delighted" to welcome Roxburgh.
"She brings a combination of international insight, strategic thinking, and ability to bring people together around complex issues," Gregan says.
"This will add real value and fresh energy to our work," he adds.
As executive director, Roxburgh will lead NZIBF's engagement with its members on key trade and economic policy issues and represent the interests of internationally focused businesses in dialogue with government and global partners.
"I'm honoured to be joining the Forum at such a critical time for New Zealand's international trade agenda," says Roxburgh.
"The global trading environment is evolving rapidly, and it's vital that New Zealand businesses have a strong voice," she says.
"I look forward to working with NZIBF members to support open and free trade," she concludes.
A move is underway to make the Wellington bureaucracy speed up the approval process for certain agrichemicals that farmers and growers are desperate to get their hands on.
The new majority owner of meat company Alliance has no plans to close any processing plants. Instead, Dawn Meats plans to extract more value from Alliance's existing footprint.
Westpac NZ has announced new initiatives that aim to give customers more options to do their banking in person.
New Zealand red meat exports experienced a 29% increase year-on-year in September, according to the Meat Industry Association (MIA).
The head of the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) biosecurity operation, Stuart Anderson, has defended the cost and the need for a Plant Healht and Environment Laboratory (PHEL) being built in Auckland.
Acclaimed fruit grower Dean Astill never imagined he would have achieved so much in the years since being named the first Young Horticulturist of the Year, 20 years ago.

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