What we do

New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) is the government’s national economic development agency.

We work to stimulate economic growth by helping to boost export earnings, strengthen regional economies, and deliver economic development assistance to industries and individual businesses.

As a global organisation, we use our knowledge and contacts in overseas markets to connect New Zealand businesses with trade and investment opportunities.

We work with sectors

NZTE's focus is on industries and sectors where New Zealand has a long-term competitive advantage on world markets, and on businesses with high-growth potential. Our strategic goals are:

• increasing the international connections of New Zealand business
• helping businesses build their capability
• improving the environment for enterprise and growth.

We work with businesses

Our services and programmes can be used by companies from start-ups to established groups of exporters. They include advice, training, mentoring, funding, and business and market development assistance.

Some services are provided directly by NZTE and others are provided through external organisations funded by NZTE.

We work globally

Through our network of international offices, we help businesses build alliances and develop strategic commercial relationships overseas. These alliances can provide investment capital, and access to international distribution networks, new markets, skills and technology.

Staff based overseas provide hands-on assistance to New Zealand exporters. Our unique blend of government and business skills enables us to open doors to influential contacts in the public and private sectors. We promote New Zealand and its capabilities to potential customers and investors under the international brand New Zealand New Thinking that positions New Zealand business as creative, innovative and technologically advanced.

We also provide local buyers, importers and distributors with information on what New Zealand business has to offer, to help source quality New Zealand products and services or identify investment opportunities.

We work with regions

Healthy regions are vital for a healthy economy. NZTE also has a regional network within New Zealand and works closely with local government, economic development agencies and other regional allies to grow their regional economic base, to identify and address barriers to growth, and to stimulate and develop new business opportunities. Our regional strategy fund provides support for regions to develop and implement regional economic development strategies. These strategies help regions develop clear economic development actions and identify the key partners they need to work with to achieve each of these.

We support investment

Investment New Zealand promotes international investment opportunities in New Zealand, and provides market analysis and research to investors. It identifies financial assistance available to investors, and works with them after their investment to support long term success.

We support New Zealand enterprise

NZTE encourages New Zealanders to value entrepreneurship, business success and to better understand the connection between economic growth and affording the living standards to which New Zealanders aspire.

Services overview

Our services cover specific aspects of trade and enterprise:

• Services for businesses starting up and at an early stage of development 
• Services for businesses seeking to grow and internationalise: including new exporters, high growth businesses and other exporters 
• Investment services: We have a specialised service for investors, providing New Zealand business information as well as extensive networks for investors seeking existing and start-up New Zealand- based ventures with excellent future potential 
• Business partnerships: Supporting companies working together to export and grow internationally 
• Regional development: Working with and funding regions to grow by encouraging them to focus on their regional economic advantages 
• Fostering an enterprise culture: encouraging New Zealanders to have a positive attitude towards business success.

More information on the services offered by NZTE can be found in the Business Development, Export Services, Sector Development, Regional Development and NZ Success sections of our website or in the brochures below.

>> How we can help your business

>> Guide to services and programmes 

Use of Information

NZTE will treat commercially sensitive material supplied when applying for co-funding or services with care, discretion, and appropriate regard. It should be noted, however, that NZTE is bound by the Official Information Act and may be required to provide information about its activities to Ministers, parliamentary committees, individual members of Parliament, and the Controller and Auditor-General or his agents.