What’s the difference between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and NZTE, and how do they help business?

How do the two government agencies work together?

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade opens the door to foreign markets by overcoming or reducing trade access barriers.

New Zealand Trade and Enterprise helps New Zealand businesses get through the open door, by providing export development consultancy services.

What is our role in exporting? 

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade 

The Ministry is the government agency responsible for negotiating with other governments on conditions of market access for New Zealand goods and services.
It conducts the New Zealand Government's business with foreign governments and international organisations such as the World Trade Organisation (WTO). 

The Ministry is the Government's principal adviser on external trade policy issues. 
This work relies on regular and open contact between the Ministry and New Zealand exporters.  Input from exporters assists to identify impediments to trade in specific markets and to develop strategies to address them.  

New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) 

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

Through its network of offices worldwide, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise aims to grow New Zealand’s economy by building the capability of businesses and regions and facilitating their sustained and profitable participation in overseas markets. 
NZTE’s focus is on industries and sectors in which New Zealand has a long-term sustainable advantage and on businesses with high-growth potential. 

Investment New Zealand, a specialist unit within New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, works to attract investment into New Zealand which will provide wider benefits to the New Zealand economy.   

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Why do we matter to business?

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade

The Ministry plays an important role for New Zealand business through the following functions:

  • Negotiating and protecting access rules for New Zealand products and services in overseas markets 
  • Negotiating international trade rules that are transparent, predictable and allow fair competition, through bodies such as the WTO  
  • Working with foreign governments and influencing key individuals 
  • Analysing the economy and politics of overseas markets 
  • Working towards strong relationships with other countries to foster the transfer to New Zealand of skilled people, technology, investment and research capability

New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) 

NZTE plays an important role for New Zealand business through the following functions:

  • Helping business to build business capability, through appraisals and advice, and specialised export development consultancy and market research 
  • Improving New Zealand’s business environment for enterprise and growth by working with incubators, clusters, groups of companies and sector and industry groups to identify and address systemic barriers to business growth, such as talent and skills shortages or inadequate infrastructure; working collaboratively with regional development groups to identify and build on regional competitive advantages; and building a culture of enterprise within New Zealand which celebrates our business successes 
  • Increasing the international connectedness of New Zealand businesses and promoting New Zealand internationally as a creative, innovative and technologically-advanced nation 
  • Through Investment New Zealand, linking international investors with NZ business opportunities.  

NZTE offers a wide range of services and programmes applicable throughout the lifecycle of firms from start-ups to established groups of exporters.  These include providing advice, training, mentoring, funding, and business and market development assistance.  Not all services are provided directly by NZTE and some are provided through external organisations funded by NZTE.    

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What can we do for your business? 

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade

The Ministry provides the following services to exporters:

  • a partnership in trade negotiations whereby there is an ongoing and open dialogue between exporters and negotiators about the detail of negotiations and the needs and expectations of exporters
  • assistance to overcome access problems for products entering  international markets (e.g. tariffs, import restrictions, health or packaging requirements) 
  • information about new market access opportunities resulting from trade negotiations
  • assistance with introductions to key players in international markets from central and local government, and business through a network of embassies and high commissions worldwide.  New Zealand diplomats also promote  opportunities to bring skills, technology, research and development and capital to New Zealand 
  • economic and political information on markets targeted by exporters. 

New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) 

NZTE can provide the following services to exporters:

  • advice and mentoring, training, upskilling and networking opportunities, for new exporters to established exporters (e.g. the biz programme and Exporter Education classes) 
  • market intelligence such as generic country information, and an range of export check lists and how-to guides 
  • international market development services, such as customised market research, identifying business opportunities and in-market assistance to help establish a local presence are available to qualifying companies.
  • facilitation of trade enquiry requests 
  • access to co-funding programmes, which may cover up to 50% of a project’s eligible costs 
  • facilitation and introductions to other Government agencies and their services.   

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How do we operate? 

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade

The Ministry’s head office is in Wellington. Its activities are divided into six programmes: Trade and Economic, Political and Security, Multilateral, Pacific/Australia, Corporate Services, and the semi-autonomous aid agency NZAID.

The Ministry has 49 overseas posts. These include embassies, high commissions and consulates-general. Honorary consuls extend New Zealand's representation. Six hundred people are employed by the Ministry – with a third of those based overseas.

New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) 

NZTE has a network of offices throughout New Zealand and around the world.  Our onshore staff are divided into sector-specific teams, and we also have a group dedicated to working with regions to develop regional competitive advantages and projects.  Our offshore offices are staffed by Trade Commissioners and trade development executives. Some of our posts are co-located with MFAT offices.  

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How can you contact us?

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT)

Some of the information you seek is available at www.mfat.govt.nz. 

To get in touch about any of the above issues or services, please contact the Ministry's Trade Policy Liaison Unit.  This unit will put you in touch with the appropriate person:

Email: tplu@mfat.govt.nz

Ph: 64 4 439 8157
Fax: 64 4 439 8522  
Write to: Private Bag 18 901, Wellington, New Zealand    

New Zealand Trade and Enterprise  

For more information or assistance from New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, please call the Enterprise Hotline on 0800 555 888, speak to your client manager, or email us. 



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