The Public Service international and trade sector keeps Aotearoa New Zealand’s relationships with the rest of the world strong and productive.

Customs officers inspecting a ship that's arrived into Aotearoa New Zealand. Photo by Paul Petch Photographer.

Tā te rāngai ā-ao, tauhokohoko hoki mahi What the international and trade sector does

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade manages the relationships between New Zealand and the rest of the world. New Zealand Trade and Enterprise is the Government’s international business development organisation, supporting exporters in order to grow a productive, sustainable and inclusive economy, while the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment has responsibilities relating to trade, including trade barriers, import tariffs, trade remedies, competition and intellectual property.

Ministry of Transport helps to facilitate international trade in goods and services, while the New Zealand Customs Service provides advice for exporters, importers and businesses in relation to the border. Tourism New Zealand markets New Zealand to the world to attract visitors most likely to boost our economy.

Our country’s biological risk is reduced by the work of the Ministry of Primary Industries, which protects our people, communities and businesses, and Pharmac provides New Zealanders with funded access to international medicine and products that they need to live healthy lives. Antarctica New Zealand is responsible for carrying out New Zealand’s activities in Antarctica, working with international partners on Scott Base, representing our economic interests.

The international and trade sector works together to advance New Zealand’s relationships, and our economy, looking for outcomes that align with our values.

Ngā painga o te rāngai ā-ao, tauhokohoko hoki mō Aotearoa Who works in the international and trade sector

The international and trade sector employs

  • people in exports and sector productivity, such as inspectors, scientists, economists and specialists in sustainable resource use
  • business and policy advisors
  • operations and development managers
  • diplomats and experts in international relations
  • doctors and pharmacists
  • biologists, geologists and engineers
  • experts in the tourism industry, as well as marketing and communications staff.

Ngā painga o te rāngai ā-ao, tauhokohoko hoki mō Aotearoa How the international and trade sector benefits New Zealand

The international and trade sector forges strong international connections which provide work, investment and trade opportunities. The sector provides advice for domestic businesses exporting or importing products, and helps those businesses grow an international presence, which creates new jobs. It looks for and promotes opportunities for our people and our businesses, both here and overseas, while working to reduce barriers to international trade and ensuring that products imported into New Zealand are safe.

Ngā whakahaere rāngai ā-ao, tauhokohoko hoki International and trade sector organisations

These are the main Public Service organisations responsible for New Zealand’s international and trade sector.

  • Antarctica New Zealand (New Zealand Antarctic Institute)

    Antarctica New Zealand is a Crown Agent that carries out activities in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean, supporting world-leading science and environmental protection. It supports collaboration between the New Zealand scientific community and international scientists on research to better understand Antarctica, including its ecosystem dynamics and its role in climate change and sea level rise.

    Sectors

    Environment

    International and trade

    Chair

    Mr Leon Grice, Chair

    Website

    antarcticanz.govt.nz

  • Manatū Ahu Matua | Ministry for Primary Industries

    The Ministry for Primary Industries manages and regulates the farming, fishing, food, animal welfare, biosecurity and forestry sectors of New Zealand's primary industries. It helps ensure the food we produce is safe, increases sustainable resource use and protects New Zealand from biological risk.

    Sectors

    Border

    Business

    Environment

    International and trade

    Leader

    Ray Smith, Te Tumu Whakarae mō ngā Ahumahi Matua | Director-General of Primary Industries and Chief Executive

    Current Public Service Leaders

    Leadership groups

    Public Service Leadership Team

    Website

    mpi.govt.nz

  • Hīkina Whakatutuki | Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment

    The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment works to grow Aotearoa New Zealand for all.  It includes service providers, policy makers, investors and regulators. It engages with diverse communities, businesses and regions. Its work touches on the daily lives of New Zealanders. It’s focus is to grow opportunities (Puāwai), guard and protect (Kaihāpai) and innovate and navigate towards a better future (Auaha).

    Sectors

    Border

    Business

    International and trade

    Leader

    Carolyn Tremain, Te Tumu Whakarae mō Hīkina Whakatutuki | Secretary for Business, Innovation, and Employment and Chief Executive

    Current Public Service Leaders

    Leadership groups

    Public Service Leadership Team

    Website

    mbie.govt.nz

  • Manatū Aorere | Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade

    The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade/Manatū Aorere (MFAT) leads work on the Government’s international priorities and provides advice about how international events and activities affect New Zealand. It delivers Aotearoa New Zealand’s international development programme; negotiates international trading relationships; provides essential consular services to New Zealanders; leads New Zealand’s international effort to support peace and resilience, particularly in the Pacific region, and engagement on global issues such as climate change and disarmament. The Ministry runs New Zealand’s 60 overseas diplomatic posts.

    Sectors

    Border

    International and trade

    Leader

    Bede Corry, Te Tumu Whakarae mō ngā Take Aorere | Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Chief Executive

    Current Public Service Leaders

    Leadership groups

    Public Service Leadership Team

    Website

    mfat.govt.nz

  • Te Manatū Waka | Ministry of Transport

    Te Manatū Waka is the system lead on transport. It provides advice about how the transport needs to change to support the New Zealand economy and the transport needs of New Zealanders. It works in partnership with a number of transport agencies covering air, sea and land to help keep the transport system moving.

    Sectors

    Border

    Environment

    International and trade

    National security

    Transport

    Leader

    Audrey Sonerson, Te Tumu Whakarae mō ngā Waka | Secretary for Transport and Chief Executive

    Current Public Service Leaders

    Leadership groups

    Public Service Leadership Team

    Website

    transport.govt.nz

  • Te Mana Ārai o Aotearoa | New Zealand Customs Service

    The New Zealand Customs Service provides border services that protect New Zealand and advance our economy. It ensures that lawful people, goods and craft can move across our borders easily, while stopping threats or illicit goods such as drugs, weapons, and objectionable material from entering New Zealand. It also helps to promote international trade and collect Crown revenue. Through its work, it protects the wellbeing and livelihood of people in New Zealand.

    Sectors

    Border

    International and trade

    Leader

    Christine Stevenson, Te Tumu Whakarae mō Te Mana Ārai | Comptroller of Customs and Chief Executive

    Current Public Service Leaders

    Leadership groups

    Public Service Leadership Team

    Website

    customs.govt.nz

  • Te Taurapa Tūhono | New Zealand Trade and Enterprise

    New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) is a Crown Agent and is the New Zealand Public Service’s international business development organisation. It works with food producers, Māori land trusts and iwi, technology startups, service providers and manufacturers. NZTE also works with investors in New Zealand and overseas to provide investment that enables exporters to develop their businesses. NZTE support helps develop a productive, sustainable and inclusive economy for the people of Aotearoa New Zealand. 

    Sectors 

    Chair 

    Ms Jennifer Kerr, Chair 

    Leadership groups 

    Public Service Leadership Team 

    Website 

    nzte.govt.nz 

  • Te Pātaka Whaioranga | Pharmaceutical Management Agency

    Pharmac is a Crown agent that manages the national pharmaceutical budget, investing it carefully to ensure New Zealanders have the medicines they need. It gives people access to medicines and related products to help them live healthy lives and works to improve access for people who aren’t getting the medicines they need.

    Sectors

    Health

    International and trade 

    Chair

    Hon Paula Bennett, Chair

    Website

    pharmac.govt.nz

  • Manaakitanga Aotearoa | Tourism New Zealand (New Zealand Tourism Board)

    Tourism New Zealand is the Crown Agent responsible for marketing Aotearoa New Zealand as a visitor destination. To ensure tourism gives back more than it takes, we take a sophisticated approach to targeting high-quality visitors in priority markets, markets to get the best value and return on investment. High-quality visitors are defined by more than their contribution to the economy – it is about how they contribute more widely to Aotearoa including their scope of activities, how they travel across seasons and regions, their environmental consciousness and engagement with our local culture and communities. 

    Sectors 

    Chair 

    Paul Brock, Chair 

    Website 

    tourismnewzealand.com