Trade and young tourist boost from UK agreement
New Zealand’s free-trade agreement with Britain is paying off in increased trade both ways since it took effect a year ago, says a visiting diplomat.
Iona Thomas, who is almost half-way through her four-year term as British High Commissioner to New Zealand, visited Nelson this week as part of a series of regional tours to get a more diverse picture of the country and its issues.
She met Nelson mayor Nick Smith, youth council representatives, business leaders and members of the Moananui blue economy cluster and also visited the World of WearableArt.
New Zealand and Australia were the first to sign and free-trade agreement with Britain after its exit from the European Union. Thomas said one of the remarkable aspects to the agreement was that it was negotiated during Covid so talks were held remotely, underlining the close relationships between the two countries.
Since it took effect in May last year, Thomas said there had been an increase in trade in both directions “which is really positive”. The agreement removed more than 99% of trade tarriffs.
Thomas said there had been good feedback from local businesses about the benefits in reduced costs, paperwork and the ability to bring in British workers.
She said the job was now to get more businesses to take advantage of the agreement, both in New Zealand and Britain.
The enhanced working holiday scheme introduced alongside the free trade agreement extends the eligbile age from 30 to 35 and the length of a visa from two to three years.
“It’s a much more flexible scheme and we hope will also appeal to a whole new set of people at different stages of their careers so more people can take advantage of this to experience travel in the UK, grow their skills and the same with young Brits coming to New Zealand.”
Thomas’ husband visited New Zealand as a young backpacker, and was an enthusiastic supporter of her bid for the post in Wellington.
Thomas has previously served in Pakistan, Libya and at the UK mission to the United Nations.