Panel Discussion
China remains vital to NZ trade, but challenges grow. Hear what directors should know to govern with foresight.
 
Overview
China remains New Zealand’s largest trade partner – we export more there than to the US and Australia combined, it provides 35% of our international students, and it is our third largest tourism market. Its scale, modernisation, and advanced technologies are staggering. Yet engagement with China is increasingly complex, shaped by a slowing economy, an ageing demographic, rising geopolitical tensions, and the ongoing US–China trade war. 
For directors, this raises important governance questions: how should boards weigh opportunities against risk, and how do they ensure strategy, stakeholder expectations and New Zealand’s broader relationships are kept in balance? 

Join IoD Branch Chair Scott Mason, Alistair Crozier, Executive Director of the New Zealand China Council, and local International relations expert Professor Robert Patman as they discuss the evolving NZ–China relationship, what it means for businesses in the South, and the governance considerations directors should keep in mind.  

This event is brought to you by the Otago Southland Branch of the Institute of Directors in partnership with Business South.

Register now
PLEASE NOTE: Business South members please register via the IoD event page (link above) and enter the promo code at the payment portal to reduce the fee to the IoD members rate.
Promo code: BE25DUNRB5

BIOS

Alistair Crozier 
Alistair has served as Executive Director of the New Zealand China Council since March 2022.  Alistair was a New Zealand diplomat for 25 years.  He served as Second Secretary at the New Zealand Embassy in Beijing (2000-01), Education Counsellor to China (2003-05) and NZ-Consul-General to Chengdu (2014-18).  He was also Deputy High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea (2007-09) and Deputy Ambassador to Viet Nam (2009-14) and has held roles in the NZ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Wellington.  In 2019 Alistair was Chief of Staff to the Mayor of Christchurch.  In 2020-21 he established a South Island presence for the Asia New Zealand Foundation and led its international business programme. 

Robert Patman
Robert is one of the University of Otago’s Inaugural Sesquicentennial Distinguished Chairs and a specialist in international relations. He is the Director of the Master of International Studies (MIntSt) programme. Robert has authored or edited 14 books with the most recent being a co-edited volume titled  New Zealand’s Foreign Policy under the Jacinda Ardern Government: Facing the Challenge of a Disrupted World (World Scientific Publishing, March 2024). He is currently writing a book on Rethinking the Global Impact of 9/11. Robert is an Honorary Professor of the New Zealand Defence Command and Staff College and makes regular contributions to the national and global media on international issues. He was also the winner of the New Zealand Universities’ 2024 Critic and Conscience of Society Award. 

Scott Mason CFInstD 
Scott is a professional director based in Dunedin.  He has been a specialist tax and commercial advisor to HNWI and owner-managed businesses across many industries for over 30 years, and is a senior partner at Findex.  However, these days Scott spends 80% of his time in governance, again across a wide range of industries mostly in the private sector. He is also the Chairperson of the CA ANZ Tax Advisory Group which advises Government on tax policy matters, as well as being a trained mediator, undertaking expert witness roles, an investor in early-stage companies, and a keen (albeit frequently broken) sportsman.