United States – New Zealand Council
Encyclopedia
The United States – New Zealand Council (US–NZ Council) is an independent non-profit, non-partisan organisation dedicated to promoting a strong bilateral relationship between the United States
and New Zealand
. It is the premier private organisation in the United States engaged in encouraging the expansion of trade, investment and commercial ties between the two countries and in the Asia-Pacific
region and is a well-recognised source of information and support for American companies seeking business opportunities there.
, a former United States Ambassador to New Zealand
in 1986. The Council was designed to promote a better understanding of New Zealand in the United States, and to foster communication, friendship and co-operation between the two countries.
This came at a time when the US–NZ relationship was most strained following the New Zealand government's decision to bar all nuclear powered and/or armed vessels
from its waters. Since this time the Council has continued to work on improving relations between the United States and New Zealand, and has achieved much success. The relationship is currently the best it has been for several decades.
The United States – New Zealand Council is a private, not government, organisation and is located in the historic DACOR Bacon House
.
The most recent forum was held in 2009, in Washington, D.C.
The Forum was co-chaired for the United States by former Congressman Cal Dooley
and Ambassador Susan Schwab
and for New Zealand by Rt Hon
Jim Bolger
and Rt Hon Mike Moore. The breadth, rank, and prominence of the delegations, unprecedented in the history of US-NZ relations, included top current and past administration officials, Members of Congress
, NZ Ministers, MPs, former Prime Ministers
, and chairs and chief executives of New Zealand's major companies.
The next Partnership Forum is to be held in Christchurch
, New Zealand, in 2011.
The US-NZ Council was addressed by Prime Minister John Key
in Washington in April 2010.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. It is the premier private organisation in the United States engaged in encouraging the expansion of trade, investment and commercial ties between the two countries and in the Asia-Pacific
Asia-Pacific
Asia-Pacific or Asia Pacific is the part of the world in or near the Western Pacific Ocean...
region and is a well-recognised source of information and support for American companies seeking business opportunities there.
History
The US-NZ Council was founded by Anne MartindellAnne Clark Martindell
Anne Clark Martindell was an American Democratic Party politician from New Jersey, as well as a diplomat who served as United States Ambassador to New Zealand from 1979 to 1981.-Early life and family:...
, a former United States Ambassador to New Zealand
United States Ambassador to New Zealand
The United States has maintained a consular presence in New Zealand since 1838. The first consul was James Reddy Clendon. Born in England, Clendon was a ship owner and merchant who bought land and settled in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand. In 1838 he was appointed by the federal government of the...
in 1986. The Council was designed to promote a better understanding of New Zealand in the United States, and to foster communication, friendship and co-operation between the two countries.
This came at a time when the US–NZ relationship was most strained following the New Zealand government's decision to bar all nuclear powered and/or armed vessels
New Zealand's nuclear-free zone
In 1984, Prime Minister David Lange barred nuclear-powered or nuclear-armed ships from using New Zealand ports or entering New Zealand waters. Under the New Zealand Nuclear Free Zone, Disarmament, and Arms Control Act 1987, territorial sea, land and airspace of New Zealand became nuclear-free zones...
from its waters. Since this time the Council has continued to work on improving relations between the United States and New Zealand, and has achieved much success. The relationship is currently the best it has been for several decades.
The United States – New Zealand Council is a private, not government, organisation and is located in the historic DACOR Bacon House
Ringgold-Carroll House
The Ringgold-Carroll House was built in 1825 for Tench Ringgold, who was part of a three-member team in charge of restoring public buildings in the District of Columbia, following the War of 1812.From 1832-1833, Chief Justice John Marshall resided with Ringgold in the house.In 1835, the house was...
.
Partnership Forum
The Partnership Forum is an event organised by the US-NZ Council. It brings government officials and business leaders together to discuss the relationship in an informal environment. These Partnership Forums are highly praised, and offer a vital opportunity to focus on the bilateral relationship between the United States and New Zealand.The most recent forum was held in 2009, in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
The Forum was co-chaired for the United States by former Congressman Cal Dooley
Cal Dooley
Calvin M. "Cal" Dooley , American politician, was a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from 1991 to 2005, representing the 17th and 20th districts of California....
and Ambassador Susan Schwab
Susan Schwab
Susan C. Schwab is an American politician, who served as United States Trade Representative from June, 2006 to January, 2009....
and for New Zealand by Rt Hon
The Right Honourable
The Right Honourable is an honorific prefix that is traditionally applied to certain people in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Anglophone Caribbean and other Commonwealth Realms, and occasionally elsewhere...
Jim Bolger
Jim Bolger
James Brendan "Jim" Bolger, ONZ was the 35th Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1990 to 1997. Bolger was elected on the promise of delivering a "Decent Society" following the previous Labour government's economic reforms, known as Rogernomics...
and Rt Hon Mike Moore. The breadth, rank, and prominence of the delegations, unprecedented in the history of US-NZ relations, included top current and past administration officials, Members of Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
, NZ Ministers, MPs, former Prime Ministers
Prime Minister of New Zealand
The Prime Minister of New Zealand is New Zealand's head of government consequent on being the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in the Parliament of New Zealand...
, and chairs and chief executives of New Zealand's major companies.
The next Partnership Forum is to be held in Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
, New Zealand, in 2011.
Other Events
The US-NZ Council also hosts smaller events designed to provide networking opportunities for their members. Most recently they co-hosted with the New Zealand Embassy a dinner in honour of Prime Minister John Key, while he was in Washington DC for the Nuclear Security Summit.The US-NZ Council was addressed by Prime Minister John Key
John Key
John Phillip Key is the 38th Prime Minister of New Zealand, in office since 2008. He has led the New Zealand National Party since 2006....
in Washington in April 2010.