New Zealand to open consulate in Hawaii to strengthen Pacific ties

New Zealand will open a consulate in Hawaii to strengthen ties with northern Pacific nations, according to the country’s foreign affairs minister.

Murray McCully, foreign affairs minister for New Zealand, says the consulate will be located at Bishop Square’s Pauahi Tower in Downtown Honolulu.

The consulate will be cross-accredited to Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia and the Marshall Islands, the New Zealand government said.

On the heels of this announcement, U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, and U.S. Sen.Mike Lee, R-Utah, have introduced the “Encouraging Trade and Investment from New Zealand Act,” which would extend eligibility for trade and investor temporary entry visas to New Zealand to promote trade and investment in the United States.

“New Zealand is one of our nation’s important economic partners, with total foreign direct investment from New Zealand to the United States valued at $6 billion in 2011 and New Zealand-owned firms supporting 10,900 jobs,” Hirono said in a statement. “Hawaii has seen this firsthand, with businesses such as Hawaiian Airlines, the only North American airline in New Zealand, helping to spur a substantial increase in business and tourism from New Zealand to Hawaii in recent years.”

Read the entire piece at: http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/news/2014/02/26/new-zealand-to-open-consulate-in.html