New Zealand/San Francisco Bay Business Links Set to Expand via Air New Zealand Direct Link

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 26, 2004--Air New Zealand's new Auckland/San Francisco direct link will mean an expansion in trade and business between the San Francisco Bay area and New Zealand, the New Zealand Consul General, Darryl Dunn, said today at City Hall at the inauguration of the new service.

"I know that Air New Zealand has been considering this move for quite a while and I am delighted that it is finally possible," Mr Dunn said.

“The Air NZ service to San Francisco will greatly facilitate a whole range of transactions between New Zealand and this great city and its neighbourhood. It's an overnight flight, you don't lose a working day. Congratulations to Air NZ, it now has a piece of its heart in San Francisco”

The announcement comes only a few days after the launch of the New Zealand Government's "beachhead" for information and communications technology (ICT) companies in Redwood Shores. The beachhead, an initiative of New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, will provide an office base for New Zealand companies looking to participate in the exciting ICT sector in San Francisco and Silicon Valley.

"Analysts are still working out whether high technology is making a comeback from the recent recession. New Zealand has never doubted the Bay Area's destiny as the global leading edge for high technology and we mean to have a stake in its future."

Though small in population terms (4 million), New Zealand has the highest rate of innovation-driven entrepreneurship in the world, with particular strengths in information technology, biotechnology and advanced manufacturing (e.g. superyachts). Bilateral trade favors California ahead of other U.S. states. There are also special affinities between New Zealand and the Golden State.

"Californians are amongst our most frequent visitors. They discover in New Zealand another California, one somewhat less populated. The people, the scenery, the food and wine make them all feel immediately at home. It's almost symbolic that the Monterey pine does exceptionally well in New Zealand and is the foundation of our plantation-based forest industry."

New Zealand is also celebrating partnerships with the California film industry, which have produced epics like The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

"The Air NZ service to San Francisco will greatly facilitate a whole range of transactions between New Zealand and this great city and its neighbourhood. It's an overnight flight, you don't lose a working day. Congratulations to Air NZ, it now has a piece of its heart in San Francisco," Mr Dunn said.