Yamaha Agriculture exists to make growers more sustainable, profitable and resilient. Through robotics, automation and AI-powered analytics, Yamaha Agriculture serves growers in the rows, blocks, and farms they manage every day. Combining decades of manufacturing excellence and field-tested reliability together with hardware, software and intelligent systems, Yamaha Agriculture delivers a connected platform for orchards and vineyards – spraying where needed, monitoring what matters and gathering insights growers can trust. Yamaha Agriculture’s growing portfolio includes Prospr, an autonomous hybrid vehicle platform; technology for autonomous fruit packing; AI-powered yield prediction and analytics; and integrated farm management systems. Every product is tested and refined on Kando Farm, Yamaha Agriculture’s working orchard, in close partnership with growers across the United States, Australia and New Zealand. Precision agriculture that’s built to perform – today, and for the future.   
https://yamaha-agriculture.com/

Bill Buckley will talk about his extraordinary journey, showcasing the indomitable spirit and relentless innovation that have defined his successful business career. From humble beginnings to becoming a leading entrepreneur and business owner of Buckley Systems Ltd, Bill has always been at the forefront of engineering design in New Zealand. Click here to view the flyer.

New Zealand Immigration Partners provides comprehensive immigration advice and visa services for individuals, families, and employers. Their licensed advisers assist with all major visa categories, including visitor, student, work, residence, family and investor visas, as well as citizenship. They guide clients through complex immigration processes, prepare and manage applications, resolve visa issues, and support employer compliance. The firm focuses on simplifying immigration, reducing risk, and maximising approval outcomes through expert advice and ongoing case management.

The Exquisite Group is a premier luxury inbound tour operator, specialising in curating bespoke travel experiences across New Zealand. We'd welcome the opportunity to work with other members of the Council to showcase the best of New Zealand to your international clients or your own team in New Zealand.

Air New Zealand has released a sale today, with Narita included.
The timing coincides with the forthcoming JNZBC Conference to be held in Sendai from Sunday 1 to Tuesday 3 November.
https://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/usa-canada-asia-on-sale?o=AKL

On June 2, Mr. FUNAKOSHI Takehiro, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan, held a Vice Ministers’ meeting in the form of a working lunch with Mr. Bede CORRY, Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade, New Zealand, who visited Japan.

For more details, click here. (source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan)

Japan’s economy saw moderate growth, estimated at 1.1%, during the 2025 financial year (April 2025-March 2026). There were some positive signs. Private consumption and business investment were robust, and real wages grew in January and February 2026, breaking 13 months of consecutive declines. However, inflation over the same period was above target rates of 2%, with core consumer prices growing by 2.6%.

For more information, click here.

This year is the 40th Anniversary of the relationship between Fukuoka and Auckland. The Auckland-Fukuoka sister city agreement was signed in 1986 to encourage cultural understanding and to promote connectivity in education, culture, tourism and trade.The current focus of the relationship is on collaboration on innovative business – particularly fostering innovation thought startup support. Auckland will a delegation from Fukuoka in late July, with activities including a pitch event at GridAKL for startups interested in the Auckland and Fukuoka markets. We encourage any interested startups to get in touch. Auckland Council introduced the Embassy to Fukuoka Growth Next (FGN) who facilitated the visit. Shun Ono, FGN, and Fukuoka officials attended the inaugural Auckland Startup Week in October last year and will be supporting the visit in July.

The new routes will begin progressively from late October, with Christchurch-Singapore launching on October 28, Christchurch-Tokyo (Narita International Airport) commencing on November 28, and Christchurch-Perth starting on November 30, subject to regulatory approval.

In an absorbing presentation, Margaret Cooney outlined the technology-driven approach that Octopus Energy brings to the New Zealand’s electricity market using smart tariffs, data platforms and flexible pricing to help customers reduce costs and shift electricity use to off-peak times. Click on the post for more details.

The New Zealand Hydrogen Council was formed in September 2018 by private and public sector organisations with seed funding from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment to support the progression and uptake of low emission hydrogen in New Zealand. They are New Zealand’s leading hydrogen agency. They are an intrinsic part of New Zealand’s emerging hydrogen industry as well as an important link to the opportunities that are evolving globally.

ElaraGrid delivers market-leading energy management solutions to commercial and industrial clients across New Zealand, Australia, and the Pacific Islands. Serving a diverse range of sectors — including manufacturing, wood and fibre processing, cold storage, ports, and large-scale facilities including education, health, and retail campuses — ElaraGrid brings deep expertise to the complex energy challenges facing modern industry.

OpenStar Technologies is pioneering the development of the levitated dipole concept, a simplified fusion energy approach proven viable in under two years for less than $10M. OpenStar combines rapid iteration, strategic partnerships, and a commitment to public engagement to accelerate clean fusion energy to the grid.

Ask Me NZ is an independently run platform that connects New Zealand and Japan through Business, Community and Rugby. In an era where AI can generate answers instantly, I believe that human connection, context, and trust matter more than ever. That is why Ask Me NZ aims to go beyond “information sharing” and become a place where meaningful relationships and opportunities can naturally grow. 

This year’s JNZBC Annual Joint Conference will be moved from 15/17 November to 1/3 November 2026 to avoid any potential that some of our members might not have been able to attend if required to stay close to Wellington following the NZ General Election.
New dates – Sunday 1 to Tuesday 3 November
Location – Sendai (approximately 2-hour Shinkansen journey from Tokyo)

Hear Shamubeel Eaqub on NZ’s outlook, AIP capital strategy, and how aligned investment and philanthropy drive real impact.

Join respected NZ economist Shamubeel Eaqub for clear, forward‑looking insights on what lies ahead for New Zealand’s economy and what it means for migrant investment.

Gain practical perspectives from an expert panel on how AIP pathways and aligned capital can be directed across the ecosystem for maximum impact.

Hear first‑hand how strategic philanthropy is transforming outcomes for young people across Aotearoa.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) is one of the New Zealand Government’s largest agencies. We play a central role in shaping and delivering a strong economy by delivering policy, services, advice and regulation to support business growth. Everything we do at MBIE is about growing New Zealand for all. We work to: build trusted, competitive and effectively regulated markets; ensure that businesses have access to the skills they need and that current and future demand for skills is met; ensure safe and fair workplaces; develop and support high-performing science and innovation; lift firms’ capability — including ideas, access to capital and relationships — so that they can succeed internationally; support the development of efficient infrastructure; enhance the value of NZ's natural resources; and lead work to improve housing affordability, and provide employment, residential tenancy, and unit titles dispute resolution services.

Several of the conference presenters have allowed their presentations to be available.
PS1.1 - NZPECC - Allan Bollard
PS2.4 - Green Collar - Shin Koizumi
PS2.6 - Wholesum Japan - Don Roxburgh
PS4.3 - Ara Ake - Jonathan Young
PS5.1 - Invest New Zealand - Hayden Mackenzie
PS5.2 - National Infrastructure Finance and Funding Commission - Graham Mitchell
PS5.3 - Infrastructure Commission - Peter Nunns
PS6.3 - Space Operations New Zealand - Robyn McNeill

Optimus Group provides end-to-end automotive services: they source, import/export, ship and deliver vehicles; handle inspection, quarantine, compliance and logistics; offer retail and wholesale vehicle financing; and manage vehicle retailing, distribution, and post-sale servicing. Martin McCullough is a director and Head of Logistics at Optimus Group (since June 2015). He also serves as a director of Dolphin Shipping New Zealand Ltd. (from 2012) and Fasttrack Automotive Compliance 2006 Ltd. (from 2016), which are part of Optimus’s wider logistics and compliance operations.

Foresta NZ Ltd is an innovative resource, energy and biotechnology sector company positioning itself to become a leading global supplier of natural and renewable pine chemicals and torrefied wood pellets which are a drop-in coal replacement. Foresta is in the process of establishing its first plant in New Zealand, which will use proprietary technology to extract natural pine chemicals, where they displace the need for petroleum-based chemicals and manufacture torrefied “black” wood pellets that can be used as a substitute for coal in commercial and industrial uses, including electricity generation.