Japan has introduced new rules that come into effect on 1 June 2025 for food containers and packaging. The changes mean a shift to a “positive list” for synthetic materials that can be included in food containers, packaging, and equipment put up for sale in Japan. This report provides information on these changes, as well as where more information can be found.
Click here for details

The rapid escalation of global trade tensions in recent months has generated a highly uncertain trading environment, which is expected to weigh on global growth. Tariff hikes have started to impact some international merchandise trade flows, with Chinese exports to the United States in April around 20% lower compared to the same month a year ago. The fall in exports to the US looks to have been diverted to markets in Asia and Europe.
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Kōrero.Online is an online Māori language school. From the basics, karakia, mihi & pepeha, to fluency, our expert kaiako guide you on your journey. Develop a deeper understanding of te ao Māori & tikanga through personal, private & purposeful learning. Korero.Online is part of the Inkstone Ecosystem. Kia ora. Ko Whare tōku ingoa. Nō Tainui-Waikato raua ko Ngāpuhi ahau. My name is Whare. I am Kaiwhakawhanake Pakihi Mātua for Kōrero.Online. I am passionate about seeing te reo Māori flourish, and we have an awesome platform with kaiako who do private, one-on-one, 25-minute lessons. I look forward to working towards a bilingual society, and growing te reo here in Aotearoa and beyond one learner at a time! https://korero.online/

DUO: A Cross-Cultural Pop-Up Exhibition

Japanese calligrapher and artist Junichi Ito and New Zealand-based artist Roberta Queiroga come together for DUO, an intimate pop-up exhibition exploring dialogue across cultures and mediums. Click on the post for further details.

Zenno is a New Zealand and US-based company and is the pioneer and global leader of superconducting magnets for space applications. They enable fully autonomous and fuel-free satellite positioning and precision interactions between satellites. Right now Zenno is delivering advanced altitude control solutions to commercial and public sector spacecraft manufacturers. They have forged partnerships with ANA Trading and Faraday Japan, and secured investment from Japanese VC Global Brain bringing New Zealand’s space-tech sector with Japan’s aerospace industry. https://www.zenno.space/

Aurecon is a design, engineering and advisory company whose purpose is bringing ideas to life, to imagine and co-create with clients a better future for people and the planet. Our strength lies in how we bring together our design, engineering and advisory capabilities to provide integrated solutions across the entire asset lifecycle. From shape and plan – design and deliver – operate and optimise – to close and transform, Aurecon designers, engineers, scientists and advisors work with our clients across markets and asset types, to tackle some of the world’s most complex challenges. We are an owner managed company operating across Asia Pacific with a strong presence in Australia, New Zealand, and multiple countries in Asia. www.aurecongroup.com/

各都道府県から抽選で1組2名様に、6/17出発の成田－オークランド往復航空券が当たる！

OptiRTP (Return to Play) offers a monthly household subscription-based digital therapeutic service that utilises sound to deliver a proprietary and dynamic modulation of frequencies. Registered with the US FDA as a Class 1 Medical Device, the Company targets pain (chronic / long-standing pain conditions) and accelerated wound recovery as a complementary therapy to allopathic medicine. Non-invasive, drug-free and designed for in-home use. A commercial application will be developed in due course - for use in the likes of retirement homes, hotels and corporate office spaces. Plans for international expansion from the end of 2025, early 2026. www.optirtp.com

Ara Ake was established by the Government to accelerate the demonstration, commercialisation, and deployment of energy innovation to support Aotearoa New Zealand’s transition to a more sustainable, resilient, and equitable energy future. Ara Ake works both domestically and globally, forming strategic relationships to achieve these objectives. Jonathan Young is the Head of Industry and Government Engagement for Ara Ake. Formerly a NZ Member of Parliament, he has visited Japan to learn about the developments in their energy systems. https://www.araake.co.nz/

Click here for the latest Japan Market Guide from NZTE.

2024 saw mixed results for the Japanese economy. Japan has narrowed its trade deficit, and a record number of foreign tourists visited Japan. Japanese business profits look set to hit record highs for a fifth consecutive year and the stock market is at an all-time high. Interest rates are rising, and inflation is within the Bank of Japan’s target range, with the core consumer price index at 2.5%. 

For the full report, click here.

Fisher & Paykel Healthcare is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of products and systems for use in acute and chronic respiratory care, surgery and the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea. Driven by a strong sense of purpose, we are working to improve patient care and outcomes through inspired and world-leading healthcare solutions. The needs of our customers and their patients drive everything we do. We call this commitment Care by Design. 

ChristchurchNZ is the sustainable economic development agency for the city focused on making Ōtautahi Christchurch, New Zealand a better place to live, work and play. Our purpose as an organisation is to stimulate sustainable economic growth for a prosperous city. 

Russell McVeagh is one of New Zealand’s oldest law firms and has been involved in some of this country's most important developments and legal precedents. Our Auckland, Wellington and South Island offices offer our clients a collaborative, one-firm approach. As a full-service firm, we work tirelessly to support a wide range of clients, drawing on our expertise across the full spectrum of corporate advisory, banking and finance, litigation and disputes, real estate and construction, tax, public law and environmental law matters. We're proud to support New Zealand’s largest organisations as well as major international clients on the most cutting-edge transactions, cases and projects in the market.

Click here to read the latest report.

Click here to see a collection of photos from the 2024 JNZBC Conference in Kurashiki.

While overseas entities are not directly eligible for Japan’s government funding, growth in Japan’s private sector presents commercial opportunities for New Zealand space sector companies to become partners with Japanese companies and form part of the wider supply chain. 

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Take a look back at the last 50 years of the JNZBC Conferences.
Click here to watch the video

Liam Senior, a recent member, has reached out to the JNZBC regarding the Christchurch-Kurashiki disabled youth exchange programme. In short, they are looking to relaunch the programme but need new sponsors and partners who can help make it possible once again. If you might be able to assist in any way, whether through sponsorship or other forms of support, we would be very grateful if you could reach out to Gus Fahey, the committee chairman. His email is gus.fahy49@gmail.com. He would be happy to discuss any potential opportunities and how you could get involved.

The details of the programme are available here.

Local TV broadcaster Kurashiki Cable TV broadcast some footage relating to the JNZBC Conference. Click here to see the footage.