Media release: Asia New Zealand Foundation welcomes new Honorary Advisers

The Asia New Zealand Foundation Te Whītau Tūhono welcomes the appointment of new New Zealand Honorary Advisers to support its mission of equipping New Zealanders to thrive in Asia.

The Foundation’s work is supported by a panel of Honorary Advisers from New Zealand and Asia, drawn from academic, business, community, diplomatic, leadership, political and sporting backgrounds.

The new New Zealand Honorary Advisers represent a range of sectors and bring a diverse range of experiences in Asia to their roles supporting the Asia New Zealand Foundation. They will support and advise the Foundation in its engagement in New Zealand, as well as well as offshore to Asian stakeholders, complementing the work of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees and Asia Honorary Advisers.

The Foundation’s new New Zealand Honorary Advisers are:

• Warrick Cleine — Chairman and CEO, KPMG in Vietnam

• Hon Lianne Dalziel — Mayor of Christchurch

• Sameer Handa, MNZM — Company director, executive member of the India New Zealand Business Council (INZBC)

• Kyle Murdoch — Company director, media specialist and producer

• Simon Murdoch, CNZ — Former Secretary Foreign Affairs and Trade, former Trustee Asia New Zealand Foundation

• Nicola Ngarewa — Principal of Spotswood College and Chairperson of Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand

• Sachie Nomura — Chef, food writer and owner of Sachie’s Kitchen

• Paula Tesoriero, MNZM — Paralympic athlete

• Josh Wharehinga — Deputy Mayor, Gisborne District Council

The new advisers join existing Foundation New Zealand Honorary Advisers:

• Rob Fyfe, CNZM

• Traci Houpapa MNZM

• Emeritus Professor Manying Ip CNZM

• Mitchell Pham

• Rt Hon Sir Anand Satyanand, GNZM, QSO

• Members of Parliament Melissa Lee and Vanushi Walters.

Asia New Zealand Foundation Chair Dame Fran Wilde acknowledged the contributions of retiring Honorary Advisers:

• Dr Alan Bollard, CNZM

• Trish Carter

• Peter Chin, CNZM

• Ian Kennedy

• Richard Long ONZM

• Peter Miskimmin QSO

• Hon Simon Power QSO

• Dr Farib Sos, MNZM.

“Over many years, these individuals have made invaluable contributions to the Foundation and to New Zealand’s relationships with Asia, contributing new ideas and growing our connectivity,” Dame Fran said.

The Government has also given the title of “Founder of the Foundation” to Rt Hon Sir Don McKinnon ONZ, GCVO, and Hon Philip Burdon, who worked to establish the Asia New Zealand Foundation, then called Asia 2000, as Ministers in the 1990s.

About the Asia New Zealand Foundation Te Whītau Tūhono 

Established in 1994, the Asia New Zealand Foundation Te Whītau Tūhono is New Zealand’s leading authority on Asia. We provide experiences and resources to help New Zealanders build their knowledge, skills and confidence to thrive in Asia. We work in partnership with influential individuals and organisations in New Zealand and Asia.

For more information:   

Rebecca Inoue-Palmer   

Director communications and media   

rpalmer@asianz.org.nz   

(04) 470 8701