In his opening speech, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon described the European Union and New Zealand as “principal partners”. He highlighted Dawn Aerospace, a joint Dutch-New Zealand company developing sustainable aerospace technologies, as an example of successful cooperation. He also mentioned NewCold, a Dutch logistics firm that has recently invested in New Zealand’s cold storage and supply chain sector.

Dutch innovation was further represented in the summit’s programme. Camille Hanna, from the Dutch clean-tech company Skytree, joined a panel on renewable innovation, where she discussed how the company’s carbon capture technology aligns with New Zealand’s natural advantages, such as geothermal energy and abundant water resources.

The Dutch presence could also be seen in the event’s design, with the stage decorated with tulips provided by Haakman Flowerbulbs BV. This symbolised both the long-standing friendship between the Netherlands and New Zealand and the country’s own growing tulip industry.

The EU-NZ Summit highlighted the strength and future potential of EU–NZ cooperation, as well as the important Dutch contribution within it. The Embassy looks forward to building on the success of this first summit and to many more opportunities to deepen collaboration between the European Union, the Netherlands and New Zealand.