Christchurch Airport’s already busy international summer is about to get even busier, with Cathay Pacific bringing forward the start of its seasonal Hong Kong service by a full month, a move that will boost visitor numbers, trade links and global connections for the South Island.
From 3 November 2025, Cathay Pacific will operate three flights a week between Christchurch and Hong Kong, increasing to four weekly services at the peak of the summer season between December and February. Traditionally starting in December, the earlier launch reflects growing demand for travel to and from our region.
Cathay Pacific’s announcement comes hot on the heels of being named the world’s third-best airline by Skytrax, and its great news for travellers, exporters and tourism operators across the South Island.
Christchurch Airport’s Chief Executive Justin Watson says the earlier start and increased frequency highlights the strength of the South Island market.
“Cathay Pacific has been our valued partner for almost a decade. Their decision to start earlier this year builds on our longstanding relationship. It means more choice, more convenience, and stronger ties to Asia and beyond,” says Mr Watson.
The expanded schedule supports both tourism and trade, offering greater capacity for high-value exports like seafood and fresh produce to reach key Asian markets quickly via Hong Kong’s cargo mega-hub.
China Southern Airlines will return to Christchurch Airport for the summer season this November, and it's coming back bigger than ever, with a 26% boost in capacity and a longer operating window that includes the Chinese New Year.
The popular Guangzhou–Christchurch service resumes 1 November 2025, initially with five flights per week before ramping up to daily service from 18 December through to 3 March 2026, perfectly timed for peak summer and Lunar New Year celebrations. More than 60,000 seats across business, premium economy and economy cabins will be available, giving South Islanders greater access to China and beyond.
This milestone year for China Southern marks a decade since it first touched down in Christchurch operating a single charter flight to prove our market back in 2015. Since then, the airline has flown over half a million passengers to the South Island.
For local exporters, the return of China Southern means a faster route for high-value produce, cherries, salmon, and other fresh goods, straight into the Chinese market and onto plates across Asia and Europe.
“Every flight carries more than just passengers,” says Christchurch Airport’s GM Aeronautical Development, Gordon Bevan. “The belly of the aircraft delivers huge value for South Island businesses getting their premium goods to global markets.”
China Southern’s vast network via Guangzhou connects Kiwis to China and offers easy onward travel to hotspots like Thailand, Vietnam, Turkey and Nepal or further to destinations across China Southern’s Asia and Europe network.
The South Island is also home to over 20,000 Chinese residents, most of which live in the Christchurch area.
Ali Adams, Chief Executive, ChristchurchNZ says,
“China Southern’s service means so much to our city, especially during Chinese New Year. For so many in our Chinese community it’s an important bridge home. It’s a chance to be with loved ones, honour cherished traditions, and feel close to family, even across great distances. It also deepens the cultural and economic bonds between Christchurch and China in a truly meaningful way.”
China is New Zealand’s third-largest tourism market, with nearly 170,000 holidaymakers visiting last year. The South Island gains directly from these high-value travellers, who stay longer and venture further.
Sarah Ottrey, Christchurch Airport Board Chair, and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon have signed an agreement between Christchurch Airport and Shanghai Airport Authority marking a new chapter in cooperation between the two aviation gateways.
The signing took place as part of the current New Zealand Trade Mission to China which is visiting Shanghai and Beijing to seek to secure and grow trade and economic opportunities.
The MOU aims to strengthen strategic ties, encourage direct connectivity and support growing demand for trade and tourism between the South Island and China who are New Zealand’s largest trading partner.
The wider trade mission is focusing on unlocking new economic opportunities in tourism, education, and premium food and beverage, all vital to New Zealand’s future growth.
Sarah’s appointment to the delegation alongside 27 other NZ business leaders reflects both her leadership at Christchurch Airport and her deep understanding of New Zealand’s strategic relationship with China. As a member of the NZ China Business Council, she plays an active role in shaping dialogue between the two countries, offering insights into how trade, tourism and investment can benefit both sides.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says “I’m delighted to have Sarah join our trade delegation to China. Her deep knowledge of tourism, considerable international delegation experience and her leadership at Christchurch Airport, make her a valuable voice for the South Island. She brings a strong regional perspective to the table, which is vital as we look to strengthen our economic and people-to-people ties with China.”
Direct air connectivity is critical to trade and tourism growth and Christchurch Airport plays a key role in linking China to the South Island. In 2024 Chinese visitors spent NZ$1.1 billion and two-way trade with China reached NZ$38 billion1.
Sarah Ottrey says the Trade Mission is an opportunity to build on the foundations already in place. “The New Zealand–China relationship is vital to our regions and our economy. Through the NZ China Business Council, I’ve seen how trust and partnership create real momentum, and this mission gives us a chance to turn that into outcomes. Direct links through Christchurch Airport are one way we can bring people, goods and ideas together.”
The following week from 23 June a Christchurch Airport delegation will be in China hosting its industry leading Kia Ora South events celebrating its 11th year in market. The events are a platform to promote tourism and education travel from China to New Zealand. Traveling from New Zealand is a delegation of 25 industry leaders which is undertaken in conjunction with Tourism New Zealand and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
China's valid domestic invention patents reached 4.97 million as of May this year, underscoring the robust innovative capacity of the country's innovators and fostering the growth of new quality productive forces, according to the country's top intellectual property (IP) regulator on Friday.
China is rapidly evolving from a major IP importer to a leading global creator, according to the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA).
Guo Wen, spokesperson for CNIPA, highlighted the agency's efforts to address the real-world needs of innovators by refining patent application evaluation standards, raising application quality, and streamlining examination processes through a demand-driven review system.
"Between January and May, CNIPA processed 84,000 priority patent examinations, fast-tracked 116,000 applications, deferred 9,300 reviews and conducted 13 batches of centralized examinations," Guo said.
"This has resulted in the grant of high-value patents that strengthen industrial competitiveness, safeguard national industrial security, and drive sector-wide upgrades," she said.
To further elevate patent quality, CNIPA has enhanced rapid collaborative protection mechanisms and sharpened service precision. The agency operates 77 national IP protection centers, offering one-stop IP services.
Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) hosted a reception on June 24 for new establishments of international and Mainland businesses in Hong Kong. An occasion to thank businesses for their trust and support in Hong Kong's business environment, the event attracted nearly 350 senior representatives from companies worldwide. The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, officiated at the ceremony, reaffirming Hong Kong's role as a "super connector" and "super value-adder" connecting the Mainland and the rest of the world. He also encouraged companies to seize the myriad opportunities in Hong Kong to expand globally.
In his keynote speech, Mr Lee said that under the "one country, two systems" principle, Hong Kong enjoys the advantages of being connected to both the Mainland and the rest of the world, offering an open and easy place to do business, a long and established tradition of the rule of law, and a simple and low tax regime. Mr Lee highlighted that as the world's freest economy and one of the world's top three international financial centres, Hong Kong's global competitiveness has risen two places to rank third globally in the World Competitiveness Yearbook 2025, marking the second consecutive year of such advancement from its seventh place two years ago. In the recent World Investment Report released by the United Nations Trade and Development, the city has moved up to the third place in terms of foreign direct investment inflows. Mr Lee said that the Government will continue to co-ordinate the practical needs of enterprises across different sectors, enabling them to develop their business overseas through Hong Kong's multinational supply chain management centre and explore new strategic blue oceans for development.
This year, the reception not only expressed appreciation to the attending companies for their contributions to Hong Kong, but was also held to mark a significant milestone - the 25th anniversary of InvestHK. The department premiered its 25th anniversary video, celebrating its achievements and economic impact over the past quarter century, in the presence of Mr Lee; the Acting Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Dr Bernard Chan; the Permanent Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Ms Maggie Wong, and other distinguished guests.
The Director-General of Investment Promotion, Ms Alpha Lau, thanked InvestHK's clients, partners, stakeholders, and other government bureaux and departments for their staunch support. She said, "For a quarter-century, we have helped international companies from around the world establish, grow, thrive here and beyond, to Mainland China and Asia. We are also the launchpad for Mainland companies to go global. InvestHK actively promotes two-way foreign direct investment between China and the rest of the world, using Hong Kong as a platform. Looking forward, we will continue to connect markets, empower growth, and create long-term value through two-way investment."
In the year ended March 2025 New Zealand exported NZ$1.62 billion (~HK$7.25 billion) of total goods and services to Hong Kong and imported NZ$485.23 million (~HK$2.2 billion), representing a trade balance of NZ$1.13 billion (~HK$5.1 billion) and a total trade value of NZ$2.1 billion (~HK$9.5 billion).
This represented 1.5% of all exports of total goods and services in this time period and 0.4% of imports.
For trade in total goods and services Hong Kong ranked 13 of 237 for highest export value, 27 of 239 for highest import value, and 19 of 243 for highest total trade value.
Associate Finance Minister David Seymour welcomes the passing of first reading for a Bill to make it easier for New Zealand businesses to receive new investment, grow and pay higher wages.
The Overseas Investment (National Interest Test and Other Matters) Amendment Bill has passed its first reading in Parliament today (24 June 2025).
“New Zealand has been turning away opportunities for growth for too long. Having one of the most restrictive foreign investment regimes in the OECD means we’ve paid the price in lost opportunities, lower productivity, and stagnant wages. This Bill is about reversing that,” says Mr Seymour.
“In 2023, New Zealand’s stock of foreign direct investment sat at just 39% of GDP, far below the OECD average of 52%. Investors are looking elsewhere, so we’re showing them why New Zealand is the best place to bring their ideas and capital.
“International investment is critical to ensuring economic growth. It provides access to capital and technology that grows New Zealand businesses, enhances productivity, and supports high paying jobs.
“New Zealand’s productivity growth has closely tracked the amount of capital workers have had to work with. Our capital-to-labour ratio has seen very little growth in the last 10 years, averaging approximately 0.7 per cent in measured sectors annually. That’s compared to growth in the capital-to-labour ratio in measured sectors of around 2.2 percent in the previous 10 years. Unsurprisingly, productivity growth averaged 1.4 percent a year between 1993 and 2013, but only 0.2 percent between 2013 and 2023.
“The Bill will consolidate and simplify the screening process for less sensitive assets, introducing a modified national interest test that will enable the regulator to triage low-risk transactions, replacing the existing benefit to New Zealand test and investor test. If a national interest risk is identified, the regulator and relevant Minister will have a range of tools to manage this, including through imposing conditions or blocking the transaction.”
The current screening requirements will stay in place for investments in farmland and fishing quota.
“For all investments aside from residential land, farmland and fishing quota, decisions must be made in 15 days, unless the application could be contrary to New Zealand’s national interest. In contrast, the current timeframe in the Regulations for the benefit test is 70 days, and the average time taken for decisions to be made is 30 days for this test,” says Mr Seymour.
“High-value investments, such as significant business assets, existing forestry and non-farmland, account for around $14 billion of gross investment each year. We’re removing the barriers for these investments so that number can grow.
“The Ministerial Directive Letter will be updated to provide guidance on which assets should undergo further scrutiny and which risks may be contrary to New Zealand’s national interest. This guidance will provide a degree of certainty to investors and support a flexible regime which is responsive to new and emerging risks.
“The updated system brings New Zealand up to speed with other advanced economies. They benefit from the flow of money and the ideas that come with overseas investment. If we are going to raise wages, we can’t afford to ignore the simple fact that our competitors gain money and know-how from outside their borders.
“These reforms cut compliance costs, reduce processing times, and restore confidence that New Zealand is open for business. The Bill will be passed by the end of the year and the new regime implemented by early 2026. A new Ministerial Directive Letter will come into force at the same time.”
Parliament has passed legislation to formally establish Invest New Zealand, clearing the way for the new investment attraction agency to begin operations on 1 July 2025.
“This marks a major step in the Government’s plan to grow the economy by attracting more international capital, businesses and talent into New Zealand,” Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay says.
“Invest New Zealand will have a clear commercial focus—working directly with global investors to unlock opportunities that create jobs, boost innovation, and lift our long-term productivity.”
Budget 2025 committed $85 million over four years to support the agency’s establishment as an autonomous Crown entity.
Invest New Zealand will:
A private sector advisory group, chaired by Rob Morrison, has played a key role in designing the agency’s framework and will continue to provide strategic advice as the agency scales up.
“Invest New Zealand will act as a bridge between global capital and New Zealand’s economic potential,” Mr McClay says.
“It’s about making it easier to do business here—cutting red tape, speeding up decision-making, and targeting investment that delivers long-term benefits for the country.”
The agency will be up and running 1 July.
