CCCNZ holds 2025 special general meeting

Summary

The China Chamber of Commerce in New Zealand (CCCNZ) held its 2025 special general meeting on 16 May 2025 on level 19 of the Bank of China building in Auckland. Hu Beihai, head of Bank of China (New Zealand) Limited, chaired the meeting, which was attended by representatives of most voting member companies or by proxy. The meeting unanimously passed three resolutions: to re-register the chamber immediately under the Incorporated Societies Act 2022 to ensure lawful and compliant operations; to adopt the CCCNZ Constitution (2025 edition), which sets out the organisational structure, member rights and responsibilities, meeting mechanisms and financial management; and to elect and appoint a new executive council and registered contact person.

The new leadership covers key sectors including banking, aviation, construction, dairy and logistics. Hu Beihai is president and executive council member. Liu Bin, Wang Yong, Kang Xiaoyu, Li Zhiqiang, Xiao Zerun and Qu Kaiyong are vice-presidents and executive council members.

Executive council member companies include China Travel Service (NZ), Air China, China Eastern Airlines, China Forestry Group (NZ), Hainan Airlines, Haier New Zealand Investment Holding, Mengniu Yashili New Zealand Dairy, Blue River Dairy and Fuhua New Zealand. The chamber said it will continue to pursue its purpose of serving members, promoting cooperation and advancing China-New Zealand trade and economic ties, and will upgrade its services and strengthen exchanges and cooperation between businesses of the two countries. The meeting also confirmed Yang Ye as full-time secretary and Xia Yu as part-time secretary.

Commentary

The China Chamber of Commerce in New Zealand has completed its re-registration under the new Act and its leadership transition. The new leadership spans key sectors including banking, aviation, construction, dairy and logistics, with representatives of dairy companies such as Yili, Mengniu Yashili and Blue River Dairy joining the executive council, underscoring the deep presence of Chinese-invested dairy firms in New Zealand. China is the largest single market for New Zealand's dairy exports, which are dominated by Fonterra, while Chinese-invested dairy companies participate directly in competition for upstream milk supply through building plants or acquisitions in New Zealand, creating a mix of cooperation and pressure for local small and medium-sized farms and processors.

The chamber's compliance-based operation helps reduce regulatory risk for Chinese-invested enterprises operating locally, but what matters more to New Zealand small and medium-sized business owners is that the moves of Chinese-invested dairy firms in raw milk procurement and capacity expansion could change regional milk prices and contract-processing demand. On the other hand, the presence of several aviation and logistics companies among chamber members reflects the recovery and expansion of passenger and freight networks between China and New Zealand, offering local businesses that rely on Chinese supply chains or markets more stable logistics options. For New Zealand small and medium-sized enterprises, the chamber's leadership change is not merely an internal matter for the Chinese-invested business community but a window on where Chinese investment in New Zealand is focused and where cooperation is likely.

Keywords: China Chamber of Commerce in New Zealand, special general meeting, constitution amendment, leadership transition, Hu Beihai, re-registration under the Incorporated Societies Act, executive council, China-New Zealand trade and economic ties, Auckland, Chinese-invested enterprises

Image for illustration purposes

Source: CCCNZ