Groser and Associates

1. Business / Trading Name: Groser & Associates Limited

2. Company Number: 7122516

3. NZBN (NZ Business Number): 9429047128361

4. Entity Type: NZ Limited Company (privately held)

5. Business Classification: Data Not Found (not publicly listed; likely an international trade consultancy service)

6. Industry Category: International Affairs (as self-described on LinkedIn)

7. Year Founded: 2018 (incorporated 12 November 2018; established operations in 2019)

8. Addresses: Registered Office: 24 Orchard Street, Wadestown, Wellington, 6012, New Zealand

9. Website URL: groser.co.nz

10. LinkedIn URL: linkedin.com/company/groser-and-associates (Company page)

11. Company Hub NZ URL: https://www.companyhub.nz/companyDetails.cfm?nzbn=9429047128361

12. NZ Companies Office URL: https://app.companiesoffice.govt.nz/companies/app/ui/pages/companies/7122516

13. Social Media URLs: No official social media pages apart from LinkedIn (no active Twitter/Facebook identified – the firm maintains a low public profile)

14. Ultimate Holding Company: None (independent; no parent entity)

15. Key Shareholders: Timothy John Groser (founder – presumably sole or majority shareholder). No other shareholders are publicly recorded.

16. Leadership: Hon. Tim Groser – Founder and Chairman. (Former New Zealand Trade Minister and Ambassador; leads the firm’s strategic direction.)

17. Staff: A very small team. Aside from Tim Groser, known staff include Rolly Feliciano (Part-time Associate). The company size is only 2–10 employees.

18. Staff with Previous Government Roles: Tim Groser (former Cabinet Minister, Trade and Climate Change Issues, and former NZ Ambassador to the US). No other staff are known to have held government office.

19. Past Employees: Data Not Found (no notable past employees publicly identified, given the firm’s recent establishment and small size)

20. Clients: Not disclosed publicly. Groser & Associates does not publish its client list, in line with common lobbying industry practice of secrecy. (No clients have been voluntarily named by the firm or in official registers, as NZ has no mandatory lobbyist registry.)

21. Industries/Sectors Represented: Primarily international trade and foreign affairs (reflecting Groser’s trade negotiation background). Likely focuses on export industries (e.g. agriculture/dairy) and international business sectors affected by trade policy, as well as climate and environmental policy (areas of Groser’s past ministerial portfolios). Exact sectors served are not publicly stated.

22. Publicly Disclosed Engagements: Very limited. No formal disclosures – New Zealand lacks a public lobbyist meeting register, and the firm has not voluntarily revealed its lobbying activities. One known public engagement was a free public talk on the NZ-UK trade agreement organised by an external body (NZ Institute of International Affairs) where Groser was the speaker. Beyond such events, any lobbying meetings or contracts remain hidden from public view.

23. Affiliations: The firm’s principal is active in international policy networks. Tim Groser serves on the Asia Society’s Global Council (as “Chairman, Groser and Associates”), reflecting international affiliation. Domestically, Groser interacts with groups like the NZ Institute of International Affairs (as a guest speaker). The organisation itself is not publicly listed as a member of any lobbying associations or similar professional bodies in NZ.

24. Sponsorships / Collaborations: None known. There are no recorded sponsorships or formal collaborations undertaken in the name of Groser & Associates. (The firm appears to operate mainly as a private consultancy and does not sponsor public events or partner openly with other organisations.)

25. Events: None organised by the firm publicly. Any events involving Groser & Associates have been through external organisers. For example, Groser’s 2023 lecture on the UK trade deal was hosted by NZIIA, not by his firm. There is no evidence of the company itself hosting conferences or public forums.

26. Political Donations: No records found. Neither Groser & Associates nor Tim Groser personally appear in public electoral donation records in recent years. There is no indication of the firm financing political parties or candidates (at least above disclosure thresholds).

27. Controversies: The firm’s figurehead has been connected to significant controversies. Notably, it was revealed that New Zealand’s spy agency (GCSB) covertly monitored rival candidates to assist Tim Groser’s 2013 campaign for WTO Director-General – a move critics called an abuse of power for personal gain. While this incident predates Groser & Associates, it underscores the ethical questions surrounding Groser’s pursuit of influence. Additionally, the very nature of Groser founding a lobbying outfit after a long ministerial career has attracted concern in the debate over New Zealand’s lax lobbying regulations. There have been no publicly reported scandals specific to Groser & Associates’ own client work – largely because its activities are opaque.

28. Other Information of Note: Groser & Associates is essentially a vehicle for Tim Groser’s consulting in international policy. The firm explicitly markets Groser’s unique blend of political connections and trade expertise – Groser notes that his “title” (Hon. and former Ambassador) gives him entrée at the highest political levels. This highlights how the firm leverages Groser’s status and network to “fix ‘wicked’ problems” in international affairs. The company’s establishment in 2019 marked the direct monetisation of Groser’s diplomatic and political experience post-public service.

29. Recipient of Wage Subsidy Scheme: No. There is no evidence that Groser & Associates received COVID-19 wage subsidies. The firm’s name does not appear in the official lists of wage subsidy recipients, suggesting it did not apply for or qualify for pandemic-related wage support. (This is unsurprising given its small size and likely resilience of consultancy revenue.)

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Sources

[1] GROSER & ASSOCIATES LIMITED – Company Information, New Zealand Business Directory (nzwao.com), https://www.nzwao.com/companies/groser-associates-limited/

[2] GROSER & ASSOCIATES LIMITED – NZ Companies Register Summary, New Zealand Business Directory, https://www.nzwao.com/companies/groser-associates-limited/ (Company number, NZBN, incorporation date)

[3] Groser and Associates (LinkedIn company page), LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/company/groser-and-associates (Website URL and industry category as listed on LinkedIn)

[4] Manawatū Guardian: “Former ambassador to the US Tim Groser to speak in Palmerston North on trade agreement”, NZ Herald (Manawatū Guardian), 25 Sep 2023, https://www.nzherald.co.nz/manawatu-guardian/news/former-ambassador-to-the-united-states-tim-groser-to-speak-in-palmerston-north-on-trade-agreement/UYJ4APDBZFEPTAZXMNQIHJITNM/ (Establishment of firm in 2019)

[5] Groser & Associates – Homepage Bio (Tim Groser profile), Groser & Associates website, http://groser.co.nz/ (Groser’s description of his specialty and career timeline)

[6] Asia Society – Network of Experts (Tim Groser profile), Asia Society Policy Institute, 2021, https://asiasociety.org/policy-institute/network-experts (Lists Tim Groser as “Chairman, Groser and Associates”)

[7] RNZ News: “‘Unchecked’ industry lobbying needs regulating, say ex-politicians”, Radio New Zealand, 7 Apr 2025, https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/557401/unchecked-industry-lobbying-needs-regulating-say-ex-politicians (Calls for lobbying register, quotes on cooling-off period and transparency)

[8] Integrity Institute Report: “The Govt’s lobbying reforms are at a crossroads”, The Integrity Institute of NZ (June 2024), via NZ Parliament (PDF), https://theintegrityinstitute.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Lobbying-2406-reform-crossroads.pdf (Details of MoJ meetings with lobbyists, listing Tim Groser/Groser & Associates as participant)

[9] RNZ News: “EU free trade agreement signing: Former National trade minister Tim Groser ‘very pleased’”, Radio New Zealand, 10 Jul 2023, https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/493480/eu-free-trade-agreement-signing-former-national-trade-minister-tim-groser-very-pleased (Groser welcoming EU-NZ FTA, strategic comments)

[10] NZ Herald: Audrey Young, “Industry lobby backed Groser”, NZ Herald, 25 May 2005, https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/industry-lobby-backed-groser/3FDMSARDYFNOPIIUJ7MHHDZR4Y/ (Agriculture industry lobbied for Groser to continue WTO role in 2005, illustrating industry ties)

[11] NZ Herald: “Revealed: Tim Groser sent GCSB spies after WTO job competitors”, NZ Herald, 15 Mar 2015 / updated 2018, https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/revealed-tim-groser-sent-gcsb-spies-after-wto-job-competitors/V4MPAQ5UO62XL4E2GJVHEVGHXY/ (Exposure of GCSB spying campaign in 2013 to aid Groser’s WTO candidacy)

[12] RNZ News: “GCSB lawful in supporting Groser’s WTO bid”, Radio New Zealand, 20 Jun 2017, https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/333429/gcsb-lawful-in-supporting-groser-s-wto-bid (Inspector-General report on WTO spying, lawful but questions raised)

[13] Green Party Press Release: “Spy agencies used for personal gain, again”, Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand, 23 Mar 2015, https://www.greens.org.nz/spy-agencies-used-personal-gain-again (Green MP Kennedy Graham criticizing use of GCSB for Groser’s benefit in WTO race)

[14] Bryce Edwards, “Political Roundup: Lobbyist says $250,000 will stop ‘anything a government wants to do’”, NZ Herald, 13 Jun 2024, https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/bryce-edwards-political-roundup-lobbyist-says-250000-will-stop-anything-a-government-wants-to-do/JWWAAG3MJREEVMQTRYWRHY5TY4/ (Overview of NZ lobbying industry, quoting anonymous lobbyist on fees and influence; discusses revolving door examples including Tim Groser)

[15] LinkedIn – Employees at Groser & Associates, LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/company/groser-and-associates/people/ (Shows Rolly Feliciano as part-time associate, company size 2–10)

[16] Parliament NZ – Hansard (Address in Reply 2005 – Tim Groser), NZ Parliament, 15 Nov 2005, https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/hansard-debates/rhr/document/47HansD_20051115_00001390/groser-tim-address-in-reply (Background on Groser entering politics in 2005, leaving MFAT)

[17] NZ Herald: “Winston Peters names next ambassador to US”, NZ Herald, 13 Sep 2018, https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/winston-peters-names-next-ambassador-to-us/5ZKMU6ZSZKXZPP5HZWQGKR7IHQ/ (Labour-led government ends Groser’s term as ambassador in 2018, context)

[18] Stuff News: “Groser coming home, ending term as Ambassador to US”, Newshub/Stuff (via archive), 5 Aug 2018, (Archived) https://web.archive.org/web/20180805042329/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2018/08/tim-groser-coming-home-ending-term-as-ambassador-to-us.html (Government unhappy with Groser’s performance on tariff issues)

[19] Tim Groser – Wikipedia (Last updated 2024), Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Groser (General biography; references his establishing of Groser & Associates in 2019 and comment on EU FTA)

[20] Integrity Initiative & Transparency International Campaign Statement (Level the Playing Field coalition), Transparency International NZ, Mar 2023, (summarized in RNZ) – see Source 7, RNZ, 7 Apr 2025 (Proposals including lobbyist register, cooling-off period to prevent cases like Groser’s).

Spot anything in this entry that is wrong? Please either leave a comment at the end or email, in confidence: bryce@democracyproject.nz