NZUS Council
1. Business / Trading Name: New Zealand United States Council Incorporated (commonly known as the NZUS Council).
2. Company Number: 1205530.
3. NZBN: 9429043013463.
4. Entity Type: Incorporated Society (a non-profit membership-based organisation).
5. Business Classification: Data Not Found (not officially classified under an ANZSIC code; the NZUS Council’s LinkedIn profile lists the industry as “International Affairs”).
6. Industry Category: International relations and trade advocacy (de facto, per its mission and activities).
7. Year Founded: 2001. (Incorporated on 18 April 2002.)
8. Addresses: Physical/Registered – Level 9, 90 Symonds Street, Grafton, Auckland 1010, New Zealand (current since Dec 2019). Postal – P.O. Box 47, Auckland. (Previous registered address (2003–2019): Level 3, 100 Mayoral Drive, Auckland, co-located with the Auckland Chamber of Commerce.)
9. Website URL: nzuscouncil.org (official website of the NZUS Council).
10. LinkedIn URL: linkedin.com/company/nzuscouncil (NZUS Council company page on LinkedIn).
11. Company Hub NZ URL: Data Not Found (no public listing found on Company Hub NZ).
12. NZ Companies Office URL: https://app.businessregisters.govt.nz/sber-businesses/viewInstance/view.html?id=229a78e05307b6d8bf1b29667f00cb179849a5c4057345df&_timestamp=2314187144435771 (Incorporated Societies Register)
13. Social Media URLs: X (Twitter) – twitter.com/nzuscouncil ; Facebook – facebook.com/nzuscouncil ; YouTube – youtube.com/channel/UC4g0hS1y-g1yN8P-8HScAow (official YouTube channel). (The Council does not appear to maintain an Instagram presence.)
14. Ultimate Holding Company: None (the NZUS Council is an independent incorporated society, not owned or controlled by any parent entity).
15. Key Shareholders: None – as an incorporated society, the Council has members rather than shareholders. (Its membership includes corporate, academic, and government entities instead of equity shareholders.)
16. Leadership: Chair – Jonathan Mason (appointed 2024; former corporate CFO and director, succeeded former Chair Rt Hon Rosemary Banks). Executive Director – Fiona Cooper (Executive Director from 2014–2018, reappointed 1 March 2024; former diplomat). “Friends of NZUS Council” Chair – Fran O’Sullivan ONZM (founding director who led the 2001 taskforce establishing the Council; former Advisory Board Chair). (The Executive Committee also includes Simon Bridges, CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber and former MP, among other industry and government representatives.)
17. Staff: The Council operates with a single full-time staff member, the Executive Director. Additional support is provided by contractors and part-time staff. For example, Natalia Rimell serves in an administrative and coordination role (authoring Council news updates and event postings). (Basic administration, accounting, and office facilities are contracted or contributed by member organisations.)
18. Staff with Previous Government Roles: The NZUS Council’s Executive Director and various members have held government positions. Executive Director Fiona Cooper is a former New Zealand diplomat who served in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (including a posting to the NZ Embassy in Washington, D.C., and as an advisor in ministerial offices). (Additionally, while not direct employees, many Council leaders come from government backgrounds – e.g. former Ambassador Rosemary Banks and former Consul-General Leon Grice have led the Council in governance roles.)
19. Past Employees: Stephen Jacobi – Executive Director from 2005 to 2014, noted for his extensive trade diplomacy background. Fiona Cooper – served as Executive Director from 2014–2018 and returned to that role in 2024. (During gaps in executive leadership, administrative officer Christine Connon acted in a compliance role, being listed as the society’s contact officer from 2020. Past Chairs (who were not employees) have included Leon Grice (2016–2022) and Rosemary Banks (2022–2023).)
20. Clients: Not applicable – the NZUS Council is not a consultancy and has no external clients. It functions as a membership-based advocacy organisation serving its members’ and New Zealand’s interests (funded by corporate members and government rather than fee-paying clients).
21. Industries/Sectors Represented: The Council’s membership and leadership span numerous sectors: Agriculture and Food (e.g. Fonterra, Beef + Lamb NZ, Zespri Group); Aviation and Tourism (Air New Zealand, Tourism New Zealand) ; Finance and Business Services (ASB Bank, BusinessNZ/ExportNZ) ; Technology and Aerospace (Kea Aerospace, Indevin tech); Education (University of Auckland); and Government Agencies involved in trade (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, New Zealand Trade & Enterprise). This reflects a broad coalition of exporters, investors, and public-sector stakeholders with interests in the U.S. market.
22. Publicly Disclosed Engagements: The NZUS Council regularly engages in public policy discussions and events, though formal lobbying disclosures are not required in NZ. Notable engagements include submissions to Parliament – e.g. it strongly endorsed the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) during a Parliamentary select committee review, arguing for ratification to expand US–NZ trade. It co-hosts high-profile conferences such as the US–NZ Partnership Forum (a biannual summit of business and government leaders from both countries). The Council also sponsors leadership exchange programs, like sending New Zealand MPs to Washington, D.C. (through the NZ/US Parliamentary Friendship Group), and runs the Mike Moore Congressional Internship Programme in partnership with NZ universities to place young New Zealand interns in U.S. Congressional offices. It frequently issues press releases and commentary on trade agreements and foreign policy (for instance, welcoming trade deal developments or commenting on U.S.–NZ relations in the media).
23. Affiliations: The NZUS Council works closely with several aligned organisations. Its direct counterpart in Washington, D.C. is the United States–New Zealand Council (US–NZ Council), with which it collaborates on Partnership Forums and other initiatives. The Council is institutionally connected to New Zealand’s government and business networks: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) is the Council’s largest funder and holds an ex-officio seat on its executive committee, and other government agencies (like NZ Trade & Enterprise and Tourism NZ) are members. The NZUS Council is also linked with the Auckland Business Chamber and BusinessNZ – for example, the Chamber co-organises events such as the US Business Summit and its CEO sits on the Council’s executive. Prominent business advocacy bodies and individuals overlap with the Council (the Executive Director of ExportNZ, a division of BusinessNZ, is on the Council’s board ). Additionally, the Council maintains an informal “Friends of the NZUS Council” network (an advisory group of business and civic leaders chaired by Fran O’Sullivan). These affiliations illustrate the Council’s integrated role in the NZ–US bilateral relationship ecosystem, bridging public and private sectors.
24. Sponsorships / Collaborations: The NZUS Council often partners with other institutions to further its mission. It administers the Mike Moore Congressional Internship in collaboration with the University of Canterbury and Victoria University of Wellington, sending young New Zealanders to intern in the U.S. Congress. The Council teamed up with the Auckland Business Chamber to launch the United States Business Summit in 2022, an annual conference on NZ–US trade and investment. It has co-hosted events with the U.S. Embassy and American Chamber of Commerce in NZ – for example, public forums featuring visiting U.S. dignitaries and discussions on trade (such as a 2019 webinar with former US Ambassador Derek Shearer). The Council also collaborates with academic institutions (e.g. facilitating research partnerships like a Penn State–University of Auckland initiative, where the Council’s members helped build links in science and education). Such sponsorships and collaborations extend the Council’s influence by leveraging external expertise and resources.
25. Events: The NZUS Council organises and participates in a range of events to advance NZ–US relations. A cornerstone event is the US–NZ Partnership Forum, a high-level dialogue held roughly every two years, which the Council co-hosts with its US counterpart – these forums gather senior officials, business leaders, and academics to discuss bilateral cooperation (for instance, a Pacific Partnership Forum was held in Washington, D.C. in May 2013). The Council also co-organises the United States Business Summit (launched in Auckland in 2022) to focus on trade opportunities with the US. It convenes regular roundtable discussions and briefings for its members with visiting U.S. policymakers and experts (often in conjunction with MFAT or the US Embassy). The NZUS Council leads delegations of its members to the United States about once or twice a year to engage with American stakeholders, and in turn hosts US delegations or speakers in New Zealand (e.g. hosting US Coast Guard officers or think-tank experts for public forums). In addition, the Council runs outreach events like public seminars (such as a 2024 talk by the Executive Director on the US elections) and private briefings for members. These events serve to build networks and disseminate the Council’s pro-engagement message.
26. Political Donations: No political donations by the NZUS Council are on record. The Council itself does not donate to political parties or candidates (it receives funding from members and government rather than making contributions). (No disclosed political donations.)
27. Controversies: The NZUS Council’s advocacy has occasionally attracted controversy due to its alignment with business and government interests. During the contentious Trans-Pacific Partnership debate, the Council was criticised by anti-TPP activists for downplaying sovereignty concerns – it publicly asserted that leaked TPP investment texts posed “no threat” to New Zealand’s regulatory autonomy, a stance strongly opposed by academics like Prof. Jane Kelsey who argued the agreement would undermine national interests. The Council’s close ties to government have also raised questions: it receives taxpayer funding yet operates outside formal transparency requirements, illustrating New Zealand’s unregulated lobbying environment. Good-government watchdogs note that groups like the NZUS Council can influence policy behind the scenes without disclosure, benefiting from New Zealand’s lack of a lobbying register. Additionally, some have pointed out a “revolving door” dynamic – for example, former officials who were involved in NZ–US diplomacy (like ex-ambassadors and trade negotiators) later taking leadership roles in the Council, which could blur the lines between public duty and private lobbying. While the Council portrays itself as a non-partisan promoter of bilateral ties, critics argue it exemplifies “integrity washing” by packaging corporate and political agenda-setting as public diplomacy, with insufficient transparency around whose interests are being advanced.
28. Other Information of Note: The NZUS Council is often described as a “Track II” diplomacy entity – a quasi-official forum where business and civil society actors complement government-to-government relations. Its formation in 2001 was a strategic response to repair and deepen NZ–US relations after years of estrangement; founding figures like Fran O’Sullivan led a private-sector taskforce (“Creating Coalitions of Common Interest”) to launch the Council as a fresh channel for dialogue. The Council’s structure effectively institutionalises public-private partnership: it is co-funded by the New Zealand Government (MFAT) and by private enterprises, and in return it provides advice and advocacy that often reinforce official foreign policy aims (e.g. promoting free trade, defense cooperation). This unique position means the Council can convene influential stakeholders from Cabinet Ministers to CEOs in an informal setting. The Council’s role has evolved with the geopolitical climate – while trade agreements (TPP, etc.) were an early focus, its agenda now spans digital policy, security, and Indo-Pacific strategy in step with NZ and US priorities. Notably, the NZUS Council played a key role in lobbying for improved US visa access for New Zealanders (supporting initiatives like the 2018 KIWI Act) and continues to advocate for a bilateral free trade agreement with the US. In summary, the Council operates at the nexus of diplomacy and lobbying – an unusual model that leverages New Zealand’s small-country flexibility but also highlights the grey area of influence in a system without mandatory lobbyist disclosure.
29. Recipient of Wage Subsidy Scheme: Data Not Found. (No evidence was found that the NZUS Council applied for or received COVID-19 wage subsidies. Given the Council’s minimal staff and continued government funding during the pandemic, it likely did not require wage subsidy support.)
Sources:
[1] New Zealand United States Council Incorporated entry, BizDb (business information database), https://www.bizdb.co.nz/company/9429043013463/
[2] United States of America – New Zealand United States Council established in 2001 (trade and economic links advocacy), New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade, https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/countries-and-regions/americas/united-states-of-america
[3] New Zealand–United States relations (NZUS Council description), Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand–United_States_relations
[4] NZUS Council – LinkedIn “About us” section (established 2001; funded by business, academia, civil society, and government), LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/company/nzuscouncil
[5] NZUS Council – BusinessCheck Company Summary (incorporated society, reg. 18 Apr 2002, addresses), businesscheck.co.nz, https://businesscheck.co.nz/ltd/9429043013463/
[6] NZUS Council announces appointment of new chair Jonathan Mason (succeeds Rosemary Banks), American Chamber of Commerce NZ – Latest News, 04 Jun 2024, https://www.amcham.co.nz/Latest-News?pg=10,8
[7] NZ–US Business Council Chair appointed – Rosemary Banks (background and quotes), Scoop News, 31 Aug 2022, https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU2208/S00417/nz-us-business-council-chair.htm
[8] NZUS Council Executive Director Fiona Cooper – Remarks (rejoined as ED 1 March 2024, previously ED 2014–18; MFAT and private sector background), NZUS Council website, 02 Aug 2024, https://www.nzuscouncil.org/council-executive-director-fiona-cooper-remarks-to-u3a-christchurch/
[9] Our People – NZUS Council (executive committee profiles: Jonathan Mason, Simon Bridges, Reuben Levermore, Fiona Cooper, Justine Arroll, Joshua Tan, Alan Thomson, Fran O’Sullivan, Erik Lithander, James Waite, etc.), NZUS Council website, https://www.nzuscouncil.org/about/our-people/
[10] Members – NZUS Council (corporate/government members list and funding info; MFAT largest funder, one paid full-time position), NZUS Council website, https://www.nzuscouncil.org/members/
[11] The NZUS Council strongly endorses TPP (press release – Council supports TPP ratification at select committee, quotes ED Fiona Cooper Clarke), It’s Our Future (TPP opposition website), 07 Apr 2016, https://itsourfuture.org.nz/the-nz-us-council-strongly-endorses-tpp/
[12] NZUS Council press release: “Leaked TPP text no threat to NZ sovereignty” (Council downplays sovereignty concerns over TPP investor provisions), Scoop News, 14 Jun 2012, https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1206/S00116/leaked-investor-state-text-is-no-threat-to-nz-sovereignty.htm
[13] NZUS Council sponsored MPs’ visit to Washington (Parliamentary Friendship Group co-chairs visit D.C., Council media release), Scoop News, 30 Jul 2012, https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1207/S00206/nzus-council-sponsors-mps-visit-to-washington-dc.htm
[14] Stephen Jacobi biography (Executive Director NZUS Council 2005–2014), Victoria University of Wellington – Contemporary China Research Centre, https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/chinaresearchcentre/…/stephen-jacobi
[15] Transparency International NZ – Blog on lobbying oversight (mentions lack of oversight in NZ, implies bodies like NZUS Council operate without independent scrutiny), 10 Nov 2022, https://www.transparency.org.nz/blog/new-zealand-lobbying-oversight-lacking-in-comparison-to-similar-countries
[16] Newsroom report on lobbying reform go-slow (context of NZ lobbying including informal influence), Newsroom.co.nz, 05 Mar 2025 (retrieved summary)
[17] Leon Grice – Chair NZUS Council from Dec 2016 (LinkedIn profile; also former Consul-General in Los Angeles), LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/leongrice (as referenced via Google cache)
[18] Leon Grice speech (notes being asked to chair NZUS Council as a track two NGO to advance NZ’s interests with US), NZUS Council website, 25 Nov 2019, https://www.nzuscouncil.org/speech-us-new-zealand-relationship-collaborative-trends/
[19] Investment Climate Statement 2023 – New Zealand (US State Dept report, mentions NZUS Council established 2001, non-partisan, funded by business and government), U.S. Department of State, https://www.state.gov…
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