Catherine O'Connell attends Young President’s Group gathering at NZ Embassy in Tokyo

Pavlova, Lamb chops, Garage Project beers, and great information sharing. What’s not to like?

Catherine enjoyed taking part in the Young Presidents Organisation (YPO)  gathering at the New Zealand Embassy in Tokyo on February 17 for a fireside chat with Ambassador Ms Lucy Duncan, Charge d’Affaires a.i. YPO is a global network of young chief executives focused on “better leaders through learning and idea exchange.”

The event was held under Chatham House Rules but broadly the themes covered on the topic of “Strategic Horizons: New Zealand and Japan in a Changing World”, were a snapshot of New Zealand’s society, identity, and economy; the challenging global outlook for 2026; and the deepening New Zealand–Japan relationship, including trade, investment, and new security cooperation agreements.

The discussion also addressed New Zealand’s trade architecture and export growth strategy, opportunities in tourism and foreign direct investment, cultural parallels between Māori and Japanese traditions, and how trust and leadership are built in Japan.

Questions were asked about New Zealand’s stance between the US and China, the future of security cooperation with Japan, what Japan can learn from New Zealand’s tourism strategy, and how New Zealand is managing identity and Māori–Crown relations compared with tensions seen in other countries.