About this Event
Join us for the next lecture in our new seminar series
The golden weather for New Zealand trade policy - from 1995 to roughly 2017 - is well and truly over. The world trading system is more turbulent, uncertain and challenging, but New Zealand is well placed to navigate this new world trade disorder.
We will, however, need to double-down on three inter-connected ‘pillars’ of trade policy: rules; resilience and innovation.
This presentation - by MFAT’s Deputy Secretary Vangelis Vitalis - will explain what this means and how it can help us prevent the jungle from growing back.
About this event
This will be a hybrid event. Please use this site to register if you plan to attend it in person.
If you would like to attend it virtually, please use THIS LINK to register.
About the presenter
Vangelis Vitalis is Deputy Secretary, Trade and Economic at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. He is New Zealand’s Chief Negotiator for the New Zealand-India Free Trade Agreement and has led or helped conclude several major trade agreements, including those with the European Union, CPTPP, ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand, China, and Malaysia.
He previously served as New Zealand’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organisation in Geneva, and has also been Ambassador to the European Union and NATO. He has held key international leadership roles through APEC and CPTPP host years, bringing deep experience in trade policy and global economic diplomacy.
About this seminar series
New ideas, robust evidence, and insights from leading thinkers are crucial to strengthening the Treasury’s economic analysis and policy advice. Our new guest lecture theme — Navigating Global Shifts: Resilience, Challenges and Opportunities for New Zealand — invites us to reflect on how Aotearoa New Zealand can navigate an increasingly complex and interconnected global environment.
This series explores the major global forces that shape our economic landscape, including evolving trade relationships, geopolitical developments, and the global movement of people, capital, and ideas. Through these discussions, we aim to deepen our understanding of how New Zealand can build economic resilience, respond effectively to uncertainty, and harness our regional and international partnerships to support economic performance, productivity, and our living standards.
Our speakers explore strategies for mitigating the impacts of global disruptions — from pandemics and climate‑related events to geopolitical tensions and supply‑chain shocks – while also examining potential opportunities presented by rapid technological shifts, digital economy, and global innovations, to name a few. The series considers the role of government in supporting economic transitions, strengthening national resilience, and ensuring that New Zealand remains well‑positioned to meet emerging global opportunities. By bringing together diverse perspectives, this series seeks to inspire new ways of thinking about New Zealand’s economic future and to support informed, forward‑looking policymaking.
Please note that the views, opinions, findings, and conclusions expressed in the Treasury Guest Lecture Series are those of the individual presenters. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the New Zealand Treasury or the New Zealand Government.
For updates and our latest research visit: www.treasury.govt.nz
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
The Treasury, level 3, 1 The Terrace, Wellington, New Zealand
USD 0.00
