Business Sydney
LUNCHEON WITH | THE HON GRANT ROBERTSON
New Zealand's Minister of Finance, Minister for Sport and Recreation, Minister for Cyclone Recovery, Leader of the House
Friday, 16 June 2023
12:00 PM to 2:15 PM
Where
MinterEllison Office Sydney
Registration
Business Sydney Members & Guests
Minister Robertson was visiting Australia having recently delivered his sixth Budget for the New Zealand Government.
As this year marks the 40th anniversary of the Australia New Zealand Closer Economic Relations (CER) Trade Agreement, Minister Robertson outlined what Australia and New Zealand have achieved through our trade and economic cooperation, to date, and what the future of this partnership might look like. He will also provided an update on New Zealand’s current economic situation and outlook.
We were also fortunate to have the Hon Courtney Houssos MLC, NSW Minister for Finance and NSW Minister for Natural Resources, who joined us to give a special introduction and welcome Minister Robertson to Sydney.
Joining Minister Robertson for a Q&A panel discussion was Australia’s former High Commissioner to New Zealand, the Hon Patricia Forsythe AM, and Kate Lane, Partner – Finance at MinterEllisonRuddWatts in NZ.
Event Partner
Event Highlights
Special Guest
THE HON GRANT ROBERTSON
Minister of Finance, Minister for Sport and Recreation, Minister for Cyclone Recovery, Leader of the House
The Hon. Grant Robertson was born in Palmerston North and lived in Hastings before his family settled in Dunedin.
He studied politics at Otago, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in 1995. At university he was the President of the Otago University Students’ Association and became Co-President of the New Zealand University Students Association.
Grant joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in 1997 where he managed the New Zealand Overseas Aid Programme to Samoa. He was then posted to the United Nations in New York, working on global environment and development issues.
On his return to New Zealand, Grant became an advisor to former Prime Minister Helen Clark. Following this, he took a business development role with the University of Otago, working with researchers, investors and businesses to develop and commercialise the university’s world-leading research.
Grant’s belief in social justice and a desire to see every New Zealander achieve their potential led him to politics, and he has been the Member of Parliament for Wellington Central since November 2008. In Opposition, Grant held a range of portfolios, including Finance from 2014 to 2017. After the 2017 election, Grant was appointed Minister of Finance, Minister for Sport and Recreation, and Associate Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage.
Grant also served as Deputy Prime Minister under Jacinda Ardern in the 2020 Labour Government, as well as Minister of Finance, Minister for Infrastructure, Minister for Racing, and Minister for Sport and Recreation.
He met his partner Alf in 1998 playing rugby and their family now includes four grandchildren. In 2009 they were joined in a civil union.