Agribusiness and trade: India can be a game-changer for Kiwi exporters
Allott and his fellow QualityNZ directors and shareholders, who include cricket greats Stephen Fleming, Brendon McCullum and Daniel Vettori, and more recently, some New Zealand rugby names, are the voices of experience in thinking long-term about India.
After 12 years of dedication, digging deep into their India and Kiwi sports and business networks to facilitate export of agriculture products and education and recruitment services, their company today has more than 600 customers in 43 cities, and early next year will launch a third enterprise specialising in tourism and travel.
Allott describes the company as 'still very small… but poised to become the gateway to India for New Zealand products and services'.
'Shareholders have been very patient,' he says.
Allot believes sports-mad India is starting to take New Zealand 'seriously', thanks not only to the in-country work of our cricketing stars – he says former Black Caps captains Fleming, McCullum and Vettori have 'huge reputations' there – but that of Government ministers in the past year.
'Stephen Fleming, [former National Prime Minister] John Key and Brendon McCullum have had significant impacts ... but until quite recently, no New Zealand Prime Minister came into the country. Unfortunately, I don't think a lot of people understand India needs to be respected before it will do any sort of relationship.
India Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his New Zealand counterpart Christopher Luxon wave at media ahead of their bilateral meeting in March. Photo / Interest.co.nz
'The frustration is we've had to watch a whole lot of other countries come in over the top of us in trade negotiations.'
Allot has advice for Kiwi companies eyeing India's rich promise.
'Don't expect that you're just going to send 50 containers tomorrow and think it's a ready-made market. The Indians are far smarter than that. You need your brands and you need to prove your product quality and product safety. It's not a dumping ground for commodities.'
To hear a New Zealand sport-grown company's commitment to India is now paying off will please the India-New Zealand Business Council, which makes development of sports diplomacy one of the top recommendations in its new report on the (slow) progress of growth in the trade relationship.
Also known as 'soft power', sports diplomacy is probably best explained by Peter Miskimmin, head of sport diplomacy for Crown entity Sport NZ: 'Sport diplomacy is about unlocking added value for NZ Inc, New Zealand agencies or New Zealand, by leveraging sporting assets, our sporting people, teams and brands in a way that increases political, economic and social outcomes.'
Miskimmin says next year offers a fertile landscape for leveraging this soft power as the two nations mark 100 years of sporting connections.
The anniversary coincides with tours of New Zealand by the India men's cricket team and men's and women's hockey teams. Before then, the White Ferns, New Zealand's top women's cricket team, will play in the World Cricket Cup in India early next year.
Meanwhile, the business council says sports diplomacy is not just a government concern but one where businesses can also benefit.
'New Zealand exporters have long appreciated that a famous national cricketer or rugby icon can help capture a stake in India's massive market,' says its new report, an update on a 2023 effort that roundly scolded New Zealand for its long neglect of a potentially enormous market.
While noting the current Government's 'much greater interest' in trade with India and 'the highly significant and successful' visit this year by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, the report doesn't pull punches on the work still to be done.
'Looking back on 2024, one could be forgiven for thinking that trade between New Zealand India is in a healthy state. Post-Covid, our exports and imports have both rebounded – albeit not quite to pre-Covid levels. Exports to India especially have risen to the point where exports and imports are nearly the same.
'The future looks bright … or does it?' questions council chairman Bharat Chawla in the foreword.
He notes service exports continue to be dominated by education and tourism and are well down on pre-Covid days. The primary sector did better last year than in 2023 but its performance was still down on 2019, and manufacturing appeared to have had an 'excellent' 2024 but most of the growth had been in scrap metal sales.
In comparison, Chawla notes the 'meteoric' trade performance of export competitors Australia, Britain and Canada.
'In this time of rising geopolitical tension and uncertainty around US tariffs affecting trading partners including China, why wouldn't we look to build our relationship with the fifth-largest economy on Earth?'
Noting the two countries shared 'a long and rich history', Chawla concludes New Zealand is 'engaging with India with one arm tied behind our back and with only one eye open. We need to do better.'
Along with developing sports diplomacy, the report makes detailed recommendations on how the primary industries, manufacturing, education, tourism and services sectors can build trade with India.
Among the suggested initiatives for improving sporting-based ties: create a specialised unit within government agencies to develop, co-ordinate and oversee sports-focused activities with India; streamline sporting exchanges and visas; promote multi-sport engagements to move beyond cricket to leverage sports like hockey, rugby, kabaddi and badminton as mutual areas of sporting interest; collaborate with community clubs and associations to host joint tournaments or training clinics; use sports personalities in trade missions; invest in the 2026 hockey centenary and link the festivities to economic and tourism objectives to create opportunities for business networking and cultural exchange.
Noting sport's 'unique power to transcend cultural, geographic and political boundaries', the report says New Zealand should include athlete and coach stars in trade missions and diplomatic visits 'so their star power opens doors in India faster than formal channels can'.
It suggests expanding the 2026 hockey centennial into a year-long series of business forums, tourism campaigns and cultural events, observing that hockey came along before cricket linked the two countries, with the Indian Army hockey team touring New Zealand in 1926.
The report draws attention to India's steadily growing rugby scene, while kabaddi teams in New Zealand were becoming popular with Indian residents. Badminton also was gaining significant momentum among Indian communities in Auckland and Wellington.
'The Indian diaspora in New Zealand is among the country's largest and fastest-growing communities, recently surpassing 270,000 people, according to Stats NZ estimates.
'This group brings with it a passion for sports ... and often organises community tournaments that strengthen local bonds. In many cases, athletes with Indian heritage – such as Rachin Ravindra and Ajaz Patel – have represented New Zealand at international [cricket] events in India itself, demonstrating how diaspora communities can be a bridge to deeper India-New Zealand sporting collaborations.
'Supporting these athletes, as well as partnering with diaspora-led sports associations, can amplify the scope of bilateral engagement.'
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NZ Herald
24-07-2025
- NZ Herald
Agribusiness and trade: India can be a game-changer for Kiwi exporters
A trading relationship needs medium to long-term thinking by executives and boards of directors, and a strategic plan that regards the world's fifth biggest economy as a key market, he says. Allott and his fellow QualityNZ directors and shareholders, who include cricket greats Stephen Fleming, Brendon McCullum and Daniel Vettori, and more recently, some New Zealand rugby names, are the voices of experience in thinking long-term about India. After 12 years of dedication, digging deep into their India and Kiwi sports and business networks to facilitate export of agriculture products and education and recruitment services, their company today has more than 600 customers in 43 cities, and early next year will launch a third enterprise specialising in tourism and travel. Allott describes the company as 'still very small… but poised to become the gateway to India for New Zealand products and services'. 'Shareholders have been very patient,' he says. Allot believes sports-mad India is starting to take New Zealand 'seriously', thanks not only to the in-country work of our cricketing stars – he says former Black Caps captains Fleming, McCullum and Vettori have 'huge reputations' there – but that of Government ministers in the past year. 'Stephen Fleming, [former National Prime Minister] John Key and Brendon McCullum have had significant impacts ... but until quite recently, no New Zealand Prime Minister came into the country. Unfortunately, I don't think a lot of people understand India needs to be respected before it will do any sort of relationship. India Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his New Zealand counterpart Christopher Luxon wave at media ahead of their bilateral meeting in March. Photo / 'The frustration is we've had to watch a whole lot of other countries come in over the top of us in trade negotiations.' Allot has advice for Kiwi companies eyeing India's rich promise. 'Don't expect that you're just going to send 50 containers tomorrow and think it's a ready-made market. The Indians are far smarter than that. You need your brands and you need to prove your product quality and product safety. It's not a dumping ground for commodities.' To hear a New Zealand sport-grown company's commitment to India is now paying off will please the India-New Zealand Business Council, which makes development of sports diplomacy one of the top recommendations in its new report on the (slow) progress of growth in the trade relationship. Also known as 'soft power', sports diplomacy is probably best explained by Peter Miskimmin, head of sport diplomacy for Crown entity Sport NZ: 'Sport diplomacy is about unlocking added value for NZ Inc, New Zealand agencies or New Zealand, by leveraging sporting assets, our sporting people, teams and brands in a way that increases political, economic and social outcomes.' Miskimmin says next year offers a fertile landscape for leveraging this soft power as the two nations mark 100 years of sporting connections. The anniversary coincides with tours of New Zealand by the India men's cricket team and men's and women's hockey teams. Before then, the White Ferns, New Zealand's top women's cricket team, will play in the World Cricket Cup in India early next year. Meanwhile, the business council says sports diplomacy is not just a government concern but one where businesses can also benefit. 'New Zealand exporters have long appreciated that a famous national cricketer or rugby icon can help capture a stake in India's massive market,' says its new report, an update on a 2023 effort that roundly scolded New Zealand for its long neglect of a potentially enormous market. While noting the current Government's 'much greater interest' in trade with India and 'the highly significant and successful' visit this year by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, the report doesn't pull punches on the work still to be done. 'Looking back on 2024, one could be forgiven for thinking that trade between New Zealand India is in a healthy state. Post-Covid, our exports and imports have both rebounded – albeit not quite to pre-Covid levels. Exports to India especially have risen to the point where exports and imports are nearly the same. 'The future looks bright … or does it?' questions council chairman Bharat Chawla in the foreword. He notes service exports continue to be dominated by education and tourism and are well down on pre-Covid days. The primary sector did better last year than in 2023 but its performance was still down on 2019, and manufacturing appeared to have had an 'excellent' 2024 but most of the growth had been in scrap metal sales. In comparison, Chawla notes the 'meteoric' trade performance of export competitors Australia, Britain and Canada. 'In this time of rising geopolitical tension and uncertainty around US tariffs affecting trading partners including China, why wouldn't we look to build our relationship with the fifth-largest economy on Earth?' Noting the two countries shared 'a long and rich history', Chawla concludes New Zealand is 'engaging with India with one arm tied behind our back and with only one eye open. We need to do better.' Along with developing sports diplomacy, the report makes detailed recommendations on how the primary industries, manufacturing, education, tourism and services sectors can build trade with India. Among the suggested initiatives for improving sporting-based ties: create a specialised unit within government agencies to develop, co-ordinate and oversee sports-focused activities with India; streamline sporting exchanges and visas; promote multi-sport engagements to move beyond cricket to leverage sports like hockey, rugby, kabaddi and badminton as mutual areas of sporting interest; collaborate with community clubs and associations to host joint tournaments or training clinics; use sports personalities in trade missions; invest in the 2026 hockey centenary and link the festivities to economic and tourism objectives to create opportunities for business networking and cultural exchange. Noting sport's 'unique power to transcend cultural, geographic and political boundaries', the report says New Zealand should include athlete and coach stars in trade missions and diplomatic visits 'so their star power opens doors in India faster than formal channels can'. It suggests expanding the 2026 hockey centennial into a year-long series of business forums, tourism campaigns and cultural events, observing that hockey came along before cricket linked the two countries, with the Indian Army hockey team touring New Zealand in 1926. The report draws attention to India's steadily growing rugby scene, while kabaddi teams in New Zealand were becoming popular with Indian residents. Badminton also was gaining significant momentum among Indian communities in Auckland and Wellington. 'The Indian diaspora in New Zealand is among the country's largest and fastest-growing communities, recently surpassing 270,000 people, according to Stats NZ estimates. 'This group brings with it a passion for sports ... and often organises community tournaments that strengthen local bonds. In many cases, athletes with Indian heritage – such as Rachin Ravindra and Ajaz Patel – have represented New Zealand at international [cricket] events in India itself, demonstrating how diaspora communities can be a bridge to deeper India-New Zealand sporting collaborations. 'Supporting these athletes, as well as partnering with diaspora-led sports associations, can amplify the scope of bilateral engagement.'
NZ Herald
23-07-2025
- NZ Herald
Agribusiness and Trade: Valocity's app speeds up property valuation in India
'We had this amazing tech, and the key thing that really differentiated us, is that it is customisable and modular. It can handle complex rules. It can handle varied property types and it can handle regional nuances. All of these proved essential in India.' That's because, aside from its sheer scale and the complexity of different language and ethnic groups, India posed some unique challenges for companies working in the property sector. Not least of these is the lack of a standardised addressing system in the Western sense. Vicelich says Valocity has a role to play in that growth. Like elsewhere, Indian banks need a valuation before they can lend money on a property. That is just as important for entrepreneurs seeking finance as for people wanting to buy a house. 'Previously, valuation was very manual in India and based entirely on physical documents. It took weeks to complete a valuation — there was no technology involved. Banks were not digitally connected to valuers. She describes what she found as a 'disparate and broken-up disintermediation — a fragmented ecosystem'. India's valuers are often small one- or two-person operations, while some banks are huge. The big banks deal with tens of thousands of valuations each month. At the other end of the market are tiny banks, more like our idea of building societies. They typically lend on low-value properties and can be in remote areas. Both need better systems. Valocity Founder and CEO Carmen Vicelich was part of the New Zealand delegation to visit India on the mission led by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in March 2025. She says: 'We realised we could make a massive difference and we also realised that we had to localise our systems. When solving the problem of no data, we looked to partner, we looked to buy. We found no one had accurate addressing data and that government records are not digitised. We also found that recorded sales prices are not necessarily what a buyer pays for a property because there can be a cash payment on top.' Valocity developed a phone app and made it free for valuers. This was preloaded with banks' templates. When a valuer visits a property, the address is geotagged and photos are timestamped. The valuer has to take a selfie to prove he or she was at the property. This can all happen off-line, because mobile network coverage doesn't reach everywhere. 'The app makes calculations on the spot. Then all the data goes back to the bank digitally within ours of the visit. Everything the bank needs to know is there. We've managed to get 20 large banks live on the platform.' While the systems were developed for valuing buildings, Indians are using it to value factory plants and machinery. In some cases they drive the software to its limits. Vicelich says one user dragged and dropped 400 fields of data into the app and complained it was working slowly — the user was valuing a hospital.
The Spinoff
20-07-2025
- The Spinoff
Should KiwiSaver evolve – or hold the line?
While post-budget attention has focused on how we contribute to retirement savings, interest groups are also calling for changes to the criteria for making withdrawals, writes Catherine McGregor in today's extract from The Bulletin. Retirement worries on the rise More New Zealanders are heading into retirement with a sinking feeling, Kevin Norquay and Virginia Fallon reported in the Sunday Star Times yesterday (paywalled). According to a new survey of retirees by the Retirement Commission, only around half are feeling even somewhat confident they have saved enough, while one in five said they had no confidence at all. Nearly 40% of retirees rely solely on NZ Superannuation to get by, and a further 20% say they depend on it plus only a little extra. The people most at risk of hardship are those who live alone, rent or have experienced setbacks such as illness or divorce, with single women among the most vulnerable. Lead researcher Dr Jo Gamble said many of those surveyed were 'just scraping by' and worried about what a financial shock could mean for their future. Retirement commissioner Jane Wrightson reinforced the message: NZ Super alone is no longer enough for a comfortable old age – KiwiSaver and other investments are now essential. Bolder investments, bigger balances? In that context, new research from the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) suggesting New Zealanders are becoming more proactive about growing their retirement savings is good news. The proportion of KiwiSaver funds in higher-risk portfolios has jumped from 10% in 2021 to over 40% today – a 'dramatic' shift that could leave investors better off, assuming long-term market trends continue. Morningstar data backs that up: aggressive funds have averaged 10.89% annual returns over the past five years, compared to just over 3% for conservative options. The move reflects both better investor education and the wider availability of growth-oriented products. But for some, the change is also cause for concern, writes Newsroom's Jonathan Milne. Financial commentator Janine Starks tells him that older investors may be staying too long in standalone, high-risk KiwiSaver funds, when it would be safer to diversify their investments and spread the risk as they approach retirement. A controversial argument for more withdrawals One complication in risk planning is that KiwiSaver now serves two very different goals: saving for retirement and, increasingly, for buying a first home. As David Hargreaves points out in those goals carry contradictory risk profiles – a person buying a home in five years should be in a lower-risk fund, while someone saving for retirement should generally opt for growth. He suggests allowing people to split their KiwiSaver contributions or creating a separate savings scheme for housing. A more contentious position is held by property investor Nicole Lewis, whose column in Stuff calls for KiwiSaver to allow investment property purchases, not just first homes. With the average first-home buyer now aged 37, she argues many are left with little time to rebuild their balances. If KiwiSaver could be used for 'rentvesting' – buying in a cheaper region and renting where you live – then people would be able to purchase property earlier, giving them longer to save for retirement, she says. 'If [KiwiSaver] is to help New Zealanders achieve financial security in retirement, then home ownership, whether for living in or renting out, must remain central to that mission.' Should KiwiSaver fund farms? Lewis's argument is part of a broader push to expand KiwiSaver's purpose. Federated Farmers recently launched a campaign urging the government to let young farmers withdraw funds to buy their first farm, herd or flock – a proposal finance minister Nicola Willis says she's 'sympathetic to' and currently reviewing with Inland Revenue. Critics warn such a change would open a Pandora's box, reports Jenée Tibshraeny in the Herald (Premium paywalled). Massey University's Claire Matthews says allowing farm purchases blurs the line between home and business investment and risks undermining the fund's integrity. Simplicity economist Shamubeel Eaqub notes that most farmers don't contribute to KiwiSaver anyway, and the average balance would barely make a dent in the cost of a farm. The proposal, he argues, could 'weaken KiwiSaver's core purpose' while benefiting very few. The bigger question, says the Retirement Commission's Tom Hartmann, is what KiwiSaver is really for – and whether broadening withdrawal criteria today could jeopardise retirement security tomorrow. As more people rely on KiwiSaver to bridge the growing gap left by NZ Super, the stakes for any change are higher than ever.
