COLORADO SPRINGS – Today, at the 40th Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Governor Jared Polis and Space Minister Judith Collins signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) between Colorado and New Zealand to strengthen the partnership between the two regions and foster opportunities in aerospace, quantum and geothermal technologies. The MoC grew out of a meeting between Governor Polis and Minister Collins in April 2024, when the leaders agreed to take active steps to further cooperation in key advanced industries.
“We are thrilled to strengthen our relationship with New Zealand, a country that shares our commitment to supporting entrepreneurs and advancing new technologies like aerospace, geothermal and quantum. This agreement will help create more opportunities for investments into Colorado businesses and the creation of good new jobs," said Governor Polis.
The MoC is intended to increase bilateral foreign direct investment between Colorado and New Zealand, develop bilateral research and development projects, strengthen company exchanges and expansion opportunities, and promote regional technology hubs and innovation ecosystems that advance strategic industries.
“Today’s announcement demonstrates the importance of building long-term relationships with our partners abroad. This milestone builds on years of cooperation with New Zealand to increase opportunities for startups and growing businesses while advancing new technologies, strengthening our economies and creating new jobs,” said Eve Lieberman, OEDIT Executive Director.
Two-way trade between New Zealand and Colorado is valued at $61 million annually. In 2024, Colorado exported $23 million in goods to New Zealand, including transportation equipment, machinery and computer and electronic projects. Colorado imported $38 million in goods from New Zealand, including machinery; computer and electronics; beverage and tobacco products; and processed foods. Over the past five years, New Zealand was the seventh largest provider of foreign direct investment into Colorado, with twenty-nine New Zealand companies, many of them startups, in the Denver area alone.
Additionally, ski resort areas, Queenstown and Aspen, have enjoyed sister-city relations since 1992. In 2019, Colorado’s Lt. Governor Dianne Primavera and OEDIT conducted an investment mission to New Zealand, and in September 2024, Auckland and Denver became City2City partners to encourage innovation and boost the startup ecosystems in both cities. The strength of these ties led New Zealand to appoint representatives from New Zealand Trade & Enterprise to further assist New Zealand companies land in Colorado, as well as an Honorary Consul based in Denver. Following the signing of the MoC, a steering committee will be formed to oversee implementation of the agreement.