The task of highlighting the positives was undertaken by India's High Commissioner to New Zealand Sanjeev Kohli, who while acknowledging the constraints of geography and no free trade agreement between the two countries, noted how NZ-India trade in services is actually increasing, with both the countries poised to collaborate in technology more and more.

The New Zealand India Trade Alliance (NZITA) has launched a South Island chapter to create a
gateway for companies in the South to connect with the huge opportunities emerging in the Indian market. The event called Unlocking the Potential of India, was held in Christchurch and was attended by over 60 representatives from companies looking to expand business opportunities in the Indian market. The local chapter will be led by Michael Henstock.

E tū, the biggest private sector union in New Zealand, which was created in 2015 from the merger of several unions, and “provides members with services like workplace representation, legal advice, a freephone support centre, education on work-rights and a political voice”; is now aiming to unionise the construction workers who have immigrated from Philippines and have been an integral part of the Christchurch rebuild in the last six years.

Clive Antony is a man on a mission. The young University of Canterbury business management student, whose parents immigrated to New Zealand from Kerala in India 25 years ago, is taking the established street wear brands such as Huffur and RTM, in his bid to provide the Kiwi youth what he calls “the ethical alternative”.

No texts or negotiating positions have been officially released by the TPP countries in public domain even after 19 rounds of negotiations, which is absurd since when in force, TPP will represent 40% of the global economy