February 2019 Update

We are delighted to announce the activities the Latin America Centre of Asia-Pacific Excellence has planned for 2019.

Our business programmes will offer practical assistance to exporters/SMEs, challenge perceptions about Latin America, explore the potential to broaden New Zealand's trade with the region, and capitalise on the CPTPP and other opportunities that have emerged this year. For the education sector and public, our projects will engage young people, develop their capacity to be global citizens, support teachers, and leverage the region’s cultural opportunities and dynamism. 

Brigadeiro and Business: Entrepreneurship in Brazil

As noted in our December update, eight young Kiwi entrepreneurs recently got a taste of life and business in Brazil, thanks to a partnership between the Latin America CAPE and the Young Enterprise Scheme (YES).

In December the group travelled to São Paulo to participate in a seven-day Entrepreneurship in Brazil programme to better understand the needs and challenges of doing business in Brazil. Check out the full story and the students' reflections on their time in Latin America.

Medellín-novation: Entrepreneurship in Colombia

In partnership with the Young Enterprise Scheme (YES), eight New Zealand students recently returned from an amazing week in Medellín, Colombia.  

As with the Enterpreneurship in Brazil programme in December, these students were selected through the Latin America-themed YES Entrepreneurship in Action business challenge in 2018. The students spent a week learning about entrepreneurship, culture, and language in one of Latin America’s most innovation-focused cities, Medellín.  

Research Visit by Colombian Artist

The Latin America CAPE team sponsored a research visit by Colombian artist Nicolás Paris Vélez from 11-21 December 2018, in preparation for his work as Creative New Zealand’s 2019 International Artist-in-Residence at the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery in New Plymouth. The Govett-Brewster has hosted bi-annual residencies for Pacific Rim artists since 1992.

During his research visit, Nicolás met with educators, curators, and community members in order to shape the focus of his residency at Govett-Brewster. The research visit allowed Nicolás to explore potential artistic inspiration while also giving Kiwis a taste of the modern art scene in Colombia.

New Zealand and Colombia: Building new relationships in primary industries

The Latin America CAPE partnered with the Ministry for Primary Industries to send the first Primary Industry Women’s Leadership delegation to Colombia in November 2018. The seven-strong delegation of established and emerging women leaders, five of whom were Māori, came from across New Zealand and from government, universities, a Māori Trust Board, and iwi. 

CAPE study reveals low tourism engagement with Latin America

Despite the large potential for growth, the majority of New Zealand tourism small- and medium- enterprises (SME) have a low awareness of Latin America, according to a study sponsored by the Latin America CAPE and the University of Otago Business School.

New Zealand Sees Increase in Exports to Latin America

The value of New Zealand exports to Brazil, Colombia, Chile, and Argentina increased from September 2017 to September 2018. These represent four of Latin America CAPE’s priority countries and show an increase in trade between them and New Zealand. The increase was especially pronounced in Argentina, which saw an increase of more than $30 million worth of New Zealand imports in 2018.

Programa de Língua Portuguesa Brasileira
na Nova Zelândia

We're delighted, alongside the Brazilian Embassy, to promote the new Diploma in Arts - Portuguese at Massey University. The programme is offered both at the Massey Wellington Campus and also via Distance Learning.

¡Felicitaciones Mikayla Stokes!

Mikayla won the Top Female Award at the 2018 Bright Sparks competition. She tested and continued developing her MyVegeWall business concept with Chilean entrepreneurs as part of the October 2018 Latin America CAPE Entrepreneurship in Chile Mobility programme, delivered in collaboration with Young Enterprise.

Engage with Latin America at WOMAD 2019

We're excited to see Latin American artists featured at the wonderful WOMAD in New Plymouth from March 15-17. Read our story to learn about some top performers from the region.