A major shift is underway in how New Zealanders view Asia, with new research showing stronger cultural connections, greater engagement and a growing recognition of the region’s importance to Aotearoa’s future.
The findings come as seven young New Zealand leaders fluent in Chinese take centre stage at this week’s NZ–China Business Summit, highlighting a new generation of New Zealanders helping shape relationships across business, science, diplomacy and innovation.
Joining the discussion is Massey University Emeritus Professor Paul Spoonley, whose latest research examines how attitudes towards Asia have changed dramatically over recent decades.
Professor Spoonley says one of the most significant changes since the 1990s has been the growing familiarity New Zealanders have with Asia and Asian cultures.
Three decades ago, many New Zealanders had limited direct engagement with Asia beyond trade and tourism.
Today, Asia is increasingly woven into everyday life through migration, education, travel, business, food, technology and cultural exchange.
The result is a country that is far more connected to the region than previous generations could have imagined.
Asia now represents New Zealand’s largest trading region, while communities from China, India, Korea, the Philippines and many other Asian nations have become an integral part of the country’s social and economic fabric.
According to Spoonley, changing attitudes have been driven largely by everyday experiences rather than political or diplomatic initiatives alone.
Many New Zealanders now work alongside Asian colleagues, study with Asian classmates, travel throughout the region and participate in multicultural communities.
Younger generations have grown up in a more diverse New Zealand where cultural exchange is part of daily life rather than something experienced from a distance.
The increasing visibility of Asian languages, festivals, businesses and cultural traditions has also helped normalise those connections.
For many people, Asia is no longer viewed as a separate or distant region but as part of their everyday reality.
One of the most powerful examples of changing attitudes can be found on the dinner table.
Professor Spoonley identifies cuisine as one of the strongest points of connection between New Zealanders and Asian cultures.
Whether it is Chinese, Indian, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese or Malaysian food, Asian cuisine has become a mainstream part of New Zealand life.
Food often provides an accessible and welcoming introduction to different cultures.
Through cuisine, people are exposed to stories, traditions, values and histories that create curiosity and understanding.
For many New Zealanders, cultural exploration begins with sharing a meal, trying new flavours or gathering with friends and whānau around food from different parts of Asia.
That simple act can become a gateway to broader cultural awareness and appreciation.
The presence of seven young Chinese-speaking leaders at the NZ–China Business Summit reflects another major shift identified in the research.
Younger New Zealanders are increasingly travelling, studying and working throughout Asia.
Many see the region not only as a destination but as a place of opportunity, partnership and long-term engagement.
The ability to speak Asian languages, understand different cultures and navigate international relationships is becoming a valuable skill in an increasingly interconnected world.
Young leaders entering sectors such as diplomacy, science, technology, education and business are helping strengthen New Zealand’s links with some of the world’s fastest-growing economies.
Professor Spoonley believes these trends point towards an even deeper relationship between New Zealand and Asia in the future.
Economic ties remain important, but cultural understanding, education and people-to-people connections are becoming just as significant.
The rise of younger generations who are comfortable engaging across cultures suggests New Zealand’s future relationship with Asia will be built not only through trade agreements and diplomatic partnerships, but through everyday relationships and shared experiences.
As Aotearoa becomes increasingly diverse, understanding Asia is no longer simply an international issue.
It is part of understanding modern New Zealand itself.
The message emerging from the research is clear: New Zealand’s relationship with Asia has evolved from one of distance to one of connection, and the next generation is poised to strengthen those ties even further.
