The economies of East Asia have, since the mid-1980s, been experiencing rapid economic growth and significant structural change. Meeting the East Asia Challenge attempts to assess how these changes will impact on New Zealand’s economic links with the economies in the region over the medium term. The study acknowledges New Zealand’s increasing dependence on this region and the opportunities which arise from a region which is expected to experience strong growth, higher incomes, greater mobility of its peoples, and increasing demand within those economies for a wide range of goods and services.

• regional economic trends
• merchandise trade links
• investment opportunities
• trade in services
• New Zealand’s policy options relating to trade, investment, services, migration, educational exchanges and regional co-operation.