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Story: Overseas trade policy

Chinese shipping

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Chinese shipping

COSCO – China Ocean Shipping (Group) Company – is a major shipping line, owned by the Chinese government. This large container ship is passing Rangitoto Island, bound for the port of Auckland in the early 2000s. China has rapidly grown from being a minor trading partner in the late 1980s. By 2007 it took around 5% of New Zealand exports and was the source of 13% of imports.

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Ports of Auckland

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How to cite this page

Chris Nixon and John Yeabsley, Overseas trade policy – Diversification since 1990, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/21994/chinese-shipping (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Chris Nixon and John Yeabsley, published 12 April 2010.