The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s latest market report highlights Colorado’s growing importance as a hub for New Zealand business in the western United States.
In April 2025, Minister Judith Collins and Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed a Memorandum of Cooperation focused on science, technology, innovation and entrepreneurship. This is New Zealand’s second state-level agreement in the US., following the 2022 climate MoC with California.
Colorado’s diversified economy is strongly aligned with New Zealand’s strengths, with established sectors in aerospace, biosciences, advanced manufacturing and quantum technologies. Two-way trade is valued at US$61 million annually, and New Zealand was the sixth largest source of foreign direct investment into the state in 2023.
People-to-people ties are also deepening. A new City2City partnership between Auckland and Denver was signed in 2024, and Aspen and Queenstown have maintained a sister city relationship since 1992.
Read the full report on the MFAT website.