KEY POINTS:
New Zealand's clean green image is opening the door for untapped business opportunities in the United States, the former consul-general in Los Angeles says.
Rob Taylor, now back in New Zealand after a four-year assignment, says knowledge of, and interest in, Kiwi initiatives in climate change, biofuels and alternative energy are high.
Some New Zealand companies are already making inroads into the American market, but the potential of international eco-business was just beginning to be tapped, he said.
"California is the gateway for New Zealand into the US, and 60 per cent of the goods exported by New Zealand to the US stay in that state."
California had taken a long-term interest in New Zealand's approach to climate change, with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger having sent several members of his administration to New Zealand to look at this country's legislation.
California's focus on the environment had seen a surge of interest in alternative energy, with the state spending much of its research budget in that field.
Mr Taylor saw opportunities for New Zealand companies working in geothermal technology to trade with their Californian counterparts.
"A vast amount of money is being spent on the West Coast now on alternative energy. For example, laboratories such as that in the town of Livermore, which is just outside of Sacramento, are spending a good deal of money in developing hydrogen technology," Mr Taylor said.
"They are developing the capacity for a vehicle to travel 1000 miles on a tank of liquefied hydrogen gas. They are aware New Zealand has some technology in that area and so there are opportunities to link up there."
New Zealand and the United States already had biodiesel links, such as the Boeing-Air New Zealand bid to develop biofuel for aircraft. Nevada had also shown interest in New Zealand wind farm technology.
