KEY POINTS:
Among the giant New Zealand delegation off to China for the historic free-trade agreement signing are a cafe owner from Opotiki, a group of Eastern Bay of Plenty councillors and the chairwoman of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.
Shunguo Wu, who runs the Opotiki Hot Bread Shop and Cafe on the corner of State Highways 35 and 2 on the East Coast, is part of the large mission of business interests off to Beijing for the historic signing on Monday.
Some might ask what a cafe owner from the Eastern Bay of Plenty is doing going to China alongside some of the country's biggest businesses but Mr Wu, whose roots are close to Beijing, will act as an interpreter for the Opotiki District Council and Te Whakatohea Maori Trust Board during their own seven-day mission.
He could not be contacted yesterday and his wife, who would give her name only as "Mrs Wu", told the Herald to "call back in 15 days".
"It's very exciting, yes, but no he can't talk right now," said Mrs Wu.
Opotiki council chief executive Vaughan Payne said Mr Wu had been invaluable to the local community after a visit by Chinese businessmen to discuss a possible venture last year.
The delegation, the biggest to leave our shores, will be bused en masse to the Great Hall of the People on Monday morning to witness the historic signing of the free-trade deal.
A select number will later be invited to join Prime Minister Helen Clark at a short ceremonial banquet hosted by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, before the group gathers at Beijing's Sofitel hotel that evening for a celebratory dinner for 600, including Chinese Vice-Premier Wang Qishan.
The 190-strong New Zealand delegation began arriving into Beijing in dribs and drabs earlier this week. But the largest group - with Trade Minister Phil Goff - will not touch down until about 10.30 tonight.
The "big end of town" is also well represented - dairy giant Fonterra, New Zealand's largest exporter to China, is sending chairman Henry van der Heyden. Air New Zealand chief executive Rob Fyfe, Weta Workshop's Richard Taylor, Business NZ chief executive Phil O'Reilly and Wellington Chamber of Commerce chief executive Charles Finny are also among the business representatives.
Helen Clark and Mr Goff will be joined by Education Minister Chris Carter on the political side. National Party trade spokesman Tim Groser will also be there to demonstrate that the deal has support from New Zealand's two major parties, and there is a strong contingent of senior Government officials led by Ambassador Tony Browne, as well as cultural representatives and media.
Already on their way to China, among others, are Mt Roskill Grammar principal Greg Watson and NZSO chairwoman Diana Fenwick.
The orchestra's chief executive, Peter Walls, said the NZSO was "always interested in cultural exchange".
