New Zealand¡¯s prime minister pitched his country as a safe haven in an unstable world as he opened an Investor Summit aimed at attracting foreign capital.

¡°New Zealand has been and will continue to be a poster child for social and political stability in a more volatile and challenging world,¡± Christopher Luxon told delegates at the outset of the two-day summit on Thursday in Auckland. ¡°That reputation is long-standing, but in challenging times it has come into sharper focus.¡±

Luxon¡¯s center-right government wants more foreign direct investment to boost economic growth ahead of a 2026 election. It is cutting red tape and speeding consents for major projects, from transport and energy infrastructure to housing and mining.

Luxon didn¡¯t mention U.S. President Donald Trump ¡ª a mistake that saw a senior New Zealand diplomat lose his job last week ¡ª or his imposition of tariffs, but said free trade was essential to New Zealand¡¯s economic success.

¡°We consistently advocate for a rules-based international order that allows small countries like New Zealand to thrive,¡± Luxon said. ¡°Free trade isn¡¯t just an idea in New Zealand; it¡¯s the bedrock of our prosperity.¡±

He also hailed New Zealand¡¯s relative political stability.

¡°When you look at all the tension, volatility and strife in the world today, I think that makes us pretty special, and a very attractive destination for anyone looking to take shelter from the global storm,¡± he said.

The government said around 100 delegates from New Zealand and abroad are attending the summit, including the Ministry of Investment for the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong¡¯s CK Infrastructure Holdings and U.S. investment fund Global Infrastructure Partners, which is owned by BlackRock.

Luxon said New Zealand¡¯s economy was at the beginning of a cyclical recovery, with inflation contained and economic growth set to gather pace.