This year, China became New Zealand's leading export market for the first time, moving Australia into second place.
But delays due to red tape, including some apparent faults in New Zealand export documentation, have left millions of dollars worth of our meat exports stranded at Chinese ports several times in recent months.
Sir Mark gave a wide-ranging talk on ''The Place of Maoridom in the New Zealand Brand'', at the University of Otago School of Business on Monday. Relationships were ''the most important thing'', he said in his address to more than 80 people.
Sir Mark, who had been invited to speak by Te Tai Tuara, the Otago Maori Commerce Students Association, and the school, said Maori culture had always played a big role in New Zealand's international ''brand''.
Such culture included the haka performed before All Black rugby games, but making more use of wider Maori cultural approaches would also benefit exporters and tourist operators.
Key concepts included whanaungatanga, an ethic of belonging and kinship; and manaakitanga, which involved hospitality and caring.
Asked about delays in New Zealand exports to China, Mr Solomon later noted in an interview that it would be wise for New Zealand not to put all of its eggs in ''one basket'' when it came to China.
New Zealanders should seek better outcomes from secondary schools when it came to educational achievement by Maori and Pacific pupils, Mr Solomon said.
More than half of Maori and Pacific pupils were leaving school without any qualifications, and projections showed that by 2050 people of Maori, Pacific and Asian descent would comprise half of New Zealand's population.
''They are the ones that are going to be paying for our healthcare system in the future.''
