Big NZ delegation going to China 

A 150-member New Zealand delegation including government and business leaders is travelling to China to seal the Free Trade Agreement between the two countries.

National's trade spokesman Tim Grosser says that number is entirely appropriate given the significance of the deal and the need for New Zealand to increase exports.

He says concluding an agreement like this is about creating opportunities.

Grosser says it's up to New Zealand to build on these opportunities and he wants to talk to the business leaders going with the delegation to work out strategies to exploit those opportunities.

He says it's strategically important to have this platform for the development of the country's exports.

Prime Minister Helen Clark leaves for Europe on Monday and will arrive in Beijing on April 7 for the signing of the Free Trade Agreement.

She says the package will give New Zealand exporters better access to the world's fastest growing economy.

And Clark says she has no idea why the leader of United Future is refusing to attend the signing of the Free Trade Agreement with China.

She says it is not quite clear why Dunne has refused to attend as he supports the FTA as well as raising concerns about the crackdown in Tibet.
 
Clark says the benefit for New Zealand once the FTA is signed will be around $280 million annually.