New Zealand Post has partnered with Tmall to tap into China’s expanding online market.

The state owned postal service has set up an online store in the Chinese marketplace, owned by Alibaba, to offer products from Lord of the Rings maker Weta Workshop, Christchurch-based natural health product business Xtend Life and Hauora Honey, which sells a premium honey brand made by Arataki in Hawkes Bay.

NZ Post’s executive GM, e-commerce and customer solutions, Sohail Choudhry said the web store supported by an end-to-end supply chain is designed to assist New Zealand companies committed to expanding into the China market.

“The Tmall Global store, called ‘Gift from New Zealand’ (Xinxilan), represents a tremendous opportunity for Kiwi companies to put themselves and their products in front of hundreds of millions of online shoppers in China,” said Choudhry.

“Companies will be able to focus more on strategy, marketing and customer relationships and less on digital operations and logistics by capitalising on New Zealand Post’s extensive networks and trusted relationships in China to get their products to consumers.”

The opening of a Tmall global storefront is part of NZ Post’s increasing focus on e-commerce.