New Zealand Delegation Led by Zoë Reece Targets Multibillion‑Dollar European Medicinal Cannabis Market

LOS ANGELES- New Zealand trade delegation, including key export company Ora Pharm, is advancing into Europe’s growing medicinal cannabis market. CEO Zoë Reece is spearheading the mission, aiming to build clinical and commercial partnerships for cannabinoid-derived therapies in Europe.

Reece emphasized Europe’s potential, noting that Germany alone reported a cannabis consumer market value of approximately USD 866 million in 2024. The delegation plans to attend major industry events, including the Berlin Cannabis Expo and the Cannabis Europa conference in London, to connect with potential buyers and investors .

Ora Pharm—based in Waikato and founded by Reece—has developed proprietary cannabinoid formulations intended for symptom management across various conditions. Reece highlighted that while the company is not offering a cure-all, it aims to support its therapeutic claims through clinical trials and data collection.

As part of the mission, Ora Pharm will be joined by partners including equipment manufacturer Blue Lab, contract grower Puro, and pharmaceutical company Rua from Te Tairāwhiti. These firms are expected to showcase New Zealand’s vertically integrated capabilities—from cultivation to finished product—for international buyers.

Domestically, New Zealand’s medicinal cannabis sector has experienced rapid growth. Prescriptions reportedly increased from 2,336 in 2018 to more than 305,000 in 2024. Ora Pharm is ramping up its export readiness, aiming to begin shipping flower, oils, and extracts once its processing facility becomes operational later this year.

Ora Pharm currently employs around a dozen staff, with plans to expand to 20–25 employees over the next year. The company also supports smaller cultivators through licensing assistance, standardized procedures, and satellite grow trials.

Reece brings years of industry experience to the role. A civil structural engineer by training, she previously worked for Curaleaf in the U.S., overseeing the build-out of cultivation facilities before founding Ora Pharm in 2019. She also serves as deputy chair of the New Zealand Medicinal Cannabis Council, contributing to regulatory and industry development.

Government support underpins the mission. New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) is backing the delegation, indicating a strong level of public-sector endorsement for the medicinal cannabis industry. Reece believes there is bipartisan political support for expanding medicinal cannabis exports, citing its economic and healthcare benefits.