New Zealand High Commissioner Dame Annette King also attended the lunch outlining the commercial relationships between Australia and her home country.

"Business studies show that we are the two most connected countries on the planet," Dame Annettte told the small gathering at the Cowra Services Club.

"Australians are consistently saying that New Zealanders are their best friends. We feel good about ourselves because of our long history, which has come from culture and values but also some deliberate decision making across the Tasman by governments, organisations, by businesses and community and also our personal contacts.

"We also deliver significant value for Australia, New Zealand matters for your economy in a relationship worth over $30 million," Dame Annette said.

Ms Booth congratulated Cowra on its celebration of International Understanding.

"Acknowledgements for you and this town for having this Festival for 55 years," Ms Booth said.

"A Festival of International Understanding, don't we need more than that, wouldn't it be better if more towns did this."

The lunch also heard from Lee Ford Griffiths from Mainfreight and Kristen Moss from Beca.

Mainfreight is a listed-New Zealand logistics and transport company headquartered in Auckland. Beca is one of Asia Pacific's largest independent advisory, design and engineering consultancies.