NZ secures Apec deal for equitable Covid vaccine access Sun, 6 Jun 2021, 11:13AM The ministerial Apec meeting was chaired by New Zealand Minister for Trade and Export Growth Damien O'Connor. (Photo / Mark Mitchell) NZ secures Apec deal for equitable Covid vaccine access Sun, 6 Jun 2021, 11:13AM New Zealand has secured an agreement from countries representing more than half the world's GDP to support lifting the last barriers to sharing vaccines around the world. The commitment is designed to speed the flow of vaccines and vaccine-related goods and ensure "widespread and equitable access", particularly to developing countries. Apec ministers responsible for trade reached the agreement in the early hours of today, in a meeting chaired by New Zealand Minister for Trade and Export Growth Damien O'Connor.