Australia is already working with the European Union on a new free trade agreement, which Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says will continue.
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Andrew Leigh, the shadow assistant treasurer, said a “Brexit” would lead Britain to look more inward and force it to renegotiate trade agreements with other countries.
Australia’s republican movement said the nation should cut its ties with the British monarchy to protect trade with the European Union.
The multi-millionaire former banker said there would be a period of uncertainty and some instability in global markets but stressed “there is no cause for Australians to be alarmed”.
“The EU is very important for us for exports and trade now, in some ways more important than the United Kingdom, so we’re going to have to take some time to work through that with them”.
“We don’t know what the implications will be for New Zealand and New Zealanders, and we’ll just have to take it as it comes I think”, Mr Shaw said.
“The most immediate impact on New Zealand is likely to be the turmoil in the worldwide markets and the uncertainty in terms of the likely outcome for Europe and the UK’s economy”.
“Thirteen per cent of our food exports go to Europe while 50 per cent go to Asia”, Ms Beard says.
He added things would return to normal levels over time and that the New Zealand economy was quite diverse so he expected only a small impact here.
In a speech to the House of Lords in London in May, New Zealand First leader Winston Peters threw his weight behind the “leave” campaign.
Westpac Senior Economist Satish Ranchhod said the financial markets will be a lot more nervous over the next couple of weeks, which will mean access to credit will be a lot tougher.
Dr Rolleston said New Zealand needs to emphasise its shared history with the United Kingdom and “common thinking”.
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Mr Ranchhod said interest rate markets will also be feeling much more apprehensive.
