There is a widespread belief that partner arrangements between New Zealand and Chinese businesses have a high risk of failure as a result of different ways of doing business. This article presents perspectives on these cross-cultural problems, developed from interviews with nine informants from the food and agribusiness sector, including four New Zealand entrepreneurs who currently work and live in China. Also interviewed were five Chinese who are either entrepreneurs themselves, or middle to senior management working closely with New Zealanders. The information presented here is the first stage of a research project investigating cross-cultural business relationships between New Zealanders and Chinese in New Zealand agribusinesses operating in China.