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Advocacy for business by the BusinessNZ Network | |
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Businesses need more certainty about vaccine passes, BusinessNZ's Kirk Hope says. NZers can now download their vaccine pass, and businesses will soon be able to download an app to verify passes – but businesses want to know the extent to which they will be responsible for enforcing banning unvaccinated people from their premises. Businesses not agreeing to administer vaccine passes will have limits on numbers allowed on their premises and other restrictions under ‘orange’ and ‘red’ in the coming traffic light system. | | | |
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The law authorising Covid mandates is being amended to give increased powers to authorities and increased penalties for non-compliance. The Covid-19 Public Health Response Amendment Bill (No 2) allows for the requisition of Covid-related items from laboratories by order, and allows for persons other than police to stop vehicles and individuals by order. Penalties for not complying will increase to imprisonment for up to 6 months or fines up to $15,000. The Bill also extends its operational period until March 2023 and updates MIQ rules. | | | |
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MIQ settings continue to be improved: following advocacy by the BusinessNZ Network, international arrivals now only have to spend 7 days in MIQ, followed by self-isolation and a negative covid test. But the MIQ system still can’t cope with the demand and should be reserved for limited high risk cases and those who are sick, with other travellers who are double-vaccinated and negative-tested able to self-isolate at home. Higher vaccination levels should allow the MIQ system to be phased down over the medium term, BusinessNZ says.
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NZ businesses will get benefits from the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) from early next year. NZ has now ratified the agreement: which covers about a third of the world’s population and GDP, and includes countries that buy over half of NZ’s exports. The deal opens the way for more exports of services, reduces non-tariff barriers impacting NZ exporters, and will mean faster border entry for perishable goods, and more transparent rules around foreign investment, import licensing and origin documentation. RCEP will come into force on 1 January. | | | |
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The BusinessNZ Energy Council yesterday explored the plan by Meridian and Contact Energy to produce green hydrogen (made by splitting water into hydrogen gas and oxygen) by 2025. The plan would use Southland’s hydro power, water, transmission assets, industrial land and deep water port to produce green hydrogen for domestic use and exports. Green hydrogen can power heavy manufacturing and transport - with zero emissions - and is a potential additional energy source for NZ as it can be made using excess hydro or wind power during periods of ‘renewable spill.’ | | | |
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New rules for migrant workers |
The Productivity Commissions is recommending changed rules around work visas including removing visa conditions tying migrant workers to a specific employer. Currently employers must individually sponsor skilled migrants, a compliance-heavy process for employers that also restricts options for immigrant workers. The Commission also says the Govt should be more transparent about immigration rules, while finding that immigration levels generally have not harmed NZers’ wages and employment. | | | |
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This Sunday Kiwis are encouraged to buy at least one locally made item from Buy NZ Made retailers, to give them a boost in the lead up to Christmas. Buy NZ Made’s Dane Ambler says businesses with fewer than 20 employees make up 97% of all firms and for them, the Christmas period could mean the life or death for their business. “Let’s try and create some certainty for our New Zealand business owners who could really use our support - and shop local for Christmas.” | | | |
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The BusinessNZ Network welcomes new Members - firms joining the Major Companies Group (grouping of NZ’s largest and most significant businesses) include helicopter services company PHI International, and firms joining the Affiliated Industries Group (a grouping of industry associations and representative groups) include Exercise New Zealand (the peak body representing the exercise industry). Firms wishing to join the network can contact Phil Love (plove@businessnz.org.nz) or Katharine McGhie (kmcghie@businessnz.org.nz) . | | | |
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AdvocacyUpdate is an update on recent activity & advocacy by the BusinessNZ Network | |
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