Partnership approach to immigration Proposals for new requirements for work visas need fine-tuning, says BusinessNZ. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment has been consulting on plans to improve the system for employer-assisted work visas – the process by which employers can hire skills from overseas if they are unavailable...
Kirk Hope on immigration Kirk Hope argues for more political leadership on immigration on Stuff today. View article here Kirk Hope explains why political leadership on immigration is needed – view video here Contact: Phone: Email:
...NZ economy: cross-currents of risk Cross-currents of international and domestic risk raise the need for sound economic risk management, according to the latest BusinessNZ Planning Forecast. The BusinessNZ Planning Forecast for the March 2019 quarter highlights international trading risks, particularly around Brexit and US-China trade. Domestic risk factors include concerns...
Failing to see the forest for the trees The latest report from the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment would result in upheaval for New Zealand’s environmental settings, BusinessNZ says. The report calls for New Zealand’s zero carbon emissions target to be substantially toughened to become a gross zero carbon target...
Innovation spend celebrated Increased spending on research and development by businesses is cause for celebration, says BusinessNZ. New data from Statistics NZ shows a recent increase of around half a billion dollars over the last two years had brought firms’ total expenditure on research and development over to $2.1 billion...
Hydrogen and economic issues top of mind for NZ energy executives The sixth annual New Zealand Energy Issues Map below shows energy executives grappling with the potential of hydrogen fuel, along with economic issues including New Zealand’s emerging climate framework. The issues map identifies hydrogen as one of this year’s...
Minority view on extending the taxation of capital gains Minority view on extending the taxation of capital gains Three of the eleven members of the Tax Working Group do not favour the Group’s recommendations on capital gains tax. Group members BusinessNZ Chief Executive Kirk Hope, former Bell Gully tax partner...
Infrastructure Commission welcomed BusinessNZ says the establishment of the new Infrastructure Commission will help overcome current infrastructure problems in New Zealand. Chief Executive Kirk Hope says there’s a need for greater investment in infrastructure and for better alignment of infrastructure demand and supply. “We are again in a situation where...
Electricity pricing options The BusinessNZ Energy Council (BEC) has welcomed options published today by the Electricity Price Review Panel. BEC Chair David Caygill said the Review had provided a thorough and careful review of issues and options for improvement in electricity pricing. “The Review has investigated concerns about how prices...
Compulsory fair pay agreements risky for growth Compulsory Fair Pay Agreements risky for economic growth Fair Pay Agreements would bring risks to business and the economy, says BusinessNZ. The Fair Pay Agreements report released today proposes a system of industry-wide collective agreements for New Zealand workplaces. BusinessNZ was one of...
