More than 170 of New Zealand’s largest companies are active members of BusinessNZ’s Major Companies Group.
Together they account for a large portion of New Zealand’s GDP, bringing a collective weight of influence that enables MCG to provide strong counsel to government and other key decision makers.
MCG ensures our members have a strong advocacy voice in policy, business and economic debate. We provide a vehicle to voice and positively influence the challenges and opportunities facing businesses in New Zealand.
MCG engages with government officials, community groups, MPs and Ministers daily, ensuring business interests are represented throughout the policy making process.
Our specialist policy managers champion policies that help grow skills, investment, high- value goods, services, innovation and international competitiveness.
MCG members receive a suite of services including:
Specialist independent policy advice
Opportunities to contribute to research and policy development
Access to specialised policy forums, including Ministers and MPs and Government officials
An opportunity to engage in influencing the political and regulatory business framework
Regulatory updates and meetings with all political parties hosted by BusinessNZ
The work of the MCG is carried out within the overarching governance of the BusinessNZ Council.
Your representative
Phil Love
Your Major Companies Group membership includes invites to forums, meetings and conferences throughout the country.
CEO Forum is the peak policy forum within the MCG and includes CEOs across all industry sectors that meet three times a year in Auckland.
The CEO Forum conversations are demand driven and include topics like employment relations, infrastructure, diversity, regional development, skills, training, health and safety, regulatory issues, international trade, energy and electricity, environment, sustainability, corporate affairs and policy positions. It’s also a free exchange of business insights with Government officials and MPs that helps policy development so that we can grow the New Zealand economy. Guest speakers include the head of Treasury and MBIE plus the Prime Minister, Senior Ministers and the Opposition leaders. We also host two breakfasts and two halfday sessions across the country.
Corporate Affairs meetings are held in Wellington and Auckland five times a year.
These meetings give opportunities for senior executives or CEOs from the Major Companies Group to have a two-way discussion. These meetings provide a platform for businesses to discuss policy and challenges facing them.
Private Dinners are hosted in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, Queenstown, Hamilton, New Plymouth and Invercargill every seven weeks.
These dinners are for up to 15 CEOs or senior executives and provide an opportunity to talk about their business and the regional and national economy with a senior Minister or Ministers, or senior opposition MPs.
Access to all our policy advice through submissions, media releases, research papers and the regularly circulated policy updates to members.
Access to our expert policy team in respect of ER, skills and training and education, sustainability, energy, health and safety, emissions.
Cocktail Parties Invitations for executives or senior staff to meet the respective opposition parties and their caucuses.
Once a year cocktail function is also held with Ministers, government ministerial advisers, press secretaries, political advisers, and some junior Ministers.
Invitations to our annual cocktail party held in Wellington in February, Prime Minister’s Post Budget Lunch in Wellington and the Prime Ministers End of Year Review and Look Ahead to Next Year, held annually in November in Auckland.
Trade Delegation Functions
Opportunities for senior executives to be invited to various visiting trade delegation functions. Most recently, the Asia Pacific Energy Leaders’ Summit held in March and the recent visits by the Japanese, Chinese and French business delegations.
Briefings with Treasury, MBIE and other agencies based on member demand. We do this at least twice a year with the key agencies.
Invitation for the CEO to attend a CEO dinner with the Prime Minister and his caucus in Auckland or Wellington. BusinessNZ will host a pre-dinner drinks function before the dinner.
Pre Election
Conference invitation to attend the day long conference in Wellington where all political party leaders pitch their policies to business.
ANZLF BusinessNZ is also the secretariat for the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum which involves dialogue and engagement with the top 60 companies on both sides of the Tasman. This promotes discussion for Trans Tasman businesses on the issues that matter for the two countries.
Wellington Seminar
A comprehensive way of understanding Wellington and the regulatory landscape including meetings and discussions between business and Ministers, Opposition MPs and key officials.
Regional Business Associations
Major Companies Group members in all areas of New Zealand can access tailored professional advice, resources, training and networking events provided by BusinessNZ and significant regional business associations within the BusinessNZ network. Their highly skilled teams can assist with Advocacy and Industry Relations, Human Resources and Employment Relations, Employment Law, Health & Safety, International Trade and Business Strategy and Professional Development solutions. BusinessNZ’s regional business associations have access to both regional and national initiatives involving lobbying, representation and resources, and are focused on building long term relationships with their regional members through services and support.
Partnerships
MCG members and BusinessNZ partner on a range of initiatives to drive positive change.
About a dozen companies have partnerships with us on top of their membership. Members can partner with BusinessNZ on a variety of initiatives like surveys, papers, workshops, themed luncheons or cocktail functions.
Partnerships enable businesses to showcase their brand in front of key stakeholders including their customers, suppliers, media and government officials.
Some of the companies we have partnered with include Fonterra, Westpac, Chapman Tripp, Southern Cross Healthcare, Johnson & Johnson, IBM, Callaghan Innovation, Datacom and Deloitte.
Examples of partnerships include:
The Deloitte and Chapman Tripp Election Conference and Election Survey, hosted by BusinessNZ
BusinessNZ – Deloitte Major Companies Tax Survey
BusinessNZ Pre-Budget Lunch
BusinessNZ Prime Minister’s Update
BusinessNZ Back to Business cocktails with Westpac & Xero
Southern Cross Health Insurance – BusinessNZ Workplace Wellness Survey in which the public and private sector participate.
BNZ – BusinessNZ Economic Performance Indexes on manufacturing and services (PMI and PSI) which are placed on our website and updated monthly. Both are market sensitive.
Prime Ministers Business Update held in December. The Prime Minister talks about the year in review and the priorities for the next 12 months.
