BusinessNZ endorses the start of work towards a proposed Regulatory Standards Bill. The Bill aims to improve the quality of regulation, reducing the compliance burden on New Zealanders and boosting productivity. BusinessNZ Chief Executive Katherine Rich says businesses will be heartened by the work. “Our members have consistently called for...
BusinessNZ congratulates the National, Labour and ACT parties for their shared endorsement of an updated framework for public private partnerships. The New Zealand PPP Framework Blueprint for Future Transactions sets out New Zealand’s future approach to PPP infrastructure projects, based on learnings from past projects, with updated requirements relating to...
Small businesses will welcome the Government’s firm direction to government agencies to pay their bills on time, BusinessNZ says. Chief Executive Katherine Rich says many businesses supply goods and services to government agencies and can experience hardship from late payment times. “Businesses can look forward to their invoices being paid...
BusinessNZ has welcomed the Government’s pledge to improve the policies holding back overseas investment. The Government has indicated it will change the Overseas Investment Act and the policy settings for foreign investment, within the next year. BusinessNZ Chief Executive Katherine Rich said the current rules make it difficult and uncertain...
Better claims management and more transparent levy-setting are needed to return ACC Accounts to financial health, BusinessNZ says. BusinessNZ’s submission on ACC’s levy-setting for 2025-28 notes that some ACC Accounts are currently underfunded, a situation which will lead to unjustified pressure on future levy payers. BusinessNZ Chief Executive Katherine...
BusinessNZ supports moves to get more productivity and efficiency in the building consent system. The Government is proposing changing the system, with options including consolidating the number of Building Consent Authorities and introducing a single point of contact for builders to submit their plans to. BusinessNZ Advocacy Director Catherine Beard...
The Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Agreement (TTRMA) – which aims to remove regulatory barriers between Australia and New Zealand and facilitate trade across the Tasman – is now 20 years old. The TTMRA helps to increase transparency in trading arrangements and reduce compliance costs for businesses on both sides of the...
The Government’s steps to make it easier for overseas investment are a good start but more, fundamental change is required, says BusinessNZ Chief Executive Kirk Hope. “New Zealand currently has one of the most restrictive regimes in the OECD when it comes to overseas investment, and moves toward a more...
BusinessNZ Chief Executive Kirk Hope today announced he has resigned from his role and will finish with BusinessNZ on 6 September 2024. “I have led BusinessNZ for nine years through a period of growth, consolidation and unprecedented change and believe the time is right to pass the baton to a...
Building a safety culture
Too many Kiwis are still being harmed at work. Creating a culture focused on health, safety, and wellbeing can make a huge impact — and starts from the top. Warwick Stenson clearly remembers the day he realised he wanted to do more for his staff. “When I first came on...