Source: BusinessNZ — Proposed changes to agricultural, horticultural and veterinary product regulation will slash red tape, improve productivity and innovation across the primary sector, and be a comfort for pet owners across the country, BusinessNZ says. Director of Advocacy Catherine Beard says streamlining approval pathways and reducing unnecessary duplication should help...
The Government’s introduction of two Bills to replace the current Resource Management Act (RMA) is transformational and should result in fewer consents required to unlock development while protecting what matters, BusinessNZ says. Chief Executive Katherine Rich says the next step will be securing broad support for the changes, which will...
As councils consider their spending and rates decisions for the coming year and as October’s local authority elections draw closer, business groups are calling for greater transparency on how councillors vote. “It is time for councils to make it easier to show how their elected members vote at each meeting...
BusinessNZ welcomes the Government’s commitment to reforming resource management laws, based on the principle of the enjoyment of property rights. “The latest announcement on phase 3 reforms is another step in the right direction,” BusinessNZ Chief Executive Katherine Rich said. “Current consenting processes are slow and costly, and projects can...
BusinessNZ congratulates the Government and Local Government Minister Simeon Brown on planned local government reform. BusinessNZ Chief Executive Katherine Rich said the Government’s agreement to change the purpose of the Local Government Act, from the current ‘four well-beings’ purpose, to one focused on delivering basic infrastructure and services, has not...
The BusinessNZ Planning Forecast for the December quarter shows only modest growth on the cards for New Zealand’s economy in 2025. BusinessNZ Director of Advocacy Catherine Beard says after a tough year in business, there are still reasons to be optimistic. “The end of 2024 looks like a bit of...
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...
