AdvocacyUpdate for 22 August 2025

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Advocacy for business by the BusinessNZ Network

Across the business environment

BusinessNZ recent advocacy has focused on NZ’s ability to export goods and services and import needed skills - including NZ exporters’ performance in the face of US tariff moves, and the potential for new international visas to fill staffing gaps in seasonal industries. Proposals to improve councils’ consenting of new development are welcomed, and the BusinessNZ Energy Council considers looming pressures in the energy sector. Meanwhile, this week’s AdvocacyUpdate invites subscribers’ views and comment on the environment for business, in the current Survey of Business Sentiment.

Tēna koutou katoa! Katherine Rich

Exporters resilient

NZ exporters are resilient in the face of global trade tensions, the latest ExportNZ-DHL survey shows. Following US tariff moves, 19% of NZ exporters surveyed report increased end-product prices, and 18% report supply chain disruptions or reduced export volumes, but 55% report no major impact from tariffs so far. Meanwhile, 79% have increased or maintained export levels over the last year, and 59% expect their exports to increase in the coming year. While apprehensive about the potential for trade wars, most say barriers to trade have largely remained the same.

New visas for seasonal businesses

New visa settings will help businesses find seasonal workers, BusinessNZ says. The new visas - the Global Workforce Seasonal Visa and the Peak Seasonal Visa - are in addition to the existing Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme and recognise the huge contribution seasonal industries make to the economy, BusinessNZ CEO Katherine Rich says. "Seasonal industries make an outsized contribution to New Zealand’s economy. Many sectors, from winemaking and meat processing to snow sports and shearing, rely on highly experienced workers for specific windows of time each year, and the new visas will make it easier for businesses to bring back skilled seasonal staff when they’re needed most.”

Your take on the business climate

AdvocacyUpdate subscribers are invited to take part in BusinessNZ's 2025 Business Sentiment Survey, aimed at capturing the challenges and opportunities within NZ's current business environment. The survey will identify issues impacting businesses, aid understanding of business confidence levels and outlook, and will be used to inform all political, business and industry stakeholders. The survey takes 5 minutes to complete, and all responses will be treated in confidence. Please take the survey here

Proportionate liability

BusinessNZ has welcomed plans to change liability rules holding back councils’ consenting of new developments. Currently councils may be hesitant to approve consents given they could be held ultimately liable for defects if one of the parties involved in the development is unable to pay for remedies or has gone out of business. Replacing the current joint & several liability system with a system that assigns liability proportionately those involved would help get more consenting under way, BusinessNZ says, but the need for increased insurance protection for parties concerned would need to be carefully considered.

Gas crisis

NZ’s industrial gas market is in crisis, BEC says. A survey of business gas users shows nearly 50% have reduced operations, cut staff or increased prices due to rising costs or unreliable supply of natural gas, and over 40% say it’s not viable for them to switch to alternative fuels within the next five years. “If we do nothing, a major de-industrialisation crisis could escalate in the next two years,” BEC’s Tina Schirr says. “We urge the government to use all levers at its disposal to help free up gas supplies and get more gas out of the ground.”

Benchmarking energy

NZ’s integrated electricity market and renewable energy are strengths, but energy volatility is a risk given our water dependency and declining gas supply, says BEC’s new report comparing energy systems in 16 countries. “Electricity price volatility poses real risks, and not just for energy-intensive businesses,” BEC’s Tina Schirr says. “Energy is at the heart of every business. To keep exporters and domestic businesses competitive, more needs to be done to achieve energy system diversity to enable lower prices long term.”