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Advocacy for business by the BusinessNZ Network | |
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Advocacy by BusinessNZ is helping boost the economy. Planned changes to procurement rules will be fairer to Kiwi firms and will grow the domestic economy, the outcome of outstanding advocacy by BusinessNZ’s Catherine Beard. Changes to investment tax rules for new migrants are also good news and follow BusinessNZ's strong advocacy for a more welcoming investment regime. Meanwhile, the latest BusinessNZ Planning Forecast is revealing nascent signs of economic growth - it's a pleasure to bring good news from the BusinessNZ team! Tēnā koutou katoa! Katherine Rich | | | |
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The economy is finally showing signs of improvement, albeit off a low base, according to the latest BusinessNZ Planning Forecast. NZ will continue to face uncertainty arising from trade wars between the US and other nations, but inflationary pressures are falling and recent cuts to the official cash rate have eased some financial pressure from homeowners refixing a mortgage. World commodity prices are solid, assisting NZ meat and dairy exporters, and NZ’s manufacturing sector is now registering growth - all positive signs of recovery, the Forecast says. | | | |
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BusinessNZ is celebrating the Govt’s plan to change procurement rules so they are fairer to NZ businesses. The proposed new rules will require government agencies to consider the wider economic benefit to NZ of their purchasing decisions. BusinessNZ has long advocated for procurement rules that prioritise the economic value to NZ of local businesses gaining contracts, and prioritise ‘whole of life value,’ when government agencies decide whether to purchase goods and services from an overseas or a NZ business. | | | |
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A change to Foreign Investment Fund rules will help attract more investment into NZ, BusinessNZ CEO Katherine Rich says. The change will allow illiquid investments by new migrants to be taxed on a realisation basis instead of being taxed annually on their deemed income, addressing the current problem of investors being taxed whether they have received a return on their investment or not. This is a useful change, and businesses are looking forward to other signalled FIF changes to help boost investment in NZ in the near future, Katherine Rich said. | | | |
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'Intentional theft' law unnecessary |
BusinessNZ has criticised a new law making it a criminal offence for an employer to intentionally not pay wages or entitlements. Non-payment of wages is already an offence under the Employment Relations Act - now it becomes a criminal offence under the Crimes Act as well, if the offence is intentional. BusinessNZ says this duplication of laws could expose employers to double jeopardy, while gaining proof of intention in a criminal case will be difficult and expensive, and the new law will only create a more difficult legal environment for both employers and employees. | | | |
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Members of the BusinessNZ network are invited to take part in the 2025 Southern Cross-BusinessNZ Workplace Wellness Survey. The survey is used to benchmark workplace wellness in NZ and help businesses better support employee health. Questions cover types of illness and injuries, stress, prevalence and cost of absences, remote working, working from home, the effects of economic conditions on workplace wellness, and relationships and communication with staff. Businesses are invited to take part in the survey here. | | | |
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MBIE is inviting expressions of interest from candidates with experience in employment law, wage negotiation, disputes resolution and labour markets for 5 positions as Members of the Employment Relations Authority. ERA Members investigate and make legally binding decisions on employment disputes, and have the power to award remedies such as reinstatement, reimbursement and penalties. The Position Description and expressions of interest form can be requested via ERAExpressionsOfInterest@mbie.govt.nz.
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AdvocacyUpdate is an update on recent activity and advocacy by the BusinessNZ Network | |
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