Articles tagged with Business

Showing 15 of 123 articles

New Zealand Secures Extra Diesel Supply to Boost Fuel Reserves and Security

28 Apr 2026 | 4 months ago | 802 views

The New Zealand Government has secured an additional nine days' supply of 90 million litres of diesel through a letter of intent with Z Energy to enhance fuel reserves amid global market uncertainties. This fuel will be stored at Marsden Point in refurbished tanks funded by a $21.6 million investment, with the Crown controlling its release to strengthen economic and fuel supply resilience. The agreement, resulting from a competitive procurement process, provides strategic insurance to ensure reliable diesel supply crucial for the economy while not counting towards fuel companies' minimum stockholding obligations.

Tags: Nicola Willis Shane Jones Z Energy New Zealand Marsden Point diesel supply Government fuel reserves Channel Infrastructure Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment

Tony Balfour Appointed New Chair of New Zealand Lotteries Commission Board

15 Apr 2026 | 4 months ago | 762 views

Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden announced Tony Balfour as the new Chair of the New Zealand Lotteries Commission Board, effective May 1, succeeding Mark Todd. Balfour brings extensive experience in governance, business strategy, and community engagement, ensuring strong leadership for the Commission. His appointment aims to enhance the Commission's integrity, transparency, and support for community initiatives through lottery funding.

Tags: Brooke van Velden Tony Balfour Mark Todd New Zealand Lotteries Commission Internal Affairs Minister Lotteries Commission Board governance business strategy community engagement leadership

The Growing Economic Impact of Older Workers in New Zealand’s Workforce

15 Apr 2026 | 4 months ago | 873 views

The latest Business of Ageing report reveals that older New Zealanders significantly contribute to the economy through paid work, self-employment, taxes, spending, and unpaid care, with unpaid work valued at over $20 billion annually. Workforce participation among those aged 65 and over is increasing, with projections showing the number of older workers will more than double in the next 50 years, necessitating new policies to harness their skills. The report emphasizes the importance of recognizing and supporting the economic and social roles of seniors to better adapt to an ageing population.

Tags: Casey Costello Business of Ageing New Zealand seniors older workforce unpaid work economic contribution NZIER Office for Seniors

Open Banking Expands to Business Banking, Boosting Productivity and Growth

31 Mar 2026 | 5 months ago | 793 views

Open Banking will be expanded to business banking channels, enabling businesses to share banking data with trusted providers to access faster loan comparisons, automated accounting, and improved cashflow management. This initiative aims to save businesses time on administrative tasks, boost competition, and enhance productivity, particularly benefiting small businesses by providing clearer financial insights and reducing manual work. While large corporates are exempt due to limited demand, the government prioritizes Open Banking as a key tool to support small business growth and efficiency.

Tags: Scott Simpson Chris Penk Open Banking business banking fintech small businesses loan comparisons automated accounting cash flow productivity

Stats NZ Moves Over 60 Business Surveys Online to Ease Burden by 2026

25 Mar 2026 | 5 months ago | 903 views

Stats NZ is transitioning over 60 business surveys to an online platform starting August 2026 to reduce the administrative burden on businesses and modernize data collection. This shift, praised by Statistics Minister Dr Shane Reti and Small Business and Manufacturing Minister Chris Penk, particularly benefits small businesses by making survey completion faster, more convenient, and less disruptive. The move aims to improve response rates and ensure timely, accurate insights for policymaking while allowing businesses to focus on growth.

Tags: Stats NZ Dr Shane Reti Chris Penk business surveys online surveys small business manufacturing New Zealand Labour Cost Index Business Price Index

Re-Energise 26 Report Calls for Coordinated Action to Build NZ Energy Workforce

24 Mar 2026 | 5 months ago | 966 views

The Re-Energise 26 report highlights the urgent need for coordinated efforts to build New Zealand’s energy workforce to meet growing sector demands and avoid missed opportunities. Key challenges include workforce uncertainty, training pipeline issues, and critical role shortages, while opportunities lie in unified talent development and clearer career pathways. The government, industry, and educators must collaborate to strengthen skills, improve job connections, and support regions facing industry decline to ensure a sustainable energy sector future.

Tags: Louise Upston New Zealand Energy Resources Aotearoa Electricity Engineers’ Association Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment Social Development and Employment Minister energy workforce energy sector government

New Zealand Releases Oil Tickets to Support Global Supply Amid Strait of Hormuz Closure

18 Mar 2026 | 5 months ago | 1086 views

New Zealand will release 1.577 million barrels of crude oil purchase options, known as oil tickets, to support the International Energy Agency’s collective response to oil supply disruptions caused by the Strait of Hormuz closure. This contribution, part of a larger IEA release of 400 million barrels, aims to ease global refinery pressure and stabilize markets without affecting New Zealand’s domestic fuel security. The released tickets pertain to crude oil and fuels incompatible with New Zealand’s system, meaning no physical oil supply will be directly released.

Tags: New Zealand International Energy Agency Shane Jones Strait of Hormuz oil tickets crude oil fuel security Middle East Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment

New Zealand Maintains Strong Fuel Stocks with 49 Days Supply Amid Global Uncertainty

18 Mar 2026 | 5 months ago | 1054 views

New Zealand currently maintains healthy fuel stocks, with about 49 days of petrol, diesel, and jet fuel supply available, including fuel in storage and shipments en route. The government is enhancing fuel data reporting and working closely with industry to monitor supply risks, ensuring readiness amid global uncertainties like the Strait of Hormuz closure. Authorities emphasize there is no need for fuel restrictions at this time, assuring the public that any changes will be communicated promptly with mitigation plans in place.

Tags: Nicola Willis Shane Jones New Zealand fuel stocks petrol diesel jet fuel Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment fuel security Strait of Hormuz

New Zealand Boosts Economy with Faster Overseas Investment Approvals and New Visas

05 Mar 2026 | 6 months ago | 907 views

The New Zealand Government has introduced a two-track system under the Overseas Investment Act to speed up investment decisions, aiming to process most applications within five to 15 working days, significantly faster than before. This reform, along with increased Active Investor Plus visa applications, is expected to bring billions in overseas capital, supporting economic growth, productivity, and high-paying jobs by providing access to international capital, expertise, and technology. The Government emphasizes that attracting foreign investment is essential for New Zealand’s future as a high-income economy and is committed to removing barriers to help businesses grow and create opportunities for Kiwis.

Tags: David Seymour Erica Stanford Overseas Investment Act New Zealand Active Investor Plus golden visa overseas investment Kiwi businesses economic growth investment applications

New Zealand Welcomes Second Private Building Consent Authority to Boost Efficiency

04 Mar 2026 | 6 months ago | 1151 views

New Zealand has approved its second private Building Consent Authority (BCA), Farsight NZ Limited Partnership, to increase competition and capacity in the building consent system, aiming to reduce paperwork and speed up approvals. Farsight will manage key building control tasks for Summerset, a major residential builder, which will help alleviate pressure on council BCAs and improve consistency in applying the Building Code. All BCAs, including private ones, must meet strict accreditation and legal requirements to ensure strong consumer protections and efficient service delivery.

Tags: Chris Penk Farsight NZ Limited Partnership Building Consent Authority Building Consent Approvals Limited Summerset Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment Kāinga Ora International Accreditation New Zealand Building Code New Zealand

New BoardConnector Database Boosts Women’s Leadership Roles in NZ

04 Mar 2026 | 6 months ago | 1106 views

A new database called BoardConnector has been launched to support women's progress into leadership and governance roles in New Zealand, providing access to training and a pool of governance-ready leaders. Minister Nicola Grigg emphasizes that increasing female representation on boards strengthens decision-making and economic growth, while addressing gender pay and retirement savings gaps. Despite progress, women hold only 31 percent of private-sector director positions, highlighting the need for tools that drive meaningful change and economic empowerment for women.

Tags: Nicola Grigg International Women’s Day women’s leadership BoardConnector governance female directors economic empowerment gender pay gap New Zealand women in business

New Zealand and Uruguay Strengthen Partnership to Boost Trade and Cooperation

03 Mar 2026 | 6 months ago | 1078 views

New Zealand and Uruguay have reaffirmed their partnership as small, export-oriented democracies facing global challenges, emphasizing cooperation in trade, education, sport, science, and culture. Foreign Minister Winston Peters highlighted mutual interests in promoting democracy, human rights, and a rules-based international system, as well as expanding business engagement, particularly in high value-added sectors like forestry and agribusiness technology. Discussions also covered major international issues and the importance of strengthening bilateral ties, with Peters continuing his diplomatic tour in Latin America and the Pacific.

Tags: Winston Peters Yamandú Orsi Mario Lubetkin Ricardo Shaw New Zealand Uruguay democracy trade policy bilateral cooperation agribusiness technology

New Insights Reveal Why and How New Zealanders Travel Domestically in 2025

24 Feb 2026 | 6 months ago | 1099 views

The new Domestic Visitor Survey, conducted in late 2025, reveals that three in five New Zealanders took overnight trips and nearly half took day trips in the previous six months, with main motivations being visiting family and relaxation. Domestic tourism accounts for about 60% of New Zealand's tourism expenditure, making these insights crucial for industry planning and responding to travel trends, especially as international visitor numbers recover post-COVID. The survey highlights high trip satisfaction, common planning methods, and barriers like cost and weather, with further data releases planned to support ongoing tourism development.

Tags: Louise Upston New Zealand Domestic Visitor Survey Tourism Hospitality Verian Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment Tourism Evidence and Insights Centre Covid Census

Government Expands Digital Manufacturing Light Program to Boost NZ Manufacturers

23 Feb 2026 | 6 months ago | 977 views

The New Zealand Government is expanding the University of Auckland’s Digital Manufacturing Light programme to help at least 180 small and medium-sized manufacturers in key regions adopt affordable digital technologies, boosting productivity and workforce skills. The programme provides tailored assessments, installation support, and training to integrate low-cost, off-the-shelf technologies without major capital investment, enabling manufacturers to modernize operations and gain real-time insights. This initiative aims to enhance competitiveness, drive innovation, and contribute significantly to the national economy, with potential GDP growth of $8.6 billion from faster digital adoption.

Tags: Chris Penk University of Auckland Auckland Council Xero New Zealand Institute of Economic Research Institute for Manufacturing University of Cambridge Digital Manufacturing Light Small Business and Manufacturing Minister New Zealand Government

Employment Relations Amendment Bill Passed: Boosting Business Confidence & Worker Flexibility

17 Feb 2026 | 6 months ago | 988 views

The Employment Relations Amendment Bill has passed its third reading, introducing reforms to enhance business confidence and create more job opportunities by clarifying contractor vs employee status and setting a $200,000 income threshold for unjustified dismissal claims. The Bill removes the 30-day rule to allow workers and employers to negotiate agreements from day one and ensures accountability for serious misconduct without rewarding employees financially. These changes aim to rebalance employment relations, providing more choice for businesses and workers, with most provisions taking effect immediately after Royal assent.

Tags: Brooke van Velden Employment Relations Amendment Bill Workplace Relations and Safety Minister employment law contractor vs employee unjustified dismissal employment agreements business confidence workplace reforms Royal assent