Articles tagged with Cameron Brewer
Showing 15 of 32 articles
New Zealand Manufacturing Grows 14 Months Straight with Broad Industry Expansion
10 Sep 2026 | 1 week ago | 207 viewsNew Zealand's manufacturing sector has expanded for 14 consecutive months, with growth spreading across all main industry groups and regions, as reflected in the BNZ-BusinessNZ Performance of Manufacturing Index (PMI) reading of 53.1 for August. Increased new orders and solid production indicate positive momentum, supported by government initiatives like the Investment Boost to enhance productivity. Despite global uncertainties, New Zealand manufacturers are outperforming major economies, contributing significantly to employment, GDP, and exports while receiving strong governmental support.
Tags: Cameron Brewer Doug Steel BNZ BusinessNZ New Zealand manufacturing sector Small Business and Manufacturing Minister Manufacturing Index Kiwi manufacturers Investment BoostKiwiSaver Average Balance Hits $40,000 as Membership and Contributions Grow
09 Sep 2026 | 1 week ago | 191 viewsThe average KiwiSaver balance has surpassed $40,000 for the first time, with total investments reaching $138.8 billion and strong growth in member contributions and new enrollments. Increased competition in the KiwiSaver market is evident, with 460,000 fund switches and $7.4 billion moved between providers last year, encouraging members to review and choose better options. Additionally, the government introduced a bill allowing workers in service tenancies to use KiwiSaver for home purchases, supporting first-home buyers and enhancing savings accessibility.
Tags: KiwiSaver Cameron Brewer Financial Markets Authority New Zealand Commerce and Consumer Affairs KiwiSaver Annual Report Government property ladder KiwiSaver (First Home or Farm) Amendment Bill first homesMandatory Asbestos Testing Proposed for Children's Toys and Craft Sand Products in NZ
03 Sep 2026 | 2 weeks ago | 247 viewsThe New Zealand government, led by Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Cameron Brewer, is proposing mandatory pre-sale asbestos testing for children's toys and craft products containing sand to enhance consumer safety. This follows the recall of around 46,000 asbestos-contaminated products, highlighting gaps in current product safety protections. The proposed unsafe goods notice aims to prevent untested products from reaching the market, while officials also consider long-term comprehensive safety regulations.
Tags: asbestos testing children's toys craft products sand contamination Cameron Brewer New Zealand product safety unsafe goods notice product recalls MBIENew Zealand Lifejacket Law: Mandatory Wear on Recreational Boats from 2024
02 Sep 2026 | 2 weeks ago | 271 viewsNew Zealand has passed new legislation requiring everyone on recreational boats six metres or less to wear properly fitted lifejackets while underway, aiming to reduce preventable drownings. In 2025, 17 people died in recreational boating incidents, with 12 not wearing lifejackets, highlighting the urgent need for this safety measure. The law will take effect 28 days after Royal Assent, just in time for the summer season, supported by coordinated public information efforts from Maritime NZ and partners.
Tags: James Meager Shane Reti Cameron Brewer lifejacket legislation Maritime Transport Amendment Bill New Zealand waters recreational craft safety boating safety drowning prevention Maritime NZKiwiSaver Changes Help Farm Workers Buy First Homes and Farms in NZ
01 Sep 2026 | 3 weeks ago | 255 viewsNew legislation will allow farm workers to use their KiwiSaver savings to buy their first home, addressing rules that previously excluded rural workers from first-home withdrawals. The bill also permits first-time farm buyers to use KiwiSaver funds for farms owned through companies, trusts, or partnerships they control, reflecting how farm ownership typically operates. These changes aim to make homeownership fairer and reduce debt for rural workers, enabling them to own property alongside their work.
Tags: Nicola Willis Cameron Brewer Suze Redmayne KiwiSaver Farm workers First home New Zealand Rangitīkei Commerce and Consumer Affairs Finance MinisterFarm Workers Can Now Use KiwiSaver Savings to Buy Their First Home
01 Sep 2026 | 3 weeks ago | 291 viewsNew legislation allows farm workers to use their KiwiSaver savings to buy their first home, addressing previous rules that excluded rural workers required to live on-site. The KiwiSaver (First Home or Farm) Amendment Bill also permits first-time farm buyers to use their savings when purchasing a farm through a majority-owned company, trust, or partnership, reflecting how farm ownership typically operates. This change aims to make farm ownership more accessible, reducing debt for new owners and recognizing the contributions of rural workers.
Tags: Nicola Willis Cameron Brewer Suze Redmayne KiwiSaver Farm workers First Home New Zealand Rangitīkei Commerce and Consumer Affairs Finance MinisterGovernment Imposes Tougher Regulation on Tiaki Wai to Ensure Water Service Accountability in Wellington
28 Aug 2026 | 3 weeks ago | 312 viewsThe New Zealand Government will impose a 10-year performance requirement regulation on Wellington's water services provider, Tiaki Wai, following a Commerce Commission recommendation to ensure stronger accountability and transparency. This regulation grants the Commission the power to set binding performance standards, prioritizing critical projects and ensuring the $25 billion investment over 30 years is effectively managed and delivers promised infrastructure improvements. Ministers emphasize that this independent scrutiny aims to restore public confidence by guaranteeing that water charges are transparently used for necessary network upgrades rather than being hidden within general rates.
Tags: Simon Watts Cameron Brewer Tiaki Wai Wellingtonians Local Government Minister Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Commerce Commission water services provider New Zealand Local Water Done WellNew Zealand Targets Electricity Network Reforms to Lower Power Bills and Boost Efficiency
19 Aug 2026 | 1 month ago | 393 viewsNew Zealand’s rising electricity bills are largely driven by electricity distribution network costs, prompting the government to seek reforms for greater affordability, reliability, and efficiency in the sector. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) has released a discussion document proposing actions to enhance collaboration among Electricity Distribution Businesses (EDBs), improve economic regulation, and strengthen governance to support increased electrification and innovation. The government is inviting public feedback on these potential reforms to ensure investments deliver value for consumers and help moderate future power costs.
Tags: Simeon Brown Cameron Brewer Electricity Distribution Businesses Commerce Commission MBIE New Zealand Energy Minister Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Frontier Review Energy PackageGovernment Funds Additional Growth Advisor to Support Hawke's Bay Businesses Through 2027
18 Aug 2026 | 1 month ago | 367 viewsThe Government is funding an additional Growth Advisor at the Hawke's Bay Chamber of Commerce through June 2027 to provide hands-on support for local business owners recovering from Cyclone Gabrielle. This advisor will offer practical guidance on planning, growth opportunities, and decision-making, helping businesses navigate ongoing challenges and access regional resources. The initiative aims to strengthen Hawke's Bay's productive economy by ensuring small businesses receive timely, local expertise to rebuild and succeed.
Tags: Cameron Brewer Karla Lee Katie Nimon Catherine Wedd Hawke's Bay Cyclone Gabrielle Growth Advisor Regional Business Partner Network Small Business Hawke's Bay Chamber of CommerceKiwi Businesses Save Time Accessing $400M Government Grants with New Funding Explorer
06 Aug 2026 | 1 month ago | 389 viewsThe upgraded Funding Explorer, launched by the New Zealand government, consolidates 15 funding opportunities from seven agencies into a single searchable platform, enabling businesses to quickly find relevant grants and support. This tool addresses previous fragmentation and navigation difficulties, allowing businesses to search by sector or objective, such as commercializing ideas or boosting productivity. The initiative, praised by industry leaders, aims to reduce time spent on government paperwork, fostering more investment, job creation, and stronger exports.
Tags: Cameron Brewer Catherine Lye Funding Explorer Small Business Manufacturing business grants government agencies Advancing Manufacturing Aotearoa business funding business.govt.nzJames Miller Appointed Chair of New Zealand's Financial Markets Authority
05 Aug 2026 | 1 month ago | 462 viewsFinance Minister Nicola Willis and Commerce Minister Cameron Brewer announced James Miller as the new chair of the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) for a five-year term starting August 6, highlighting his extensive experience in capital markets and governance. The government aims to reform New Zealand's capital markets by reducing costs and complexity to encourage local listings and strengthen KiwiSaver balances, with the FMA now overseeing consumer credit regulation as a single financial markets conduct regulator. Additionally, Trevor Janes was appointed to the FMA board for two years, both bringing significant expertise to support the FMA's role in promoting fair, efficient, and transparent financial markets.
Tags: Nicola Willis Cameron Brewer James Miller Trevor Janes Steven Bardy Financial Markets Authority NZX KiwiSaver New Zealand Order of Merit NZ RegCoEarn as You Learn Expands to Train Young Kiwis for Manufacturing Careers
03 Aug 2026 | 1 month ago | 428 viewsThe Earn as You Learn programme, which combines paid workplace learning with formal training and industry mentoring, is expanding into the Hutt Valley, Bay of Plenty, Christchurch, and Auckland to address the manufacturing sector's skilled workforce shortage. Developed by manufacturers and supported by Advancing Manufacturing Aotearoa, the programme has proven successful in the Waikato pilot, with most participants securing full-time jobs after completing their training. The government is committed to expanding vocational pathways alongside this initiative, aiming to grow the skilled manufacturing workforce essential for New Zealand's economic recovery and future innovation.
Tags: Cameron Brewer Catherine Lye Earn as You Learn Advancing Manufacturing Aotearoa Wintec New Zealand Small Business and Manufacturing Minister Waikato Youth Guarantee Trades AcademyGovernment Seeks Feedback on Capital Market Reforms to Boost Kiwi Business Growth
14 Jul 2026 | 2 months ago | 467 viewsThe Government is seeking feedback on the next phase of capital market reforms aimed at lowering the cost of raising capital for Kiwi businesses and improving returns for investors, with a focus on modernizing rules to keep pace with innovation and maintain investor protections. This phase follows last year’s reforms that reduced compliance costs and barriers to listing on the NZX, and now targets eight specific areas including product disclosure, director liability, crowdfunding limits, and broker activity. The consultation, open for six weeks, invites input from businesses, investors, and financial advisers to help create dynamic, competitive markets that support economic growth.
Tags: Cameron Brewer Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister KiwiSaver MBIE NZX New Zealand Government capital market reforms economic growth crowdfundingNew Zealand Manufacturing Hits Strongest Growth in Nearly Five Years
09 Jul 2026 | 2 months ago | 593 viewsNew Zealand's manufacturing sector experienced its strongest growth in nearly five years, with the BNZ-BusinessNZ Performance of Manufacturing Index rising sharply to 59.7 in June, indicating robust expansion across new orders, production, and employment. The sector, which employs over 220,000 people and contributes significantly to GDP and exports, is driving economic growth and outperforming major global economies. Government support, including the Investment Boost initiative, is helping manufacturers invest in productivity-enhancing machinery, sustaining the sector's momentum and future development.
Tags: Cameron Brewer Stephen Toplis New Zealand BNZ BusinessNZ Manufacturing Small Business Investment Boost United States ChinaKiwi Businesses Boost Productivity with $800M Gains from eInvoicing Adoption
07 Jul 2026 | 2 months ago | 551 viewsKiwi businesses are projected to gain up to $800 million annually in productivity through full eInvoicing adoption, which has more than doubled in uptake recently, enabling faster payments and reduced paperwork. The government leads by example with prompt payments, achieving over 95% of invoices paid within 10 working days, and will require large businesses to send eInvoices to government agencies from January 2027. This initiative aims to improve cashflow, cut administrative costs, reduce invoice fraud, and create a more efficient business environment in New Zealand.
Tags: eInvoicing productivity gains Kiwi businesses Cameron Brewer NZIER Small Business Manufacturing Minister government payments invoice fraud cloud accounting