Business New Zealand

Business New Zealand Inc. (operating as BusinessNZ), New Zealand's largest business-advocacy body,^[1] has its headquarters in Wellington, the capital of New Zealand.^[2] Vaughan Renner became the president of the BusinessNZ council in 2017^[3] and Kirk Hope^[4] has served as the chief executive since 2016.^[5]

History

The history of BusinessNZ dates back more than 100 years.

In 1902 several regional employers' associations came together to form the New Zealand Employers Federation.

The motivation for the formation was to present a unified employer voice in collective bargaining and labour disputes arbitrated by the Arbitration Court. While the impetus for its founding was to defend employer interests in bargaining and labour disputes, the Federation emphasised that this did not entail opposition to workers seeking to advance their legitimate interests, and that it supported profit-sharing, co-partnership and the work of labour organisations in working for fair terms and conditions for their members.

The Federation was founded for the overall purpose of ongoing advocacy on behalf of business, economic and community wellbeing.

In 1905 the constitution of the Employers Federation of New Zealand was formally adopted.

By 1908 the Federation represented around 6,000 members.

Throughout the Great War (1914-1918), the Great Depression of the 1930s, World War II (1939-1945) and the ensuing post-war boom, the Federation advocated for business, economic and community wellbeing, and worked constructively with all successive governments.

In 1951 the Employers Federation became an incorporated society and by 1971 represented around 10,000 members.

In 2001 the New Zealand Employers Federation merged with the New Zealand Manufacturers Federation to form Business New Zealand (BusinessNZ),^[6] advancing the scope of the new organisation to cover greater numbers and types of businesses.

As of 2018 BusinessNZ comprises regional organisations EMA, Business Central, Canterbury Employers' Chamber of Commerce and the Otago Southland Employers Association, with direct membership of around 14,000 members and more than 50,000 indirect or affiliated business members through the Affiliated Industries Group.

From 2009 BusinessNZ established new divisions to promote manufacturing, exporting, energy companies, larger businesses and companies working towards environmental sustainability:

Membership

Membership is drawn from the Major Companies Group and from four of New Zealand's largest regional business organisations:

BusinessNZ's Major Companies Group (MCG) helps ensure that New Zealand's largest companies are heard in policy, business and economic debate. The MCG is a working group with a collective weight of influence that enables it to provide strong counsel to government and other key decision makers. Around 70 members, representing a large proportion of New Zealand's GDP, have joined the MCG since its establishment in 2008. The work of the Major Companies Group takes place within the overarching governance of the BusinessNZ Council. Membership of the MCG provides:

access to specialised policy forums
contribution to research and policy development
specialist independent policy advice
an opportunity to engage in influencing the political and regulatory business framework
national and regional representation

Advocacy

BusinessNZ advocacy focuses on growing prosperity and potential.

Key policies promoted by BusinessNZ include:

competition in markets
international free trade
innovative, competitive exports
product and service integrity
sustainability
high productivity
high priority on education and skills
high priority on science and innovation
adequate investment in infrastructure
respect for property rights
focused monetary policy
a stable investment environment
restraint in new laws and regulations
light-handed regulation and responsible industry self-regulation
restraint in government spending and taxing
company taxes less than major trading partners
lower, flatter personal tax rates
restraint in local-government spending and rating
no business-specific taxes or rates without business-specific benefits
resource policies serving the environment and the economy
environmental stewardship using education and voluntary action
secure energy-supply using all forms of natural energy resources
workplace fairness and all protections under human-rights legislation
diversity and equal opportunity
freedom of choice in bargaining agents and employment agreements
safety the responsibility of all in the workplace
a sound, competitive ACC system that incentivises safety
social-welfare policies that incentivise self-reliance and enterprise
immigration policies that bring needed new skills and capital
focus on "New Zealand Inc."

Governing body

BusinessNZ is governed by an elected council, with its 17 members drawn from the four regional associations. The council meets six times a year.

References

↑ "'Mood change' on climate change". Stuff. Retrieved 2015-11-17.
↑ "Business New Zealand hunts for a new head". Indian Newslink - Indian Business Awards. Retrieved 2015-11-17. Wellington based BusinessNZ is looking for a successor to Phil O’Reilly [...].
↑ "New President for BusinessNZ". BusinessNZ. 2017-12-15. Retrieved 2018-05-19. Wellington businessman Vaughan Renner has been elected President of BusinessNZ. [...] He replaces outgoing BusinessNZ President Tony Sewell of the Canterbury Employers' Chamber of Commerce (CECC).
↑ "Meet the BusinessNZ Team". BusinessNZ. Retrieved 2018-05-19. Kirk Hope is Chief Executive of BusinessNZ [...].
↑ "New BusinessNZ Chief Executive". BusinessNZ. 2015-11-27. Retrieved 2018-05-19. The BusinessNZ Council has appointed Kirk Hope as new Chief Executive of BusinessNZ. [...] Mr Hope takes up his role at BusinessNZ in February.
↑ Arnold, Terry (2003-09-17). "The Case for Growth: Address to Reception, Dunedin Club". BusinessNZ. Retrieved 2018-05-19. Business New Zealand is a national business organisation that was formed a little over two years ago when two old and well-known national federations, the Employers' and the Manufacturers Federations, came together to form this new organisation.
↑ "Employers and Manufacturers Association (EMA) Northern". Retrieved 16 December 2012.
↑ Business Central

External links

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[1] "'Mood change' on climate change". Stuff. Retrieved 2015-11-17.

[:0-2] "Business New Zealand hunts for a new head". Indian Newslink - Indian Business Awards. Retrieved 2015-11-17. Wellington based BusinessNZ is looking for a successor to Phil O’Reilly [...].

[3] "New President for BusinessNZ". BusinessNZ. 2017-12-15. Retrieved 2018-05-19. Wellington businessman Vaughan Renner has been elected President of BusinessNZ. [...] He replaces outgoing BusinessNZ President Tony Sewell of the Canterbury Employers' Chamber of Commerce (CECC).

[4] "Meet the BusinessNZ Team". BusinessNZ. Retrieved 2018-05-19. Kirk Hope is Chief Executive of BusinessNZ [...].

[5] "New BusinessNZ Chief Executive". BusinessNZ. 2015-11-27. Retrieved 2018-05-19. The BusinessNZ Council has appointed Kirk Hope as new Chief Executive of BusinessNZ. [...] Mr Hope takes up his role at BusinessNZ in February.

[6] Arnold, Terry (2003-09-17). "The Case for Growth: Address to Reception, Dunedin Club". BusinessNZ. Retrieved 2018-05-19. Business New Zealand is a national business organisation that was formed a little over two years ago when two old and well-known national federations, the Employers' and the Manufacturers Federations, came together to form this new organisation.

[7] "Employers and Manufacturers Association (EMA) Northern". Retrieved 16 December 2012.

[8] Business Central