Commentaries

Statements by BusinessNZ on issues relevant to enterprise in New Zealand.

Building a safety culture

Building a safety culture

Too many Kiwis are still being harmed at work. Creating a culture focused on health, safety, and wellbeing can make a huge impact — and starts from the top. Warwick Stenson clearly remembers the day he realised he wanted to do more for his staff. "When I first came on...

After injury: Teamwork makes recovery work

After injury: Teamwork makes recovery work

Most workplace injuries, with collaborative effort and temporary adjustments, don't have to result in prolonged absences. There's growing evidence and consensus that maintaining a connection to work, even in a modified capacity, significantly benefits recovery. A...

Energy in the EU

Energy in the EU

In July, I was delighted to travel to the EU to meet with energy leaders across the sector in order to discuss the subject of energy transition and how this has been impacted by the multiple challenges the EU is currently exposed to.

Energy in the EU

Business concerned by blurring of Government and Reserve Bank policy

In past opinion pieces I’ve raised some of the additional regulatory burdens that businesses are facing as a result of Government policy and some of the risks and consequences of those changes. This one focuses on more regulatory and policy changes which are creating some nervousness in the business sector, but rather than from central government these policies are emanating from the central bank.

Energy in the EU

Taxing Google is a bad idea for New Zealand

Taxing the internet giants would be an own goal for New Zealand. It’s been suggested that New Zealand should join other countries in imposing a tax on internet companies like Amazon, Facebook, Google and Apple.

Energy in the EU

Business verdict on fair pay agreements

Business has now seen the detail around proposed changes to our wage bargaining system. The proposals are for collective agreements – ‘fair pay agreements’ – that would set minimum pay and conditions for all workers in each industry.

Energy in the EU

Capital gains tax not supported by business

I was a member of the Tax Working Group as a representative of business. I appreciated being able to contribute to informed and frank debate with a thoughtful intelligent group of New Zealanders over the introduction of a capital gains tax.