All Posts

Regional communities are central to New Zealand’s economy. They produce much of what the country exports, connect national supply chains and support sectors including food and fibre, manufacturing, energy, tourism and logistics.

The Government has extended an agreement for a 550,000-barrel strategic diesel reserve until August 2027 to maintain New Zealand’s fuel resilience, Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Associate Energy Minister Shane Jones say.

Businesses tell us they want policy settings that build confidence, support long-term planning and encourage investment in growing the economy. That means making it easier to start, grow and invest in a business, while backing the people and industries that will drive future growth.

Wellington is not in decline. Wellington is in transition. Those are two different things, and they call for two different conversations.

The Government has completed the biggest overhaul of national direction in the history of the Resource Management Act – with the final changes making it faster, easier and more affordable to build and upgrade New Zealand’s electricity and telecommunications networks, RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop says.

We’ve set out the small business policies announced by each party has announced so far and what they could mean for small businesses.

The Planning Act and Natural Environment Act have received Royal assent and are now law, marking the beginning of New Zealand’s transition to a new and fundamentally different planning system, RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Parliamentary Under-Secretary Simon Court say.

The total volume of retail sales in New Zealand decreased by $138 million (0.5%) in the June 2026 quarter compared with the March 2026 quarter, according to figures released by Stats NZ.

The total volume of retail sales in New Zealand decreased by $138 million (0.5%) in the June 2026 quarter compared with the March 2026 quarter, according to figures released by Stats NZ.

Originally published: The Post, 12 September 2026. A few weeks ago, a bunch of Wellington business leaders came together for a night at The Gods, the beautifully restored venue inside Wellington's old Paramount Theatre on Courtenay Place. More than 130 business owners, retail leaders, wealth managers, tertiary representatives, property investors, hospitality operators, developers, community leaders and people who care about Wellington gathered on a cold winter evening. To me,

The total volume of retail sales in New Zealand decreased by $138 million (0.5%) in the June 2026 quarter compared with the March 2026 quarter, according to figures released by Stats NZ.

The total volume of retail sales in New Zealand decreased by $138 million (0.5%) in the June 2026 quarter compared with the March 2026 quarter, according to figures released by Stats NZ.

The total volume of retail sales in New Zealand decreased by $138 million (0.5%) in the June 2026 quarter compared with the March 2026 quarter, according to figures released by Stats NZ.

Business Central, home of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, has released its Wellington Business Election Priorities 2026, setting out what Wellington businesses want from the next Government. Chief Executive Hayley Horan said Wellington has the talent and ideas to help lead New Zealand’s next phase of economic growth. "Wellington businesses have shown remarkable resilience in recent years, and what we’re seeing now is that they are ready to invest, employ and grow. What w

Backing private sector growth These priorities focus on what Wellington needs from the next Government to restore confidence, attract investment and turn the capital’s strengths into stronger economic growth. Business Central represents more than 3,500 businesses across the central and lower North Island, and top of the South, and is part of the BusinessNZ network. We are also home to the Wellington Chamber of Commerce. Foreword from Hayley Horan Wellington is a city with dee

Electricity network costs are driving most of the increases in New Zealanders’ power bills and the sector needs to help make power more affordable, Energy Minister Simeon Brown and Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Cameron Brewer say.

Kiwi businesses can now find their share of the $400 million a year the government puts into business grants, funds, and equity schemes in minutes rather than hours, with the launch of the upgraded Funding Explorer, Small Business and Manufacturing Minister Cameron Brewer says.

New Zealand’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.6 percent in the June 2026 quarter, in figures released by Stats NZ. “This compared with 5.4 percent in the March 2026 quarter,” labour market spokesperson Abby Johnston says.

Business Central says Labour’s small business package adds to an important contest of ideas on how New Zealand can better support small and medium-sized businesses. Business Central Chief Executive Hayley Horan says it is positive to see small business receiving attention in the policy debate. “Cashflow, late payments, compliance and the cost of investing are real issues for many businesses right now,” Horan says. “Practical policies that make it easier to run, grow and hire

The Employment Leave Bill has passed its third and final reading, ushering in a long-awaited overhaul of the law that provides employees with employment leave entitlements, like annual and sick leave, Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden announced today.