Employer Bulletins

Here's what is leading the news for employers this week: Budget 2026 is a responsible Budget that boosts funding for essential services and invests in the infrastructure New Zealand needs for the future without breaking the bank, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says.

Here's what is leading the news for employers this week: The Government is embarking on a fundamental overhaul of the public service to improve services, lift productivity and deliver better value for money, Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Minister for the Public Service and Digitising Government Paul Goldsmith say.

Here's what is leading the news for employers this week: New Zealand and Singapore have today signed a major agreement to protect the movement of essential goods such as fuel and food. The signing of the Agreement on Trade in Essential Supplies (AOTES), witnessed by Prime Ministers Christopher Luxon and Lawrence Wong, guarantees neither country will impose export restrictions on an agreed list of goods – including fuel, foodstuffs, construction materials and other essential s

Here's what is leading the news for employers this week: New Zealand and Singapore have today signed a major agreement to protect the movement of essential goods such as fuel and food. The signing of the Agreement on Trade in Essential Supplies (AOTES), witnessed by Prime Ministers Christopher Luxon and Lawrence Wong, guarantees neither country will impose export restrictions on an agreed list of goods – including fuel, foodstuffs, construction materials and other essential s

Here's what is leading the news for employers this week: The Government has secured an additional nine days of diesel supply to boost New Zealand’s fuel reserves and help shield the country from the global oil shock, Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Associate Energy Minister Shane Jones say. Following a contestable procurement process, the Government has signed a letter of intent with Z Energy today to procure 90 million litres of NZ specification diesel. Under the terms of

Here's what is leading the news for employers this week: Minister for Social Development and Employment Louise Upston, welcomes new figures out today showing more New Zealanders moved off the benefit and into work over the year to March 2026, even as economic conditions remain challenging. “5,580 more people left the benefit for work during the year ending March 2026 compared to the same period the year before,” Louise Upston says. “Quarterly comparisons are also positive, wi

Here's what is leading the news for employers this week: The government welcomes new data showing New Zealand’s international visitor numbers continue to rise, with particularly strong growth from people visiting from China over Chinese New Year. “Our tourism sector continues its strong growth, with over 408,000 overseas visitors choosing to visit New Zealand in February 2026, over 53,000 more than the same time a year ago,” Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston says

Here's what is leading the news for employers this week: Foreign Minister Winston Peters says New Zealand welcomes the announcements by the United States and Iran over the past few hours - as we welcome all efforts to bring an end to this conflict. “While this is encouraging news, there remains significant important work to be done in the coming days to secure a lasting ceasefire. “We are grateful for the work of Pakistan, and others such as Turkiye and Egypt, to seek to find

Here's what is leading the news for employers this week: The latest data on fuel stocks shows New Zealand continues to hold healthy levels of petrol, diesel and jet fuel, Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Associate Energy Minister Shane Jones say.“ As at midnight on Sunday 15 March, combined petrol, diesel and jet fuel stocks equated to about 49 days of cover nationwide, including fuel held onshore in storage terminals and fuel already on ships bound for New Zealand,” Ms Wil

Here's what is leading the news for employers this week: The Government has released a new national strategy to support the future development of geothermal energy. From the Ground Up – A strategy to unlock New Zealand’s geothermal potential sets out how geothermal energy can play a larger role in New Zealand’s energy system, regional economies and industrial growth. The strategy includes an ambition to double geothermal energy use by 2040. Geothermal already provides around

Here's what is leading the news for employers this week: A much-anticipated Bill to ensure employees are paid correctly when taking time off work has just passed its first reading at Parliament, Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden announced today. The Employment Leave Bill seeks to replace the Holidays Act 2003 and offers a simple, workable framework that gives businesses certainty, reduces potential error, and fixes what matters for employers and worker

Here's what is leading the news for employers this week: New Zealand’s latest international trade statistics show robust performance across global markets, reflecting the skill, innovation, and resilience of Kiwi exporters who continue to rank among the best in the world, Trade and Investment Minister Hon Todd McClay says. Exports rose to $29.2 billion for the December quarter, up $2.2 billion on the same period last year, reinforcing the vital role trade plays in supporting

Here's what is leading the news for employers this week: The government is leveraging public sector energy demand to drive new energy projects and grow our national supply, Energy Minister Simon Watts says. “As part of the government’s energy package, we are pursuing possible long-term Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) across the public service starting with our three largest energy users: Health New Zealand, the New Zealand Defence Force, and the Department of Corrections,” M

Here's what is leading the news for employers this week: The Employment Relations Amendment Bill has passed its third reading, Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says.“This Bill is about backing business to hire with increased confidence. ”The Act will: Clarify contractor vs employee status with a four part ‘gateway test’ to ensure businesses and workers have more clarity from the start of their contracting arrangement. Ensure accountability for serious

Here's what is leading the news for employers this week: The government will contract to build a liquefied natural gas (LNG) import facility in a critical step to strengthen New Zealand’s energy security and support economic growth, Energy Minister Simon Watts says. The decision follows extensive analysis and the first stage of procurement. “New Zealand is experiencing a renewable electricity boom, but a rapidly declining gas supply has left our electricity sector exposed dur

Here's what is leading the news for employers this week: WorkSafe has updated its enforcement policies and processes to give businesses more clarity about how it makes enforcement decisions and allow them to address and remedy safety issues faster, Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety Brooke van Velden announced. “On my health and safety roadshow I heard concerns about WorkSafe’s approach to enforcement. In particular that WorkSafe can be heavy-handed in punishment wh

Total exports were valued at $80.7 billion in the year ended December 2025, according to figures released by Stats NZ. “This is the first time that annual exports have reached $80 billion,” international accounts spokesperson Viki Ward said. The value of total exports in the year ended December 2025 increased by $9.9 billion (14 percent), compared with December 2024. In today’s Bulletin: Employer successfully appeals finding of constructive dismissal Issuing trespass notice f

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced that the 2026 General Election will be held on Saturday 7 November. “Continuing the recent tradition of announcing the election date early in the year ensures New Zealanders have certainty,” Mr Luxon says. “Kiwis can also have certainty that our government will continue governing throughout the year to deliver on our plan to fix the basics and build the future." “When we took office, the country was going in the wrong direction,

Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay has today set the scope of the country’s investment agency, Invest New Zealand, announcing strategic growth areas and launching three investment prospectuses. “New Zealand has underachieved in attracting foreign investment, and this dedicated agency is key to us achieving more. More capital means stronger business, more jobs and a growing economy,” Mr McClay says. New Zealand’s stock of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) amounts to 37%

Applications are now open for the Business Investor Visa, a new immigration pathway designed to attract experienced businesspeople who want to invest in and grow established businesses in New Zealand. The Business Investor Visa offers that applicants invest $1 million in an existing business for a three-year work-to-residence pathway, or $2 million for a 12-month fast-track. “We want to help keep businesses going where New Zealand business owners look to retire,” Immigration