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Here's what is leading the news for employers this week: As part of broader health and safety reforms, WorkSafe will significantly refocus from an enforcement agency to one that engages early to support businesses and individuals to manage their critical risks, Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says. “During my public consultation, I heard many concerns from a wide range of Kiwi businesses and workers about WorkSafe’s inconsistency, culture and lack o

Here's what is leading the news for employers this week: Employment indicators provide an early indication of changes in the labour market. Key facts: Changes in the seasonally adjusted filled jobs for the April 2025 month (compared with the March 2025 month) were: all industries – down 0.1% (2,246 jobs) to 2.35 million filled jobs primary industries – up 0.1% (108 jobs) goods-producing industries – down 0.3% (1,393 jobs) service industries – down 0.1% (1,081 jobs). The foll

The Coalition Government’s second Budget has landed, attempting to strike a balance between responsible spending and investment in business growth. The Government has identified $21 billion of savings over the next 4 years, reinvesting them into health, education, defence, law and order – and a flagship policy for business: a $1.7 billion a year package known as ‘Investment Boost’. The new scheme will incentivise capital investment by allowing businesses to claim tax deductio

Here's what is leading the news for employers this week: The Government is removing tax roadblocks to investment, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. “Budget 2025 sets aside $75 million over the next four years to encourage foreign investment in New Zealand infrastructure and make it easier for startups to attract and retain high quality staff. “These changes demonstrate the Government’s commitment to driving the economic growth needed to create jobs, lift incomes and fund p

Tomorrow the coalition Government of National, ACT & New Zealand First will announce Budget 2025. The task for the Government is to walk a line that ensures fiscal responsibility, while still investing in measures that will help New Zealanders get ahead. Many of the measures in this year’s Budget have been announced in advance, though there are always surprises to be revealed on Budget Day. Read on to discover what it means for business and what to expect on Budget Day. Budge

Here's what is leading the news for employers this week: The Government has announced changes to the Equal Pay Act. The Government is committed to maintaining a process to raise and resolve pay equity claims and these changes aim to make the process workable and sustainable. The changes to the Equal Pay Act through the Equal Pay Amendment Act include an updated process to raise and resolve claims of sex-based undervaluation in the pay of female-dominated work when a pay equit

Here's what is leading the news for employers this week: The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.1% in the March 2025 quarter, unchanged from last quarter, according to figures released by Stats NZ last week. In the March 2025 quarter: the unemployment rate was 5.1% • the employment rate was 67.2% annual wage inflation was 2.9% average ordinary time hourly earnings were $42.79. “Seasonally adjusted levels of unemployment remained at 156,000 between the December 2024 a

Here's what is leading the news for employers this week: Employment indicators provide an early indication of changes in the labour market. Changes in the seasonally adjusted filled jobs for the March 2025 month (compared with the February 2025 month) were: All industries – up 0.2 percent (3,548 jobs) to 2.36 million filled jobs Primary industries – up 0.4 percent (462 jobs) Goods-producing industries – up 0.1 percent (453 jobs) Service industries – up 0.2 percent (2,762 jobs

Executive Summary Wellington businesses play an essential role in the prosperity of our capital, providing employment, value for customers and tourists, producing exports, helping build key infrastructure and sharing the benefits of growth. Businesses are a critical part of our community and deserve a say in the city’s future, especially in light of the significant contribution businesses pay in commercial rates. Businesses are happy to pay for their share of Council services

Here's what is leading the news for employers this week: The electronic card transactions (ECT) series covers debit, credit, and charge card transactions with New Zealand-based merchants. The series can be used to indicate changes in consumer spending and economic activity. Based on the value of electronic card transactions for the March 2025 month (compared with February 2025), spending in the retail industries decreased 0.8% ($52 million). Durables, hospitality, fuel and ap

Here's what is leading the news for employers this week: Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says changes are coming to support freedom of choice and reduce the burden on employers when new employees start in a role. The Government has agreed to repeal the changes made by the previous government by removing the 30-day rule and reducing related employer obligations. “Currently, if a collective agreement is in place the employee’s individual agreement must

This week the Government announced a series of proposed changes to health and safety laws. The changes are intended to clear up confusion, bring down the cost of compliance, and allow firms to focus on what matters most – keeping people safe. A series of announcements were made this week, focused on small business, recreational land owners, company directors and Approved Codes of Practice. The changes won’t take effect until they’re passed through Parliament, which is expecte

Here's what is leading the news for employers this week: Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says safe harbours of deemed compliance will be created to increase business and worker certainty about what they need to do to comply with their health and safety duties. Approved Codes of Practice (ACOPs) are practical guidelines to help people in specific sectors and industries to comply with their health and safety duties. “Health and safety compliance is bas

Here's what is leading the news for employers this week: "From 1 April 2025, the adult minimum wage rate will increase from $23.15 to $23.50 per hour. The starting-out and training minimum wage rates will also increase from $18.52 to $18.80 per hour (80 per cent of the adult rate). Further details on the minimum wage increase can be found on the Employment New Zealand website." In today’s Bulletin: Employer must correct its miscalculated final pay Employer held accountable fo

Here's what is leading the news for employers this week: "New Zealand’s gross domestic product (GDP) rose 0.7 percent in the December 2024 quarter, following a 1.1 percent decrease in the September 2024 quarter, according to figures released by Stats NZ on Friday Eleven of the 16 industries increased this quarter. The largest rises were from rental, hiring, and real estate services; retail trade and accommodation; and healthcare and social assistance. “Higher spending by inte

Here's what is leading the news for employers this week: "The Government is proposing changes to procurement rules to make it easier for New Zealand businesses to win government contracts that are collectively worth more than $50 billion a year, Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis says. “The changes include introducing a new economic benefit test and scrapping 24 rules that put unnecessary obstacles in the path of Kiwi businesses,” she says. “This is part of our plan to in

Here's what is leading the news for employers this week: "Changes are being made to the Active Investor Plus Visa from 1 April 2025 to help New Zealand encourage growth and make investing in New Zealand more attractive. Two simplified investment categories will be introduced — Growth and Balanced. Investments made by either must be completed within 6 months of the date of approval in principle. These migrants will have higher immigration requirements. The scope of acceptab

Here's what is leading the news for employers this week: "Old equipment repurposed by businesses must be safe to use, WorkSafe New Zealand says, following sentencing of a Rotorua company whose modified crane became a weapon that changed the life of a teenage contractor. Harrison Gilbert was struck in the face by an untethered 412-kilogram steel beam being maneuvered by the mobile crane at Lakeland Steel in Rotorua, on the day of his seventeenth birthday in October 2022. Mr Gi

Here's what is leading the news for employers this week: A new pilot programme connecting high school students with New Zealand manufacturers has launched, Small Business and Manufacturing Minister Chris Penk has announced. “Manufacturing is a powerful economic player, contributing about 8.4 percent of New Zealand’s GDP and employing 10 percent of our workforce – but businesses are telling us skill shortages are curbing productivity,” Mr Penk says. “Manufacturing can supercha

Here's what is leading the news for employers this week: Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says an income threshold for unjustified dismissal claims will apply to existing employment agreements after one year. The income threshold, above which personal grievances cannot be pursued, will be introduced as part of upcoming changes to the Employment Relations Act. “The $180,000 threshold will apply to new employment agreements once the Bill is passed and