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We wanted to alert members to a few things that happened this week as part of our work to keep you up to date with important information. Firstly, some good news from Parliament with the welcome introduction of the Fast Track Approvals Bill and its referral to the Environment Select Committee for public submissions. This Bill would fast-track the consenting of projects of national significance, potentially reducing years of problematic red tape. The need for infrastructure

In August 2022, a woman waiting to collect whiteware at Trade Depot in Onehunga had her lower leg amputated below the knee after being struck by a forklift. WorkSafe New Zealand charged Trade Depot for lacking an effective traffic management plan to separate moving vehicles and pedestrians. Investigators also found that the forklift involved had malfunctioning lights at the time of the incident. WorkSafe emphasised the lack of adequate systems to manage the risk of interactio

Last Friday, the Government announced that they will repeal the Business Payment Practices Act 2023. Small Business and Manufacturing Minister Andrew Bayly highlighted the challenge posed by major market players who impose long payment terms and routinely pay invoices late. He stated the Business Payment Practices Act, is not an effective solution and would burden over 3000 businesses with unnecessary compliance costs associated with upgrading their ICT systems. In today’s B

The Three Waters legislation, a subject of intense debate, has been decisively repealed by the Coalition Government under the leadership of Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. This move marks a step towards implementing the government's Local Water Done Well policy, a key part of the Government’s 100-day plan. The repeal is aimed at returning ownership and control of water assets to local councils, a move supported by the majority of councils across Aotearoa New Zealand.

Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston has announced a refocus in the coalition government's approach to employment efforts and the welfare system. This new approach prioritises supporting people into work. Minister Upston expressed particular concern about the increasing number of youth not in employment, education, or training (NEET), which rose by 3,000 people over the December quarter. Furthermore, Minister Upston emphasised the troubling fact that 40,00

New Zealand plans to raise its adult minimum wage by 2% to $23.15 per hour from April 1, 2024, as stated by Minister Brooke van Velden. The increase is intended to support low-income workers, but the minister advises caution due to economic challenges, including high net migration and slow economic growth. While acknowledging New Zealand's relatively generous minimum wage within the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development), the minister also recognizes po

In the 12 months leading to the December 2023 quarter, New Zealand's consumer price index (CPI) rose by 4.7%. Nicola Growden, Senior Manager of Consumer Prices, remarked that while this marks the smallest annual increase in the CPI in over two years, it continues to exceed the Reserve Bank of New Zealand's target range of 1 to 3%. The primary driver behind the annual inflation rate for the December 2023 quarter was housing and household utilities, with rent, construction, and

The coalition Government is confirming that the exemption from road user charges (RUC) for owners of light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrids will end from 1 April. Transport Minister, Hon Simeon Brown, announced the transition of EVs and plug-in hybrids to Road User Charges (RUC) is to ensure fairness and equity in contributing to road maintenance costs. This move aligns with the National-ACT coalition commitment to integrate all vehicles into the RUC system. From A

The Half-year Economic and Fiscal Update (HYEFU) was delivered against a backdrop of considerable uncertainty and ongoing risks both domestically and internationally. In short, tax revenue growth is slowing, deficits are larger than forecast, and economic growth per capita is in decline. A considerable deterioration of the Government’s books since the Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update (PREFU) means that there is limited ability for the Government to support new initiati