Business New Zealand


Business New Zealand Inc. is New Zealand's largest business-advocacy body. It is headquartered in Wellington. Vaughan Renner became the president of the BusinessNZ council in 2017 and Kirk Hope has served as the chief executive since 2016.

History

The history of BusinessNZ dates back more than 100 years. In 1902 several regional employers' associations came together to form the New Zealand Employers Federation, in order to present a unified employer voice in collective bargaining and labour disputes arbitrated by the Arbitration Court.
In 1905 the constitution of the Employers Federation of New Zealand was formally adopted. By 1908 the Federation represented around 6,000 members.
In 1951 the Employers Federation became an incorporated society and by 1971 represented around 10,000 members.
In 2001 the New Zealand Employers Federation merged with the New Zealand Manufacturers Federation to form Business New Zealand, advancing the scope of the new organisation to cover greater numbers and types of businesses.
BusinessNZ comprises regional organisations EMA, Business Central, Canterbury Employers' Chamber of Commerce and the Otago Southland Employers Association, with direct membership of around 14,000 members and more than 50,000 indirect or affiliated business members through the Affiliated Industries Group.
From 2009 BusinessNZ established new divisions to promote manufacturing, exporting, energy companies, larger businesses and companies working towards environmental sustainability.

Membership

Membership is drawn from the Major Companies Group and from four of New Zealand's largest regional business organisations:
BusinessNZ's Major Companies Group helps ensure that New Zealand's largest companies are heard in policy, business and economic debate. The MCG is a working group with a collective weight of influence that enables it to provide strong counsel to government and other key decision makers. Around 70 members, representing a large proportion of New Zealand's GDP, have joined the MCG since its establishment in 2008. The work of the Major Companies Group takes place within the overarching governance of the BusinessNZ Council.

Advocacy

BusinessNZ advocacy focuses on several issues, including competition, free trade, sustainability, industry self-regulation, among others.

Governing body

BusinessNZ is governed by an elected council, with its 17 members drawn from the four regional associations. The council meets six times a year.