New Zealand

TPP: Facing up to the realities

By Brierley Penn When a panel of business leaders in the US-NZ trade relationship took the stage during the second day of the Pacific Partnership Forum, the key takeaway from their discussion was unquestionable. The TPP must be completed as soon as possible, lest we witness the painfully slow crawl to progress that marked the Doha Round of WTO discussions. …

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Plum OECD role for Phil O’Reilly

BusinessNZ Chief Executive Phil O’Reilly has been elected Chair of the Business and Industry Advisory Council (BIAC) to the OECD.  The BIAC is the voice of business at the OECD – the world’s foremost provider of integrated statistics and fact-based policy recommendations.  The BIAC network includes national business, industry and employer associations from OECD members and observer countries, as well …

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NZOG chair Griffiths backs director liability over health and safety failures

New Zealand Oil & Gas chairman Peter Griffiths has thrown his support behind legislative moves to make directors liable if the companies they govern fail to meet health and safety obligations. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and the Institute of Directors yesterday released health and safety governance guidelines for directors outlining best practice and advice for company boards. …

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Stellar team of former US trade reps talk the big game on TPP

Six USTRs (United States Trade Representatives) shared their Olympian insights into the intricacies of global trade at the Pacific Partnership forum in Washington this week. The big talking points were the opportunities and realities of the TPP negotiations, the US EU international trade and investment agreement, and the WTO. The Trans Pacific Partnership agreement – with a due completion date …

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Xero scoops ‘Company of the Year’ at the NZ Hi-Tech Awards

The night belonged to Xero and Vend at the NZ Hi-Tech Gala Award dinner in Auckland last night with each collecting two awards and Xero winning the coveted Hi-Tech Company of the Year award. The dinner was attended by over 700 guests at SKYCITY. Xero took out top honours, winning the PwC Company of the Year category as well as …

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BUDGET 2013: At a Glance

Progress in the Government’s programme while on track to surplus Provides a suite of measures to build faster economic growth, support more jobs and deliver a more innovative and productive economy. Forecasts economic growth to average between 2 and 3 per cent a year over the next four years. Includes a $100 million-a-year internationally-focused growth and innovation package to boost …

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BUDGET 2013 COMMENT – Overly conservative, with a good deal of risk

Bill English has been too conservative in reigning in government expenditure.  If he were confronting a bleaker fiscal picture, like the Australian government, I predict he would have done better. Total government spending in New Zealand is down by $1.4 billion on last year. In Australia total taxes to GDP is 22 percent compared with central government taxation of 32 …

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ACT pushing for urgent inquiry into allegations of dodgy practices by Zespri

ACT New Zealand Primary Industries spokesman Don Nicolson called for an urgent inquiry into monopoly kiwifruit exporter ZESPRI International’s operations after allegations of dodgy business practices were highlighted on TVNZ’s ‘One News’ last night. It is alleged that ZESPRI had full knowledge of the actions of their importer in China and was complicit in their actions to defraud the Chinese …

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