Mike Bain/cvnznews.com
The National Party says it will cut red tape, simplify compliance and help small businesses grow through a new 47-point Small Business Plan unveiled during the election campaign.
National’s Small Business spokesperson, Cameron Brewer, said small businesses are the backbone of the New Zealand economy, representing around 97 percent of all enterprises and employing hundreds of thousands of Kiwis.
“Behind every small business are owners, workers and families taking risks, creating jobs and serving their communities,” Brewer said.
The plan focuses on reducing regulatory burdens and making it easier for businesses to invest, expand and hire staff.
Among the key proposals is a new “Tell Government Once” service, allowing business owners to update information through a single system rather than dealing separately with multiple government agencies. National also plans to review the GST registration threshold, which has remained unchanged since 2009.
The party is proposing a fast-track process for minor employment disputes, simpler seasonal employment arrangements and a rewrite of health and safety guidance into plain English.
National says it also wants to help more Kiwi firms succeed internationally by providing intensive support to an additional 200 high-potential exporters.
A major focus of the package is encouraging employment growth, particularly among small operators hiring staff for the first time. A proposed First Employee Support Package would provide advice, payroll assistance and employment guidance to new employers during the first year of taking on staff.
Brewer said many small business owners lack dedicated administrative staff and often spend evenings dealing with paperwork after a full day’s work.
The party also pledged to retain its Investment Boost policy, which allows businesses to immediately deduct 20 percent of eligible investment costs, arguing this encourages expansion and job creation.
For many small business owners struggling with rising costs, staffing pressures and increasing compliance requirements, National hopes the package will resonate as a practical plan to make life easier.
With small businesses accounting for much of New Zealand’s economic activity, the proposals place entrepreneurship and job creation squarely at the centre of National’s election pitch.
