Business Advocacy

Central Government compliance and regulations

At Business South we have a big focus advocating to government to where policy settings and regulations create unneccessary burdens for business owners.  

Our conversations include equitable policy and tax settings for businesses, reduce high regulatory compliance costs and unforeseen impacts. We are focused on identifying key areas where compliance costs can be reduced particularly for small businesses where they are causing the biggest problems and find solutions. 

What we are doing is:

• Advocating for the Southern region at meetings with the Prime Minister 
• Lead participant in workshops with Minister Small Business & Manufacturing, on initiatives to support SMEs 

Regional Economic Development

We have regular conversations with Central government and local councils to discuss the needs of the local business community. We need to promote and celebrate our region as a place to do business, live and play. 

We are advocating to: 

• Ensure Central government does not ignore the needs of the South 
• Regional economic plans having traction to get the region humming. 

What we have done is: 

• Regular meetings with Economic Development Agencies and officials in Otago and Southland. 
• Mayors attending BA5’s in Waitaki, Dunedin City and Central Otago 

Workforce and Industrial Relations & Immigration

We help you find skilled staff in a changing job market and discuss minimum wage and immigration settings with the relevant ministers.  

Members are asking for: 

• Skilled staff in a changing job market 
• De-politicised minimum wage settings 
• Immigration settings that are open, simple and predictable 

What we have done is: 

• Run webinars on Fair Pay Agreements with the Minister of Employment Relations. 
• Run Connect over Coffee sessions throughout Otago 
• Holidays Act review 
• Immigration input into new longer-term strategy to push government

Local Government compliance and regulations

We are advocating on your behalf with local councils to encourage council to engage with businesses on decision making, run a business lens over decisions and the impacts of decisions. 

Sustainability and Environment

We support business and help them in their journey to sustainability business practices including affordable waste minimisation solutions.  

Feedback via survey's and events

The Quarterly Business Surveys and events like Connect over Coffee are great opportunities for us to find out what is happening in the region, and our team are using this information to enact positive change at a local and national government level. 

What we have done is: 

• Used the Quarterly Survey results Q1 2024 – used for discussion with Prime Minister and Ministers 

Submissions on council and government plans

We gathered feedback from businesses and communicated to councils and governments. 

What we have done is: 

• Submitted on the Government Policy Statement on Land Transport 
• Submitting on respective Annual and Long-Term Plans (underway across Otago) 
• BusinessNZ submissions

Staying up to date on the latest government or council announcements

We communicate all the latest developments from local and central governments to our members to make sure you are up to date on the latest regulations and law changes eg. immigration settings, fair pay agreements, resource management reforms etc.  

We have been running webinars on: 

• Minimum Wage 
• Fair Pay Agreements 
• Resource Management reforms