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Green Plans in Action: New Zealand: Industry Advantages
Discover the Business Benefits of Sustainability
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Cooperation
The Ministry of Economic Development (MED) and government share a common overarching economic goal to ensure an innovative, sustainable income growth economy for the benefit of all. MED applies a growth focus to all their work and assists the Government in developing and implementing policies and services that promote sustainable economic growth. Through joint sustainability research, the government and MED provide input into National Policy Statements and Environmental Standards and Amendments to the RMA. MED encourages all government agencies to maintain a focus on income growth, and seeks to ensure that policies aimed at achieving non-economic objectives assist - or at least do not detract from - efforts to improve income growth. Conversely, they collaborate and consult with other agencies to ensure that their work assists in the pursuit of other economic, social and environmental outcomes.
Partnerships in Regional Development
NZ Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) is the government's national economic development agency. Through a network of offices worldwide, NZTE meets RMA compliance regulations while aiming to enhance NZ's economy by boosting the capability of businesses and regions, and facilitating their sustained and profitable participation in overseas markets. They provide promotional activities following RMA guidelines and perform policy implementation. Under NZTE, The Regional Partnership Programme gives regions guidance and funding to develop and activate sustainable economic growth strategies. Businesses apply as a group of partners committed to strategic planning in their region and must include all major private and public sector groups in the region who will be involved in the proposal, or affected by it. Typically this includes groups such as business representatives, local government, iwi, economic development agencies, community organizations, and educational institutions.
Economic Transformation
Over the past 20 years the government has transformed NZ from an economy of farming and agriculture dependent on concessionary British market access to a more free market economy based on forestry and industry that can compete globally. The RMA provides a more innovative approach to development by being effects based rather than activity based. Consents under the RMA are often required before the start of construction and operation of a new industry to avoid, remedy, or mitigate its effects to minimize impact on the environment. NZ's national economic development agency, NZTE provides advice to make the process time and cost-efficient. As part of the government's transformation platform, a taskforce of wide-ranging review has been created to address business concerns and adjust its structure or framework as needed. This economic transformation approach has resulted in dynamic growth, broadened technological capabilities of the industrial sector, and contains inflationary pressures.
Strong Economic Fundamentals
NZ has completed more than a decade of economic restructuring, resulting in economic efficiency and a stable economy well geared for long-term international competitiveness. The privatization of utilities and state services like postage and rail services has created one of the world's most efficient, competition-friendly economies. A free and independent press ensures corporate and government decision-making is transparent and fair. This openness and competitiveness extends to international companies doing business in NZ; the country ranks third in the world in ease of cross-border transactions, according to the World Competitiveness Yearbook, 2005. The NZ government is proactive in providing an environment that enables international investors to relocate, and/or collaborate with New Zealand companies. (More...)
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