'Give them time back': National unveils new plan for small businesses

National has released a new small-business plan, which includes establishing a fast-track for minor employment disputes and a central service so businesses only need to tell government once about changes. 

The party’s small-business spokesperson Cameron Brewer said the policy package was intended to simplify employment rules “so it is easier to take on new staff and create more opportunities”. 

“The First Employee Support Package will deliver practical, dedicated advice for new employers through first year of their first hire – employment agreement tools, payroll guidance, and tax and ACC reminders,” he said. 

“Small businesses don’t have teams of people to deal with government paperwork. Often it is the owner doing everything themselves late at night after the kids are in bed. 

“That is why this plan is focused on practical changes that give them time back, whether that is helping them through their first hire, resolving employment disputes faster, or letting them update core business information once instead of repeating it across government.” 

National would progress MP Dan Bidois’ Member’s Bill to give independent mechanics better access to car-makers’ information – something Labour earlier this week pledged to do. 

Elsewhere in the plan is a promise to review the compulsory GST registration threshold, which National says has remained at $60,000 since 2009. 

The party would develop a fast-track process for minor employment disputes through a simplified Employment Relations Authority (ERA) pathway, make better use of mediation to resolve disputes, require ERA determinations within a month of the investigation meeting or final submissions, and review the authority’s enforcement powers. 

It would require a minimum level of employee support before new collective bargaining can begin, proposing a threshold of the lesser of 10 employees or 20% of those proposed to be covered, with a minimum of two employees. 

A “Tell Government Once” Service would be centred around the New Zealand Business Number so business information can be updated once and then shared across agencies and councils. 

“Unjustified” paper-retention requirements would be removed and new guidance would be published on accepting lawful electronic records and evidence. 

The party would replace “unnecessary compulsory newspaper notices with searchable online publication and appropriate community notification”. 

Similarly, “obsolete fax, telex, and paper requirements that impose a real compliance burden” would be removed.