By EMA Head of Membership, Export and Manufacturing Simon Devoy

It’s not news that New Zealand’s economy remains heavily reliant on commodity-based exports. Yet the country is steadily carving out a reputation for high‑tech, high‑value manufacturing.

While we’re known globally for milk powder, meat and timber, we are increasingly competing across advanced sectors, including aerospace, agritech, medical devices and precision engineering. The ambition is to be seen as an innovation nation, but there are significant challenges that must be addressed.

Throughout 2025, the EMA’s focus in the manufacturing sector has been on two linked priorities: reducing workplace harm and helping the sector modernise and become better connected so businesses can scale and export with confidence.

Despite the sector’s strengths, stubborn rates of workplace injury continue to drag on productivity and impose high costs.

In response, we partnered with ACC and data specialists Flock to launch the Manufacturing Safety Dashboard, an anonymised benchmarking tool that allows manufacturers to compare reported incidents across sub‑sectors and identify where to focus safety improvements.

This tool converts raw accident data into actionable insight. It highlights where injuries cluster, identifies high-risk tasks, and demonstrates which businesses are making measurable progress.

This approach moves safety conversations from awareness to actionable intelligence, and anonymised peer data provides a clear pathway for improvement rather than a spotlight on failure.

The sector has also shown a strong appetite for peer-led guidance and practical tools that enable measurable improvement. To address this, we partnered with ASB to run the Manufacturers’ Workshop Series exploring the impact of Industry 4.0 technology on New Zealand manufacturing.

These workshops offered a practical examination of automation, data integration, and digital technologies through interactive demonstrations, including digital twin simulations. This hands‑on approach enabled manufacturers with lower levels of automation to see the potential of technology to improve efficiency, safety and quality.

Export promotion has remained central to our work. In 2025, the All‑of‑Government Roadshow brought together key government agencies across eight New Zealand locations to provide exporters with direct access to support, trade policy updates, market opportunities, and networking.

Participants gained insights on global trade challenges, supply‑chain disruptions, emerging markets, and financial tools such as trade credit insurance and guarantees. This approach makes it easier for businesses to reduce barriers and scale into new markets.

The Global X Summit held in Auckland provided a practical forum for businesses to explore export growth opportunities. The event focused on market entry strategies, distributor sourcing, cost management, and regulatory navigation.

While one-off trade missions are valuable, sustainable export growth relies on repeatable access to market intelligence, quality accreditation support, and introductions anchored in long-term commercial relationships. Building and nurturing these connections remains a central objective of the EMA and our export arm, ExportNZ.

The business environment is improving as 2025 draws to a close, helped by targeted government reforms.

Coming changes to the Resource Management Act will simplify consenting processes, reduce unnecessary barriers, and make it easier for industrial sites and export‑oriented manufacturing plants to grow or upgrade.

The EMA supports the government’s direction of travel on this legislation, and we have made the frustration of our members clear about at the complexity and difficulty of obtaining consents for expansions or upgrades to existing facilities.

These reforms should enable development to proceed more efficiently while still protecting the environment and property rights. Labour and employment law reforms have also delivered long‑awaited improvements.

The government’s move to replace the outdated Holidays Act 2003 with a simpler, hours‑based leave system under the new Employment Leave Act is a long-overdue fix.

Further, in 2025 the government expanded immigration pathways to include 10 skilled trades occupations, such as metal fabricators, welders and fitters,  under the Green List Work to Residence scheme.

This fills long‑standing gaps in labour, especially for manufacturing companies that require those technical skills. This is a practical response to productivity chokepoints that had constrained growth.

Despite what can seem like a gloomy economic backdrop at times, we believe there was solid progress in 2025. The manufacturing sector is becoming safer, more modern, and better connected.

Our members have told us that benchmarking safety, developing skills, adopting technology, and pursuing export promotion through EMA support has produced real improvements.

At the same time, government reforms to resource management, employment law and immigration should make the businesses environment easier.

Challenges remain. Global demand continues to fluctuate, while skilled labour shortages and supply‑chain disruptions still create pressure. However, with improved regulatory settings, smarter workplaces, stronger export networks and targeted immigration settings, New Zealand manufacturers are positioned for growth.

As we enter 2026, our focus will remain on creating practical tools and opportunities for Kiwi businesses to succeed internationally. Global X will return alongside export acceleration initiatives combining masterclasses, awards, factory tours, and tailored export clinics to turn relationships into commercial opportunities.

These initiatives will complement our industry‑leading health and safety training as well as our newly launched Safety AdviceLine and Safety Culture Assessment Programme.

Our aim is to strengthen New Zealand’s reputation as an innovation nation while ensuring businesses are equipped to compete confidently on the global stage.