Business News

 New Zealand is the 18th most competitive country in the world, according to this year’s Global Competitiveness Index*.  The Index ranks countries according to their performance on factors such as innovation, market size, market efficiency, infrastructure, business sophistication and others. This year New Zealand has overtaken five countries, including Australia, to move its overall ranking to 18th place, up from 23rd place in last year’s survey. BusinessNZ Chief Executive Phil O’Reilly says this year’s results again highlight the strength and integrity of New Zealand’s institutions while pointing to the need for improvement in areas such as innovation, infrastructure, exports and bureaucracy.  “New Zealand ranks well on many issues, but the critical ones supporting innovation-driven exports are in need of improvement.  “With one of our most problematic factors being ‘an inadequately educated workforce’, the consequences for innovation are obvious. Our economy has a critical need for more relevant skills. We urgently need to see more of the right applied skills coming out from our secondary and tertiary education institutions.  “At the business level there is a great need for collaboration with higher research bodies to drive higher-value higher-technology products. With the establishment of Callaghan Innovation, we should see improved outcomes in future for business development based on science and technology.” Mr O’Reilly said better industry-university collaboration (20th ranking) and more company spending on R&D (34th ranking) would help grow the numbers of new, innovative goods and services, while the low placing (74th) for size of foreign markets indicated the scope for extending more exports to more markets. Some key findings for New Zealand:  Institutions – New Zealand was ranked 2nd place overall for strength and integrity of institutions, achieving 1st place for ethical behaviour of firms, judicial independence, absence of bribes, and absence of diversion of public funds. Other New Zealand […]

The latest New Zealand Manufacturers and Exporters Association (NZMEA) Survey of Business Conditions completed during August 2013, shows total sales in July 2013 decreased 2.62% (export sales decreased by 3.7% with domestic sales decreasing 1.74%) on July 2012. The NZMEA survey sample this month covered NZ$551m in annualised sales, with an export content of 44%. Net confidence fell to 9, down from the 13 result reported last month. The current performance index (a combination of profitability and cash flow) is at 104.7, up from 98 in June, the change index (capacity utilisation, staff levels, orders and inventories) went down to 102 from 103 in the last survey, and the forecast index (investment, sales, profitability and staff) is at 104.33, up on June’s result of 102.67. Anything less than 100 indicates a contraction. Constraints reported were 55% markets, 18% production capacity, 18% skilled staff and 9% capital. Staff numbers for July decreased year on year by 0.48%. “Sentiment and our composite indexes are generally positive; however sales and employment continue to contract year on year.” says NZMEA Chief Executive John Walley. “We are relieved to see the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) finally move to introduce limits on high loan to value ratio mortgages, creating more space around interest rates.” “Recent falls in the value of the New Zealand dollar (NZ$) are overdue, and RBNZ comment around interest rates in the future has taken some pressure off the currency. The NZ$ is still overvalued but any move towards a more sustainable level is welcomed by exporters; a measured realignment over time would be the preferred path for those significantly hedged.” “The expected tapering of the Federal Reserve stimulus should help the US cross rate; but a long term policy response is needed to provide better currency stability into the future.” […]

Victoria and Otago Marketing academics provide expert comment on the Fonterra crisis: Although it is good news that Fonterra received the ‘all clear’ from the Ministry for Primary Industries yesterday, a lot more needs to be done to restore New Zealand’s reputation, say academics from Victoria University of Wellington and the University of Otago. Dr Hongzhi Gao, Senior Lecturer in Marketing at Victoria Business School and Senior Research Fellow of the New Zealand Contemporary China Research Centre, says the New Zealand government and business communities still have a big job ahead to ensure the official findings filter through to the global market. “Negativity was so widely spread overseas that a proper public relations campaign needs to be planned and implemented in key dairy export markets, including China. If it is done well, the crisis may be turned into an opportunity for New Zealand’s brand,” says Dr Gao.  Associate Professor Dr John Knight, Department of Marketing, University of Otago, says Fonterra is to be congratulated for carrying out a precautionary recall. “However, Fonterra needs to ask itself, how did this fiasco evolve in the way it did? With the benefit of hindsight, what could have been done differently? “If such an event occurs in future—and obviously we hope it doesn’t— Fonterra needs to avoid causing unnecessary hysteria by only releasing accurate and verifiable information. For instance, the mention of a ‘dirty pipe’ conjured up visions of unsanitary conditions and poor manufacturing standards—visions which could do lasting damage to New Zealand’s reputation for having control standards as high as anywhere in the world.” Dr Knight suggests that at the first hint anything was wrong in March this year, an initial cautionary recall should have been carried out, notifying all channel members that products based on the contaminated whey ingredient were to be […]

By Bruce Goldsworthy, EMA, Manager of Advocacy and Manufacturing Services. The crisis in manufacturing makes grim reading, but thankfully for New Zealand its happening in Australia, not here. Unlike their counterparts across the ditch, Kiwi manufacturers are showing every sign of resilience and investor confidence. The evidence for the Australian story is most bleak in their Performance of Manufacturing Index (PMI). The Australian PMI is operated by the Australian Industry Group on the same basis as here and in every major country. For the past 25 months Australian manufacturing has been shrinking. The decline accelerated in July, with manufactured exports going down even faster than sales on their domestic market. New orders in July were at 40.5 on the PMI. The July result at 42 was down 7.6 points from a rare ‘high’ of 49.6 in June. In contrast, New Zealand’s PMI for July was a seasonally adjusted 59.5, and proving durable. For the first seven months of 2013 it averaged a healthy 56.3 expansion. Remember the farther the PMI measure is above, or below, the mid 50 point the larger the expansion or contraction occurring. The commentary on the Australian PMI is telling. A third of respondents noted extreme weakness in local demand, bad news for our exporters dependent on Australian sales. As it is Kiwi exporters to Australia are finding margins slashed due to the fall in the Australian dollar. In less than two months the currencies switched from 78 cents to 88 cents. But Australia’s manufacturers have yet to see any respite from the fall, though they expect to. Two weeks ago we read of the Business Council of Australia lamenting the drop off of big new investment projects – down 30 per cent – with one of their members, chief executive of Woodside Petroleum, Peter Coleman […]

The extent and cost of drugs affecting the workplace and work output has raised the alarm with the Employers and Manufacturers Association.  Over half of the workplaces responding to a recent EMA survey* said they have had to take disciplinary action with an employee over a drugs issue. “Nearly half of the employers (46 per cent) said they had to fire someone as a consequence of drug use,” said David Lowe, EMA’s Employment Services Manager. “In all 56 per cent reported they have had to take disciplinary action over the use of drugs. “63 per cent said drug use had resulted in a safety risk in their workplace. “The survey also found 45 per cent of employers may not be complying with current legal requirements in relation to the effects of drugs in the workplace.  “For example, randomly testing all areas of the workplace to ensure it is drug free is generally unlawful, but employers find they need to carry out such tests to maintain safety and keep a productive workplace.  “We say the drugs causing the problems are illegal, and make workplaces unsafe, and penalise productivity. “Employers taking a strict line against them are doing the right thing and its time the law was updated to support them. “Employers confirmed the effect of drug use doesn’t differentiate between work and home. “Drugs taken at home affect work and if they’re taken at work they affect home life. “Employers reported the issues being raised are not only about safety; they reported problems with such as mood swings, rudeness to colleagues and customers, poor quality work, wasted materials, and rework. “72 per cent of respondents said they believed drug use had resulted in lost productivity.  “Safe workplaces require the law to be clearer on drug use in the workplace and the […]

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) has released the details on restrictions to high loan to value ratio mortgages, which will come into effect on the 1st of October. This is a positive step forward in addressing some of the issues immediately facing our economy; this and more tools will be needed, say the New Zealand Manufacturers and Exporters Association (NZMEA).  NZMEA Chief Executive John Walley says, “We are happy to see the RBNZ explicitly recognising that actions beyond interest rates are needed. This helps to avoid significant negative effects on manufacturers and exporters that are associated with increasing the OCR; increasing the cost of capital and putting further pressure on an already overvalued exchange rate.” “For a long time the export and import competing sectors have struggled with an overvalued currency, meanwhile the domestic economy and in particular the housing market is driving economic imbalance and threatening financial stability. The single interest rate lever cannot address both issues simultaneously.” “Restricting the amount of high loan to value ratio mortgages that banks can hold is an important and long needed change; low equity loans carry the highest default risk in the face a financial shock.”  “There are other interventions open to the RBNZ and more might be needed, to better balance our economy.”  “I have already had a number of calls from exporters welcoming the move, and the evident commentary against the policy from those in domestic economy, suggests the RBNZ has, at long last, started to move in the direction of a sustainable, balanced economy.”    

Manufacturing activity for July continued the trend of healthy expansion in the sector, according to the latest BNZ – BusinessNZ Performance of Manufacturing Index (PMI).  The seasonally adjusted PMI for July was 59.5 (a PMI reading above 50.0 indicates that manufacturing is generally expanding; below 50.0 that it is declining). This was 4.3 points higher than June, and compared with previous July results the 2013 value was the highest since the survey began in 2002, as well as the third highest monthly result on record. Overall, the first seven months of 2013 has averaged a healthy 56.3. BusinessNZ’s executive director for manufacturing Catherine Beard said that the July result provides further impetus into a continuing trend of a sector in good heart for 2013. “Unlike the lacklustre results during the middle part of 2012, the 2013 results have not only held up, but have improved since the start of the year. Positive comments from manufacturers have surged to 67.3%, highlighting an increase in foreign and domestic orders, as well as an uplift in the general economy. “Like previous months, strong new orders and production remain a key element for overall growth in the sector, which was evident in July. In addition, deliveries of raw materials produced its highest level of activity since the survey began, further boosting the overall result.” BNZ economist Doug Steel said the PMI results were very impressive given the marked slowdown in the Australian economy and its importance for NZ manufactured exports. “It just shows how positive domestic demand is becoming.” Given the continuing healthy levels of activity in the sector, all five seasonally adjusted main diffusion indices were again in expansion for July. Deliveries of raw materials (62.3) led the way for July by the thinnest of margins, as production (62.2) and new orders (62.1) […]

Today’s announcement by the Environment Minister Amy Adams that the Government will legislate for independent environmental reporting is an important step forward for the future of New Zealand’s economy and environment, says the Sustainable Business Council, a division of BusinessNZ.  Penny Nelson, Executive Director of the Sustainable Business Council, says “This is welcome news as our economy is reliant on the environment. In order to inform as well as strengthen everyone’s accountability over their use of resources, we need to be able to clearly show the linkages between economic performance, environmental quality and the state of our natural resources.  “Better information will allow businesses to fully understand their impact on the environment in their day-to-day activities and the efficiency of their resource use. It’s about considering how the environment and business can work in harmony, and making better decisions around this. “The proposals announced are ambitious and need to be clear on the purpose of the reporting so we can focus on priorities and data can be sifted efficiently. Defining priorities is crucial if we are to avoid irreversible and large scale losses to our environment, and therefore our economy. “Business looks forward to being part of the conversation with government, environmental groups and data providers about the best data that is useful for decision-makers and cost effective to provide. “If we are going to be serious about greening our economy, green growth-related indicators need to be at the heart of this new legislation. This will allow us to benchmark ourselves internationally and measure whether New Zealand is actually becoming a greener economy overall.”  

A New Zealand owned infant formula manufacturer sold 26,000 tins of its formula in one day of trading as Kiwi supermarkets rushed to refill shelves left vacant by recalled product yesterday. Peak New Zealand, which manufactures and packs its products in NZ uses wet blend technology in the production process and remains unaffected by the crisis. The company’s CEO, Stephen Julian, says he sympathises with Kiwi parents who are confused about what products are safe to use and with the supermarkets who are scrambling to meet the growing consumer demand for uncontaminated product. “We have had warehouse staff working through the night and again first thing this morning packing to fill supermarket orders. “We are going to produce another 60,000 tins of formula in the next month to ensure there is plenty of our formula available to meet the needs of Kiwi mums and dads,” he says. The brand which features a distinctive monkey on the product, produces infant, toddler and follow on formula and is made and packaged in New Zealand. Julian says Peak New Zealand is a 100% Kiwi-owned and operated company with its formula milk and vitamin-enriched milk powder products made from local dairy cows in state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities approved and audited by the NZ Food Safety Authority.  

Changes to the earthquake-prone buildings policy announced today do not adequately address the concerns of business and local communities, says BusinessNZ. Chief Executive Phil O’Reilly says an extension of time in which building owners must upgrade or demolish their buildings from 15 to 20 years does not significantly improve the policy. “The problem lies with central government imposing a regulatory requirement when market-based solutions are a more reasonable approach. “Insurance companies are already re-pricing risk. Riskier, more earthquake-prone buildings are attracting higher premiums and this will automatically lead to building owners strengthening their buildings accordingly, or demolishing them. Putting a regulatory requirement on top of this situation – where building owners have 20 years to upgrade or demolish – will be difficult for some local councils and smaller communities with older, heritage or low-yield buildings. A number of buildings could effectively become worthless unless they can be upgraded within the 20-year timeframe. “The policy is a form of ‘regulatory taking’ but contains no provision for compensation for affected building owners. “This one-size-fits-all requirement doesn’t take account of local conditions. Local authorities should be able to deal with earthquake risk according to their local risk profile so that rational trade-offs can be made by communities most likely to be affected by earthquake-prone buildings.”