New Zealand’s productivity challenge was the focus, with Minister the Honourable Chris Penk outlining the government’s comprehensive reform agenda at our recent Wellington Chamber of Commerce Beehive to Business breakfast.

This wide-ranging session provided the government’s approach to:

• Unlocking construction productivity through responsible builder schemes and building product liberalisation
• Reducing red tape burden on New Zealand’s 594,000 small businesses, particularly around employment relations
• Reforming earthquake-prone building regulations with risk-proportionate approaches for different regions and building types
• Maximising Crown land value through expanded uses beyond traditional pastoral activities

Minister Penk detailed specific legislative timelines across his four portfolios, positioning regulatory efficiency as central to economic growth while acknowledging the productivity crisis facing key sectors unchanged since 1984.

Explore the full details, policy timelines, and practical actions your organisation can take to prepare for these regulatory changes, whether through building certification preparation, compliance planning, or investment strategies aligned with the government’s reform agenda.