The EMA welcomed Finance Minister Nicola Willis to its Auckland Business Hub in early June for a post-Budget forum with Members.
The Minister said Budget 2026 was prepared amid ongoing global uncertainty, focused on fiscal discipline, stability and prudent financial management.
She outlined the government’s approach of borrowing for productive assets while restoring the country’s finances, including reducing New Zealand’s annual debt servicing bill, which now sits at around $9 billion.
The Minister reinforced the government’s commitment to returning the books to surplus by 2028/29, arguing that careful spending restraint and fiscal repair would create the conditions for long-term private sector-led growth.
She acknowledged the EMA’s advocacy for policies that encourage business investment, including measures such as the Investment Boost tax incentive. She also noted work is continuing on simplifying New Zealand’s depreciation regime to encourage further business investment, a move the EMA strongly supports.
The Minister highlighted changes to the Research and Development Tax Incentive (RDTI), including measures designed to improve cashflow for innovative businesses through faster access to tax credits and more flexible administration of the scheme.
Infrastructure remained a key theme, with the government committed to improving transport networks and strengthening resilience across the roading system. She also emphasised the need to focus public spending on core services, particularly health, education and defence.
The Minister pointed to the success of trades academies, which allow senior secondary students to gain practical industry and trade skills while still at school. She said the government’s decision to double the number of places reflects the strong outcomes these programmes are delivering. Concern over work readiness is a problem we constantly hear about from our Members, so this is a positve development for the business community.
The Minister also stressed the importance of creating a stable and predictable policy environment to support business confidence and investment decisions during a period of global economic and geopolitical uncertainty.
Greater policy certainty remains a key priority for businesses and is something the EMA continues to advocate for across the political spectrum.
Looking ahead to the election year, the Minister challenged political leaders to focus less on short-term election promises and more on addressing New Zealand’s long-term structural challenges, including resource management reform, local government costs and complexity, housing affordability, and the country’s future electricity supply.