New Zealand Business Consultation Website

15 July 2005

Chamber Welcomes Launch Of New Zealand Business Consultation Website

The Wellington Regional Chamber of Commerce today welcomed the launch of the New Zealand Business Consultation website by Hon Rick Barker, Minister for Small Business.

“The Wellington and other Chambers of Commerce throughout New Zealand will certainly be registering with the site”, said Charles Finny, CEO. “I am familiar with the equivalent site in the UK and think New Zealand’s adoption of this model is a good step forward.”

“I am also pleased that the Government is demonstrating in this concrete form, its willingness to consult widely with the business community, and to try and reach small and medium sized businesses in this work.

We have been concerned that some Government agencies – usually those with little understanding of business – have felt that they can just speak to one or two large companies or narrow interest groupings and think that they have consulted with business. Unfortunately at least one of these business groupings has been encouraging the view that this type of narrow consultation is satisfactory.

Even the Chambers of Commerce, New Zealand’s largest business network, doesn’t pretend to be fully representative of all business views. The new website won’t give a fully comprehensive answer either, but by working with the New Zealand Chambers and those who register interest on the site – the Government will have a better understanding of views from the business community,” Charles Finny continued.

“The Wellington Regional Chamber of Commerce and New Zealand Chambers of Commerce and Industry will be encouraging as many of their 22,000 members as possible to register on the new site,” Charles Finny concluded.

ENDS

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