Helen Clark and her ministers are expanding their horizons after the Auckland business forum, writes DANIEL RIORDAN.
The Government is following up last October's business forum in Auckland with a regional forum in Hamilton as well as a forum in Christchurch targeted at South Islanders.
The regional conference for the Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Hawkes Bay will be held on March 8. The Christchurch forum, to be held on the evening of February 8 and the whole of the next day, is expected to attract about 100 people.
It will be aimed at exporters and the tourism industry, reflecting the strengths of South Island business.
Prime Minister Helen Clark is planning to attend both conferences with about 10 cabinet ministers, as for the Auckland forum.
Meanwhile, a labour market reform conference hosted by Employment Minister Steve Maharey is taking longer to organise than originally thought.
Mr Maharey had hoped to set before Christmas a date for a half-day workshop next month, but a spokesman said yesterday that plans had not progressed that far. Business people were still expressing interest in attending, but dates had yet to be set.
Several of the ministers who attended October's forum have released copies of follow-up letters they sent to those who were present.
Finance Minister Michael Cullen acknowledged obvious tension between the business community's desire for greater Government spending and investment in such areas as skill development, research and development and export markets, and its need to maintain a stable macroeconomic environment through prudent fiscal management.
Dr Cullen said the Government had responded to that tension by concentrating on the quality of its spending, the effectiveness of its interventions and the relevance of its regulatory environment.
He highlighted efforts to improve the tax structure facing business. These included tax simplification for small business, with a discussion paper due for release soon, and work with Australian tax officials to address the unfairness of "triangular tax" - under which NZ shareholders in Australian-based companies do not get recognition for tax paid on NZ earnings.
Dr Cullen, who used the forum to announce R&D tax rules more favourable to business, said reductions in ACC levies from this April would also help business.
Education Minister Trevor Mallard said in his letter that he was responding to the forum's concerns by trying to target skills development to areas of competitive advantage and identify more quickly future skills needs.
Tourism Minister Mark Burton said he expected to receive by the end of March a draft strategy on the industry for this decade.
Pete Hodgson, Minister of Small Business and of Research, Science and Technology, highlighted the introduction of the export guarantee scheme, the popularity of the Government's technology funding schemes and his desire to see the Government take more of a partnership role with the private sector in venture capital funding, including the possibility of setting up "incubators" to foster new business.
Immigration Minister Lianne Dalziel wrote of relaxing business immigration rules and greater funding for adult literacy programmes aimed largely at improving workplace literacy.
Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Phil Goff drew attention to existing business programmes within his ministry and the work of Trade New Zealand.
Deputy Prime Minister Jim Anderton highlighted Industry New Zealand's small business assistance programmes and work on immigration and tax reform.
Govt taking message to regions
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