Affiliated Industries Group

1. Business / Trading Name: Affiliated Industries Group (AIG) – an umbrella coalition of industry associations under BusinessNZ.

2. Company Number: Data Not Found (AIG is not registered as a separate company or incorporated society).

3. NZBN (NZ Business Number): Data Not Found (no unique NZBN; AIG operates within BusinessNZ’s structure).

4. Entity Type: Unincorporated network of member industry associations (internal lobby group of BusinessNZ). AIG is not an independent legal entity, but a division of BusinessNZ’s advocacy network.

5. Formation / Establishment: Established circa 2001 as part of BusinessNZ’s formation (BusinessNZ was created by a 2001 merger of the NZ Employers’ Federation and Manufacturers’ Federation). AIG’s collaborative forum grew thereafter to include most major industry bodies.

6. Parent Organisation: Business New Zealand (BusinessNZ) – New Zealand’s largest business advocacy body, which encompasses AIG alongside other groups. BusinessNZ provides AIG’s policy staff and infrastructure.

7. Headquarters: BusinessNZ Head Office – Level 13, 157 Lambton Quay, Wellington 6011, New Zealand. (AIG has no separate offices; meetings are hosted at BusinessNZ’s premises).

8. Contact Phone: +64 4 496 6555 (BusinessNZ main line). No dedicated AIG phone – serviced through BusinessNZ’s contact channels.

9. Website: No standalone site – listed under BusinessNZ’s website. AIG information is available on the BusinessNZ site. (URL: businessnz.org.nz/major-companies-group/aig).

10. Company Hub NZ URL: Data Not Found (no profile on public company directories for AIG).

11. NZ Companies Office URL: Data Not Found – AIG has no entry on the Companies Office register (as it is not an incorporated entity).

12. Key Executive: Chief Executive – Katherine Rich, appointed 2024. Rich is a former National Party MP (1999–2008) bringing political experience to BusinessNZ/AIG. She succeeded longtime CEO Kirk Hope (who departed in 2024).

13. Governing Body / Chair: BusinessNZ President – Andrew Hunt (Board Chair of BusinessNZ). AIG itself does not have a separate board; governance is through BusinessNZ’s board. Former Finance Minister Hon. David Caygill (ex-Labour) serves as Chair of the BusinessNZ Energy Council (a related arm), exemplifying the high-level oversight and political gravitas within BusinessNZ’s network.

14. Staff with Government Roles: AIG/BusinessNZ’s leadership has a notable “revolving door” with government:

    • Katherine Rich – CEO of BusinessNZ/AIG, former Member of Parliament (National).

    • Hon. David Caygill – BusinessNZ Energy Council Chair, former Labour Finance Minister.

– (Former executives now in public roles: e.g. John Carnegie, ex-BusinessNZ energy lobbyist, was appointed to the Energy Efficiency & Conservation Authority board in 2024).

15. Members (Industry Associations): ~70+ national industry associations are members of AIG. This includes many of New Zealand’s major trade bodies across sectors. For example: the NZ Banking Association, Insurance Council of NZ, Hospitality New Zealand, Energy Resources Aotearoa, Major Electricity Users’ Group, and dozens more all belong to AIG. Collectively, AIG member associations represent tens of thousands of businesses nationwide.

16. Membership Fees: Each industry association member pays an annual subscription to BusinessNZ for AIG membership. (There is no separate joining fee; associations contribute via these dues and event fees.)

17. Mission / Stated Purpose: “To use its strong combined voice, through BusinessNZ’s policy and advocacy capabilities, to drive better outcomes for the business community.” AIG’s formal purpose is advocating pro-business policies by pooling the influence of diverse industries.

18. Policy Focus: Broad pro-business policy agenda – AIG addresses cross-cutting economic and regulatory issues that affect its members. Key focus areas include employment and workplace relations, infrastructure and transport, tax and fiscal policy, skills and training, energy and environmental regulations, trade and export settings, and any “conditions in NZ needed for industries to grow and prosper”. In essence, AIG concerns itself with shaping the overall business climate in favour of its member industries.

19. Activities and Services: AIG operates primarily as a lobbying forum and information-sharing network for industry associations:

    • Regular Forums: Holds meetings in Wellington (and sometimes Auckland) for briefings, strategy sessions and policy roundtables. These forums allow industries to discuss upcoming legislation and regulatory challenges collectively. Government officials and ministers often attend as guest speakers for off-the-record briefings.

    • Advocacy & Submissions: Coordinates joint submissions on proposed laws/regulations on behalf of members (leveraging BusinessNZ’s policy team). AIG members contribute to BusinessNZ’s formal submissions and leverage its lobbyists to influence policy outcomes in line with business interests.

    • Information Sharing: Disseminates early intelligence on policy developments. Through BusinessNZ, AIG provides members with “advance notice of forthcoming issues and regulation that could have a big impact” on their industries. Members receive policy updates, research papers, and regulatory alerts not available to the general public.

    • Networking: Fosters connections among industry leaders and with key decision-makers. AIG facilitates “free exchange of business insights with government officials” in its meetings. It also hosts social events (e.g. BusinessNZ’s annual “Back to Business” gala) where members mingle with politicians and senior officials.

20. Lobbying Methods: In-house lobbying via BusinessNZ – AIG does not hire external lobbying firms, as it relies on BusinessNZ’s substantial in-house advocacy team. BusinessNZ’s policy advisers and lobbyists act on behalf of AIG members. This arrangement gives even smaller industry groups access to professional lobbyists and “insider” networks without needing their own paid consultants. (There is no evidence of AIG contracting any third-party lobbying firms; influence is exerted internally through BusinessNZ.)

21. Affiliations – Domestic: AIG is one pillar of the wider BusinessNZ network, which also includes the Major Companies Group (MCG) (direct membership of ~80 large corporations) and four regional business federations (Employers & Manufacturers Association; Business Central; Canterbury Employers’ Chamber; Business South). AIG members thereby collaborate with both big corporates and regional chambers under the BusinessNZ umbrella. This structure gives AIG a direct line to other powerful business lobby groups (e.g. the Sustainable Business Council and ExportNZ are also initiatives under BusinessNZ).

22. Affiliations – International: Through BusinessNZ, the AIG network is plugged into global business forums. BusinessNZ represents New Zealand in bodies like the International Organisation of Employers (IOE), Business at OECD (BIAC), and attends International Labour Organisation (ILO) meetings. AIG’s collective voice is thus indirectly linked into international advocacy channels and best practices. (Many AIG member associations are also part of global industry federations in their sectors.)

23. Political Donations: Data Not Found. No record of AIG or BusinessNZ itself making donations to political parties. As a lobby group structured as a not-for-profit, it does not publicly donate to campaigns. Its influence is exercised through advocacy, not electoral finance. (BusinessNZ’s funds come from member fees, not political donations.)

24. Government Funding: Primarily private-funded. BusinessNZ/AIG does not rely on taxpayer funding. (In fact, BusinessNZ pointedly refused a NZ$250,000 government contract offer in 2021 related to implementing Fair Pay Agreements, in order to remain an opponent of that policy.) There are no known direct government grants to AIG. (Some specific projects or research involving BusinessNZ may receive minor public funding, but none is attributed to AIG’s core lobbying work.)

25. Financial Disclosure: Opaque – AIG’s finances are consolidated within BusinessNZ’s accounts and not reported separately. As a private incorporated society, BusinessNZ does file annual returns, but granular details (e.g. budget for AIG activities, salaries, etc.) are not public. Data Not Found for AIG-specific financial statements. (BusinessNZ’s broad membership funding is known to be substantial but exact figures for AIG operations are undisclosed.)

26. Lobbyist Register Status: Not applicable. New Zealand has no mandatory lobbying register for organisations or lobbyists. Accordingly, AIG and its personnel are not required to register or publicly report lobbying contacts. (AIG’s activities occur largely out of public view due to this absence of a register.)

27. Transparency & Accountability: Low transparency. AIG operates in a sphere of informal influence – it publishes no minutes or detailed reports of its meetings with officials. There is no public disclosure of which ministers or ministries it lobbies, nor any code requiring it to do so. BusinessNZ and AIG have voluntarily signed on to a new Lobbyists’ Code of Conduct (2023), but this self-regulation is widely viewed as toothless. In practice, AIG’s influence on policy is opaque, relying on insider access rather than public campaigning.

28. Controversies:

    • “Dirty Politics” allegations (2014–2021): BusinessNZ’s current CEO Katherine Rich was embroiled in the Nicky Hager Dirty Politics scandal due to actions in her previous role. Leaked communications implied Rich (as Food & Grocery Council chief) was supplying a political blogger with attack lines against health policy advocates while she sat on a government health board. She denied wrongdoing, but the episode raised questions about underhanded lobbying tactics. Rich and the Food & Grocery Council were sued for defamation by public health academics; in 2021 they made a confidential settlement and apology for the hurt caused by the industry-funded smear campaigns. This controversy underscores the astroturfing and covert PR tactics tied to industry lobbying – casting a shadow on AIG given Rich’s leadership role.

    • Fair Pay Agreements (FPA) Backlash (2021–2022): AIG (via BusinessNZ) fiercely opposed the Labour Government’s Fair Pay Agreements – a policy to set minimum standards industry-wide. BusinessNZ not only launched public arguments that FPAs were “unlawful” and “harmful” to business, but also boycotted the government’s implementation process (refusing the role of default employer negotiator). Unions and officials criticized this as bad-faith lobbying – effectively sabotaging a democratically passed law. The incident drew attention to BusinessNZ’s willingness to flout cooperation norms to kill policy, and it raised eyebrows that a private lobby would reject government funds to maintain an ideological position.

    • Regulatory Capture Concerns (2023–2024): The appointment of John Carnegie – former BusinessNZ energy lobbyist and current chief of fossil-fuel lobby Energy Resources Aotearoa (an AIG member) – to a government energy agency in late 2024 provoked public outcry. Carnegie had openly disparaged that agency’s clean-energy programs, yet was given a board seat on it by the incoming government. Critics called this “putting the fox in charge of the henhouse”, viewing it as a case of industry capture of regulators. It highlighted the ethical conflict of having AIG-aligned lobbyists in official roles – reinforcing concerns that BusinessNZ’s network enjoys undue influence and access within government.

(Other controversies include BusinessNZ’s role in derailing stricter infant formula marketing rules after intense lobbying of ministers – protecting industry profits over public health – and its influence in the quick repeal of smokefree tobacco laws in 2023. These instances fuel the view that AIG leverages political connections to overturn or weaken policies aimed at public good when they threaten industry interests.)

29. Government Engagement & Access: Embedded influence. AIG and BusinessNZ are deeply integrated into policy-making processes. BusinessNZ is routinely invited to government working groups, taskforces, and consultation panels as the “voice of business.” For example, it sits alongside unions in formal forums (e.g. past tripartite Future of Work groups), and its input is often sought on economic strategy. Ministers frequently attend AIG’s own forums to brief industry privately. Additionally, BusinessNZ’s lobbying team enjoys direct lines into ministers’ offices and the public service – often former officials themselves – allowing AIG to shape policy behind closed doors. This privileged access (e.g. giving AIG members early drafts of regulations or heads-up on forthcoming decisions) has raised concerns that AIG’s influence on public policy far outweighs any transparency around it.

---

Sources

[1] NZ Lobbying & Influence Register – Introduction, The Democracy Project (Integrity Institute), democracyproject.substack.com (2025).

[2] AIG – Affiliated Industries Group (webpage), BusinessNZ, https://businessnz.org.nz/major-companies-group/aig/

[3] Affiliated Industries Group 2024 – Membership Brochure, BusinessNZ (PDF, Oct 2024), https://businessnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Affiliated-Industries-Group-2024-web.pdf

[4] Integrity Briefing: Lobbying reform battle heats up, Point of Order NZ (Bryce Edwards), 16 Apr 2025, https://pointofordernz.wordpress.com/2025/04/16/integrity-briefing-lobbying-reform-battle-heats-up/

[5] BusinessNZ and ExportNZ Submission to MFAT on proposed NZ–EU FTA (Background on BusinessNZ), Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade, 22 Feb 2016 (PDF), https://www.mfat.govt.nz/assets/Trade-agreements/EU-NZ-FTA/8.-Business-NZ-Export-NZ-NZ-Shippers-Council.pdf

[6] NZPPA Conference 2019 – BusinessNZ background, NZ Payroll Practitioners’ Association, nzppa.co.nz (2019).

[7] BusinessNZ Contact Information, BusinessNZ, https://businessnz.org.nz/contact/

[8] Katherine Rich appointed new Chief Executive of BusinessNZ, NZBusiness Magazine, 19 Aug 2024, https://nzbusiness.co.nz/news/katherine-rich-appointed-new-chief-executive-of-businessnz

[9] David Caygill to chair BusinessNZ Energy Council, BusinessNZ (Media Release), 17 Feb 2022, https://www.businessnz.org.nz/news-and-media/david-caygill-to-chair-businessnz-energy-council/

[10] Rebecca Clarke LinkedIn post – AIG meeting with Minister, LinkedIn.com, Dec 2024, https://www.linkedin.com/posts/rebeccaclarkenz_aotearoa-newzealand-business-activity-7270284789855731712-0iCY (access via LinkedIn)

[11] Insurance Council of NZ (Integrity Institute profile), The Democracy Project (Bryce Edwards), 2025 – (democracyproject.substack.com).

[12] Energy Resources Aotearoa (Integrity Institute profile), The Democracy Project (Bryce Edwards), 2025 – (democracyproject.substack.com).

[13] Hospitality New Zealand (Integrity Institute profile), The Democracy Project (Bryce Edwards), 2025 – (democracyproject.substack.com).

[14] Employers & Manufacturers Association (Integrity Institute profile), The Democracy Project, 2025 – (democracyproject.substack.com).

[15] Business New Zealand (Wikipedia), last edited 2023, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_New_Zealand

[16] Employer and business organisations, Te Ara Encyclopedia of NZ, updated 2018, https://teara.govt.nz/en/employer-and-business-organisations

[17] Fair Pay Agreements: BusinessNZ says no, HRD New Zealand (Dexter Tilo), 11 Dec 2021, https://www.hcamag.com/nz/news/employment-law/businessnz-turns-down-government-offer-on-fpas/319572

[18] Fossil fuel advocate joins energy agency board, Radio NZ News (E. Gibson), 3 Mar 2025, https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/environment/543516/ (RNZ climate correspondent report on John Carnegie EECA appointment)

[19] Government considers U-turn on baby formula rules after industry lobbying, Radio NZ In-Depth (A. Bradley), 7 Apr 2025, https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/in-depth/557379/

[20] Dirty Politics scandal lurks on (Katherine Rich), Newsroom, 2 Mar 2021, https://newsroom.co.nz/dirty-politics-case-close-to-settlement/ (Tim Murphy, “Payment, apology in Dirty Politics case”).

[21] Bryce Edwards: The Government–Lobbying revolving door, NZ Herald, 13 Nov 2021 (premium), summary via Victoria University, https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/bryce-edwards-the-government-lobbying-revolving-door-just-keeps-on-turning/OK2TRISU6A2LAURUIC2KQKXX2Q/

[22] Political Roundup: Lobbyist says everyone’s at it, NZ Herald, 3 May 2023 (Bryce Edwards op-ed on lobbying transparency).

[23] Political donations: people power no match for big business, Newsroom, 2 Mar 2023, https://www.newsroom.co.nz/political-donations-165-million-reasons (analysis of donation disclosures, noting BusinessNZ not a donor).

[24] Lobbying corrupts decisions, Democracy Project Substack (Bryce Edwards), 2023, https://democracyproject.substack.com/p/lobbying-corrupts-decisions (arguing NZ’s lack of regulation, cites OECD ranking)

[25] Let’s Level the Playing Field – lobbying reform campaign launch, Transparency International NZ, Feb 2025 (media release) – (campaign citing need for register).

[26] Auditor-General report on managing conflicts of interest, Office of the Auditor-General NZ, 2015 – (mentioned in context of Rich/HPA conflict).

[27] Public Service Commission – Standards of Integrity and Conduct, Te Kawa Mataaho (guidance that board members like Rich were expected to follow) – (for conflict rules).

[28] New Zealand Parliament debates – Lobbying Disclosure Bill 2012, Hansard (voluntary code vs mandatory register discussion) – (for historical context).

Spot anything in this entry that is wrong? Please either leave a comment at the end or email, in confidence: bryce@democracyproject.nz