Business and Parliament Trust (NZ)

1. Business / Trading Name: New Zealand Business and Parliament Trust (commonly abbreviated as NZBPT). The legal name is the same as the trading name. No former names or aliases are recorded.

2. Incorporation and Legal Status: Incorporated as a Charitable Trust Board under the Charitable Trusts Act 1957 on 28 November 1991. It is registered with the New Zealand Charities Commission (Charity Registration Number CC43956). The Trust operates as an independent non-profit entity and is not part of any larger organisation, nor formally affiliated with any political party.

3. Company Registration Number: 531879. Registered with the charitable trust board. Status is listed as Registered and in good standing as of the latest update.

4. New Zealand Business Number (NZBN): 9429042685050. This unique NZBN was issued to the Trust upon registration, linking its records across government systems.

5. Incorporation Date: 25 November 1991 (formal trust deed execution) – the Trust was legally incorporated on 28 Nov 1991 and publicly launched on 11 December 1991. It has been operating for over 33 years.

6. Charitable Registration: Registered as a charity on the Charities Register (Reg. No. CC43956) with an educational purpose. The Trust attained charitable status in the early 2000s after the Charities Act came into force; it is required to pursue charitable purposes and remain non-partisan to retain this status.

7. Headquarters Address: Parliament Buildings, 1 Molesworth Street, Wellington 6011, New Zealand (Physical office location within the Parliament complex). The Trust’s office has been located on the Parliamentary estate since 2005, underscoring its close proximity to the political centre.

8. Postal Address: Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand. This private bag at Parliament ensures mail is delivered within the parliamentary precinct. The Trust’s official email is office@nzbpt.nz.

9. Contact Details: Telephone +64 4 472 5365; Email office@nzbpt.nz. These contact points are maintained by the Trust’s Secretariat for inquiries from the public, members, and officials.

10. Website: www.nzbpt.nz – The Trust’s official website provides information on its mission, programmes, membership, and governance. (Previous domain nzbpt.org.nz was used in earlier years.) The site includes an archive of annual reports and newsletters for public reference.

11. Social Media: LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. NZBPT maintains a social media presence to share updates:

    • LinkedIn: Page name “NZ Business & Parliament Trust” – used for professional networking and announcements 【18†L123- L131】.

    • Facebook: Profile “New Zealand Business & Parliament Trust” – posts about events and Trust activities.

    • Instagram: Handle “@nzbpt” – highlights seminars and visits (e.g. posts about the 2025 seminars).

These platforms underscore the Trust’s effort to engage with both business community and public online.

12. President (Patron): By convention, the Speaker of the House of Representatives serves as President of NZBPT. The current President (2023–2024) is Rt Hon Gerry Brownlee MP, Speaker of the House. (His predecessor, Rt Hon Adrian Rurawhe, served as President during 2022–2023 when he was Speaker.) The President is the formal parliamentary patron of the Trust and hosts certain Trust events at Parliament.

13. Governance Structure: The Trust is governed by a Trustee Council and a subset Trust Board. The Trustee Council can include up to eight corporate representatives (from the Trust’s corporate membership) and representatives from each parliamentary party in the House. By tradition, the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition are ex officio members of the Trustee Council. From among the Council, a smaller Trust Board (typically ~7 members) is appointed to handle the Trust’s day-to-day governance; this usually consists of five corporate Council members and two MP Council members. The President (Speaker) is an ex officio figurehead and does not vote, while the Trust Board Chair leads governance meetings.

14. Trust Board Chair and Deputy Chair: The Board is currently chaired by Brent McAnulty (Chief Operating Officer of TVNZ) who was elected as Chair in late 2023. The Deputy Chair is Nirupa George (Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at SkyCity Entertainment Group). These individuals come from the corporate membership and were newly added to the Board in 2023, reflecting a governance refresh.

15. Board Members (Trustees): Notable current trustees on the Board (as of 2024) include:

    • Chris Blenkiron – CEO of NZ Aluminium Smelters (Rio Tinto), representing the Southland-based industry.

    • Joanne Mahon – External Relations GM at Ballance Agri-Nutrients (agribusiness sector).

    • Helene Toury-Dehan – GM Brand & Marketing at Downer NZ (infrastructure sector).

    • Tim van de Molen MP (National Party) – MP for Waikato, representing the Government backbench on the Board.

    • Hon Damien O’Connor MP (Labour Party) – senior Opposition MP, representing the Opposition on the Board.

These seven comprise the Trust Board along with the Chair and Deputy Chair. (The Prime Minister Rt Hon Chris Luxon and Opposition Leader Rt Hon Chris Hipkins are nominally on the Trustee Council but typically delegate a representative to the Board.)

16. Chief Executive Officer: Darryl Stevens MNZM is the Chief Executive of NZBPT. He leads the Trust’s Secretariat and has served in this role for several years (previous CEOs included Mike Fokker, who was CEO in 2014). The CEO is responsible for executing the Trust’s programmes and strategic direction, and is the primary point of contact for member companies and MPs.

17. Staff and Secretariat: The Trust operates with a small secretariat of four part-time staff supporting the CEO. Roles include an Executive Assistant (Office Manager & Programme Coordinator), a Communications/Social Media Assistant, and an Events Assistant. These staff coordinate events, facilitate parliamentary seminars and MP attachments, and handle day-to-day administration from the Parliament Buildings office.

18. Founders and Establishment: The Trust was co-founded by prominent business and political figures in 1991. Sir Patrick Goodman, then chairman of food giant Goodman Fielder Wattie, and Lindsay McCallum, then GM of PR firm Network Communications, initiated the idea. They gained the backing of Acting Prime Minister Rt Hon Don McKinnon and Speaker Hon Robin Gray to launch the Trust. The inaugural Trust Board (Dec 1991) included the Prime Minister (Jim Bolger), Opposition Leader, and five other MPs alongside six business leaders as trustees. The NZBPT’s model was directly inspired by the UK’s Industry and Parliament Trust (IPT), adapting that concept to New Zealand.

19. Mission and Objectives: NZBPT’s core mission is “to advance and encourage understanding and goodwill between the business community of New Zealand and Parliamentarians.” In practice, its principal objectives are: (a) to enable Members of Parliament to broaden their experience and knowledge of business, and (b) to improve business leaders’ understanding of how government and Parliament function. The Trust positions itself as a non-partisan, educational charity (explicitly “not a lobbying organisation”), aiming to bridge the gap between the private sector and lawmakers.

20. Primary Activities: The Trust facilitates two flagship programmes:

    • Business Study Attachments for MPs: placing Members of Parliament inside companies or organisations for short “internship” experiences. An MP is hosted by a corporate member for a few days to learn about that business’s operations and sector issues. (For example, in 2023 MPs undertook attachments with St John New Zealand, Foodstuffs NI, and NZ Post.) First-time attachments are typically several days, with shorter refreshers possible subsequently.

    • Parliamentary Seminars for Corporate Members: full-day seminars held at Parliament to educate business people on governmental and legislative processes. These seminars, often hosted by the Speaker, feature presentations by MPs and officials about how Parliament works and how policy is made. Corporate attendees also get to observe Question Time in the House and network with MPs during these events.

Additionally, the Trust organises networking events such as the President’s Dinners (exclusive dinners hosted by the Speaker/President for senior corporate members and MPs) and other special functions. It also runs some youth and education initiatives (funding school visits to Parliament and sponsoring university prizes in politics) as part of its charitable outreach.

21. Corporate Membership: The Trust’s influence base is its Corporate Members – typically around 60–76 corporate entities at any given time. As of the end of 2023, NZBPT had 62 subscribing corporate members drawn from across New Zealand’s major industries. Members include many of the country’s largest companies and organisations: e.g. major banks (ANZ, ASB, BNZ, Westpac), big law and consulting firms (Russell McVeagh, Dentons Kensington Swan, Deloitte), leading corporates in energy (Meridian, Genesis, Mercury, Vector), agriculture/primary sector (Fonterra, Synlait, Talley’s, Pāmu), infrastructure and transport (Downer, KiwiRail, Auckland Airport, Ports of Auckland), technology and telecom (Spark, Fujitsu NZ), FMCG and retail (Foodstuffs, The Warehouse Group, Coca-Cola Europacific), healthcare and insurance (Southern Cross Health Society, Tower Insurance, IAG), and many others. Membership is open to businesses and also some non-profits/state entities; for example, Hato Hone St John (ambulance service), NZ Super Fund Guardians, and several state-owned enterprises are members. Corporate members pay annual subscriptions and in return gain access to the Trust’s programmes and events.

22. Associate Members (MPs): Members of Parliament who have participated in the Business Attachment programme are designated as Associate Members of NZBPT. This status is offered as a form of alumni membership for MPs. At the start of 2023, 44 MPs (from across parties) were associate members, and after the 2023 General Election the number stood at 32 MPs. (Several associates retired or lost their seats in 2023, including former PM Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern, hence the drop in number.) Associate Members include backbench MPs and even Ministers who have completed attachments, and they are often invited to Trust events and networking opportunities. This mechanism helps maintain ongoing engagement with MPs beyond their initial attachments.

23. Membership Criteria and Fees: Corporate membership is tiered by organisational size:

    • Large organisations (annual turnover over $100 million): annual subscription of $5,000 + GST.

    • Smaller organisations (turnover below $100 million): annual subscription of $3,000 + GST.

These fees entitle corporate members to send delegates to up to four parliamentary seminars per year (with more slots for larger members) and to host MP attachments. An Associate Membership category exists for certain qualifying bodies or perhaps smaller entities/individuals (in some contexts, the term is used for MPs, but historically there were also “Associate Corporate” members like smaller firms or business associations). In one policy document, an associate corporate membership was listed at $2,500 + GST (for organisations with >50 employees) or $1,500 + GST (<50 employees) with more limited seminar access. (NB: Sitting MPs do not pay fees to be associates; that term is honorary for MPs.)

24. Main Sources of Funding: NZBPT’s operations are funded primarily by membership subscriptions paid by its corporate members. In the 2023 financial year, membership fee income was approximately $348,000 (NZD), comprising the bulk of the Trust’s revenue. In addition, the Trust earns a modest amount of interest income (around $26k in 2023) from its reserves held in bank deposits. It does not receive regular government grants or public funding for its core operations. (The Trust occasionally receives or provides targeted educational grants – e.g. it has itself donated small amounts to schools to assist with travel to Wellington – but these are programmatic and not government-funded.)

25. Financial Snapshot (Recent): For the year ending 31 Dec 2023, the Trust reported a total revenue of $374,183 and expenses of $360,564, yielding a small annual surplus of $13,619. The majority of expenses are related to staffing, member events, and programme delivery (e.g. seminar costs, travel assistance). As of 31 Dec 2023, NZBPT held net assets of approximately $412,000 (accumulated funds), indicating a reasonably healthy reserve base. These reserves have grown over time (net assets were ~$398k in 2022), providing some financial stability for the Trust’s ongoing activities.

26. Auditors and Key Service Providers: The Trust engages reputable firms for professional oversight. Moore Markhams Wellington Audit is the independent auditor of NZBPT’s financial statements. Munro Benge Chartered Accountants Ltd serves as the Trust’s accountant, assisting in preparation of financial reports. The Trust’s bankers are Westpac New Zealand Ltd, with which it holds its accounts. Legal counsel for the Trust is provided by Russell McVeagh, a major NZ law firm (Russell McVeagh’s support has extended to endowing prizes and advising the Trust). These arrangements underscore the integration of the Trust into established professional networks.

27. Office Accommodation and Support: Uniquely, the NZBPT is housed within Parliament Buildings. It benefits from a tenancy arrangement facilitated by the Speaker (as President). According to official correspondence, the Trust rents its parliamentary office at a nominal rate of about NZ$100 per week. This highly subsidised rent (provided by Parliamentary Service) gives the Trust affordable, secure accommodation in Wellington’s political hub. The arrangement, in place since mid-2000s, reflects the Parliament’s endorsement of the Trust’s activities, but also signifies an in-kind government support. (Notably, an OIA response affirmed that the Trust’s presence in Parliament is a courtesy and not mandated by legislation.)

28. Regulatory and Transparency Obligations: As a private charitable entity, NZBPT is not subject to the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA). Government agencies have previously refused OIA requests pertaining to the Trust on the basis that information about the Trust held by Ministers was not held in an official capacity. The Trust makes voluntary disclosures through its annual reports and the Charities Register filings, but there is no statutory requirement for it to reveal details of its interactions or membership beyond what standard charity law mandates. The Trust’s leadership has stated that it is not a lobbying firm and thus is not registered on any lobbying disclosure list (New Zealand, notably, has no mandatory lobbyist register). Internally, MPs participating in the Trust’s programmes are expected to adhere to ethics rules (for example, MPs must declare in their parliamentary Register of Interests any gifts or sponsored travel received – such as if a company covers costs during an attachment). However, because the attachments are framed as educational, MPs do not report them as “benefits” and the Trust’s hospitality (like lunches or dinners at events) generally falls below disclosure thresholds or under Parliament-organised functions. This relative opacity has drawn some criticism.

29. Political Donations: No political donations by NZBPT are on record. As a registered charity, the Trust is in fact prohibited from donating to political parties or candidates. Its constitution and policies reinforce political neutrality. A search of electoral returns shows no donations attributed to “Business and Parliament Trust” in any party’s disclosures. Likewise, the Trust does not act as a fundraising body for any party (it is distinct from, for example, party-affiliated donor clubs like the “Cabinet Club”). The value the Trust provides to its corporate members is access to politicians and information, not direct political funding. (Individual corporate members of NZBPT, of course, may donate to parties on their own account, but that falls outside the Trust’s scope.)

Sources: (All information is drawn from publicly available documents and records, each linked to its source.)

1. “New Zealand Business and Parliament Trust – Company Summary,” BizDb (Companies Office data) – overview of NZBPT registration and status.

2. NZBPT Annual Review 2023, p.31 – Entity Information page (legal status, charity reg. no.).

3. “Contact – NZ Business & Parliament Trust,” NZBPT official website – address, phone, email details.

4. NZBPT official site footer – social media links (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn) and website reference.

5. “Structure & Management – NZBPT,” NZBPT site – governance structure describing President (Speaker) and Board.

6. Parliament of NZ – Parliamentary Practice (Chapter 7) – notes that PM and Opposition Leader are on the Trust’s council by tradition.

7. DecisionMaker Civics Guide 2003 – profile of NZBPT stating it is non-partisan and not connected to any other body.

8. NZBPT History page – founding narrative, inspired by UK IPT, launch details.

9. Parliamentary Practice in NZ (ed. D. McGee, 4th ed.) – objectives of NZBPT and programme descriptions.

10. NZBPT Corporate Membership Policy (2021) – membership fees: $5k>$100m turnover, $3k< $100m, etc.

11. NZBPT Annual Review 2023, p.35 – financial summary 2023 vs 2022 (revenue $374k, surplus $13.6k).

12. FYI OIA request (2014) – correspondence noting NZBPT’s parliament office rent ~$100/week via Parliament.

13. NZBPT website homepage – “not a lobbying organisation” disclaimer in Trust description.

14. FYI OIA request (2014) – comment that NZBPT is a private body not subject to OIA.

15. Charities Services Guidance – charities must not donate to political parties (legal prohibition).

16. NZBPT Annual Review 2023, p.31 – Auditor, Banker, Solicitor, Accountant names.

17. Edwards, Bryce. “Launching the NZ Lobbying & Influence Register.” LinkedIn – The Integrity Institute, 7 Apr 2023 – Discusses the lack of transparency in NZ lobbying and the creation of a public register covering lobbyists, corporates, and groups like NZBPT.

18. Parliament of NZ. “Chapter 7: Officers of Parliament and Other Bodies Associated with Parliament.” Parliamentary Practice in New Zealand (4th ed.), 2017 – Describes NZBPT’s formation, objectives, and membership (76 corporate members by 2015), highlighting the Speaker’s role as President.

19. “What is the New Zealand Business and Parliament Trust?” NZ Parliament website (Features), 2 Jul 2020 – Outlines NZBPT’s purpose as fostering goodwill, with quotes on how it helps MPs understand business and vice versa, and notes cross-party involvement.

20. FYI (OIA request). “Under which legislation do MPs have any obligation to the NZ Business and Parliament Trust?” 2014 – Official info request by G. Haden; includes annotation noting NZBPT is a private body not under OIA and reference to its $100/week Parliament office rental.

21. NZBPT. Annual Review 2023 (published Jul 2024) – Internal report listing Board members, corporate members, programme highlights; notes Speaker’s engagement initiative and membership numbers (62 corporates, 32 MP associates) as of 2023.

22. NZBPT. “History” – Official history page detailing the Trust’s 1991 founding by Sir Patrick Goodman and Lindsay McCallum, influence of the UK IPT, and key early developments (seminars, attachments, President’s dinners, IABP).

23. “Membership Policy – Corporate Membership.” NZBPT Policy Document, June 2021 – Details membership criteria and fees ($5k/$3k tiers), as well as entitlements (seminar attendance, etc.), illustrating the pay-to-play structure.

24. The Democracy Project (Bryce Edwards). “Political Roundup: Lobbyist says $250k will stop anything a government wants to do.” NZ Herald, 20 Feb 2023 – Opinion piece on NZ’s booming lobbying industry, noting it operates with little scrutiny or regulation and citing examples of journalists-turned-lobbyists and insider influence.

25. Transparency International NZ / Helen Clark Foundation / HCA. “Let’s Level the Playing Field – Reform of Lobbying in NZ.” Campaign Statement, 7 Apr 2023 – Highlights under-regulation of lobbying in NZ, calls for a register and ending “hidden lobbying” to restore fairness in decision-making; backed by cross-partisan figures.

26. Integrity Institute – Draft Lobbying Register Entry: NZBPT. DemocracyProject.Substack (Bryce Edwards), Oct 2023 – Profile notes (summarized from various sources) indicating NZBPT’s structure, that details on its programmes are not publicly disclosed (“Data Not Found”), and listing known corporate supporters.

27. Hansard (NZ House of Representatives). Register of Pecuniary & Other Interests of Members 2023, p.41 – Shows an example of an MP (Hon Deborah Russell) declaring “New Zealand Business and Parliament Trust (trustee)” under trusts – indicating MPs’ acknowledgement of involvement.

28. NZBPT. Annual Review 2022 (published Jun 2023) – Noting prior year’s activities: e.g. President’s Dinner attendees, seminar topics, and listing corporate members; provides context on continuity of programmes through election cycles.

29. Small, Zane. “Lobbying in NZ like the ‘Wild West’, reform needed – advocates.” Newshub, 7 Apr 2023 – Reports on calls for lobbying reform, quoting advocates that NZ’s voluntary transparency is inadequate and citing broad concern about insider influence via informal channels.

30. Hail.to (St Peter’s College, Palmerston North). “Fantastic News for our Year 8 Group!” 23 May 2022 – School newsletter noting NZBPT donated $1,800 to help Year 8 students visit Parliament, an example of the Trust’s educational funding (integrity-washing aspect).

31. Radio NZ. “Lobbyist register back on agenda amid concern over influence.” RNZ News, 7 Apr 2023 – Discusses PM’s request for lobbying reform options, mentions the lack of transparency with informal lobbying and how broad the definition of lobbying might need to be, likely encompassing entities like NZBPT..

32. Edwards, Bryce. “Lobbying corrupts decisions.” Democracy Project – Integrity Briefing, 16 May 2023 – Analyzes how corporate lobbying (through various means) swayed government decisions (e.g. COVID response benefits for business), illustrating real-world impact of business influence on policy.

33. Orsman, B. “Ex-MPs lobby for clients inside Parliament.” NZ Herald, 2 Oct 2022 – Reveals how many former MPs (and by extension, networks like NZBPT) freely roam Parliament advocating for clients due to lack of rules; underlines the culture of insider access in NZ politics..

34. Haden, Grace. “OIA Request: MPs involvement in NZ Business & Parliament Trust.” FYI.org.nz, May 2014 – Original request letter raising pointed questions equating NZBPT to Cabinet Club and asking for equal access for an “anti-corruption trust”, highlighting perceived double standards..

35. “Charities, Elections and Political Parties – Guidance.” NZ Charities Services, updated 2020 – Confirms charities cannot support political parties or donate to them, contextualizing why NZBPT avoids direct political funding and operates via influence instead.

36. NZBPT – Structure & Management page. NZBPT website, updated 2023 – Lists current President, Board Chair, Deputy Chair, and Trustee Council members (naming corporate roles and MPs), demonstrating the intermingling of business and political leaders in governance.

37. Garner, D. “Opinion: Lobbyists and their secret influence.” The AM Show – Newshub, 8 Mar 2022 – A commentary piece noting that a select group of lobbyists and connected individuals often shape policy behind closed doors in NZ, arguably including forums like NZBPT, and calling for more transparency..

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