Major Companies Group
Business / Trading Name: Major Companies Group (MCG), part of BusinessNZ
Company number: Data Not Found – MCG is not separately incorporated (operates under BusinessNZ Incorporated Society registration #8290321)
NZBN: Data Not Found – (BusinessNZ’s NZBN is 9429050291915; MCG has no distinct NZBN)
Entity type: Not a standalone entity; functions as a network within BusinessNZ (BusinessNZ is an Incorporated Society)
Business classification: Industry advocacy group / business lobby network
Industry Category: Multi-industry (represents companies across finance, energy, agriculture, manufacturing, tech, infrastructure, etc.)
Year founded: Not formally launched as separate entity – introduced in mid-2000s under BusinessNZ’s expansion (BusinessNZ itself was formed in 2001)
Addresses:
Physical Office: Level 13, NTT Tower, 157 Lambton Quay, Wellington 6011, New Zealand
Postal Address: PO Box 1925, Wellington 6140, New Zealand
Website URL: https://www.businessnz.org.nz/major-companies-group
LinkedIn URL: https://www.linkedin.com/company/major-companies-group (Major Companies Group page)
Company Hub NZ URL: Data Not Found – no independent listing (falls under BusinessNZ’s profile)
NZ Companies Office URL: Data Not Found (no separate registration; governed by BusinessNZ Incorporated Society rules)
Social Media URLs:
Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/major_comp (handle: @major_comp, “Major Companies Grp”)
YouTube: BusinessNZ channel (shared platform; no MCG-specific channel)
Ultimate Holding Company: None (MCG is a division of BusinessNZ, which is a member-funded not-for-profit peak body)
Key Shareholders: Not applicable (membership-based organisation with no shareholders – funded by member dues from companies)
Leadership: Co-chaired by senior executives from member companies, in conjunction with BusinessNZ executives. For 2024 the MCG CEO Forum is co-chaired by Tracey Ryan (Managing Director, Aurecon NZ) and Neeraj Lala (CEO, Toyota NZ). BusinessNZ’s Chief Executive (currently Katherine Rich, former MP) provides oversight, and Deputy CEO Phil Love serves as General Manager for MCG, coordinating its CEO Forum and member engagement.
Staff: MCG is supported by BusinessNZ’s staff (listed company size 11–50 on LinkedIn). BusinessNZ’s advocacy and policy team (e.g. Catherine Beard, Director of Advocacy) and other specialists serve MCG members. Phil Love (Deputy CEO) and an Executive Assistant are dedicated to MCG operations.
Staff with previous government roles: Katherine Rich – BusinessNZ CEO since 2023, was a Member of Parliament (1999–2008). Mike Burrell – Executive Director of BusinessNZ’s Sustainable Business Council, is a former New Zealand High Commissioner and ex-MFAT director. (Other policy staff have also come from public sector roles, although specific names are not publicly listed.)
Past Employees: Phil O’Reilly – Chief Executive of BusinessNZ 2004–2015, credited with developing the Major Companies Group during his tenure. Kirk Hope – Chief Executive 2016–2024, a former banking lobbyist who led BusinessNZ (and MCG) for nine years. (Both O’Reilly and Hope were influential in shaping MCG’s growth and strategy.)
Clients: Not applicable – MCG does not have “clients” in a commercial sense; its “clients” are its member companies. The over 100 member organisations themselves are the stakeholders it serves. (Major members include Air New Zealand, the four largest Australian-owned banks, Fonterra, Fletcher Building, major energy companies, tech multinationals like Amazon, state entities like NZ Super Fund and KiwiRail, among others.)
Industries/Sectors represented: Virtually all major sectors of the New Zealand economy:
Finance & Insurance: e.g. major banks (ANZ, ASB, BNZ, Westpac) and insurers (IAG, AIA)
Energy & Resources: power generators (Meridian, Mercury, Genesis), oil & gas (Z Energy, OMV), dairy processing (Fonterra)
Food & Agriculture: agribusiness (Alliance Group, ANZCO Foods), food & beverage (Asahi, DB Breweries)
Manufacturing & Construction: steel and building materials (NZ Steel, Fletcher Building), engineering firms (Beca, Downer)
Transport & Infrastructure: airlines and airports (Air NZ, Auckland Airport, KiwiRail), ports and logistics (Port of Tauranga, Mainfreight – via affiliated groups)
Technology & Telecommunications: IT, digital and telcos (IBM, Datacom, Amazon Web Services, Chorus, Xero)
Retail & Services: major retailers (Woolworths NZ/Foodstuffs, Chemist Warehouse, Bunnings), professional services (Deloitte, Chapman Tripp, PwC)
(MCG’s membership spans “every sector, representing companies who employ close to half of all working New Zealanders”.)
Publicly Disclosed Engagements: Government records show frequent high-level meetings. MCG-hosted CEO Forums regularly include the Prime Minister, senior Cabinet Ministers, and Opposition leaders (acknowledged by officials). BusinessNZ/MCG also participated in the Government’s Tripartite Future of Work Forum and consultations (e.g. co-designing the proposed unemployment insurance scheme). However, specific details of MCG’s daily lobbying interactions are often not public, due to New Zealand’s lack of a mandatory lobbying register.
Affiliations: MCG is an integral part of the BusinessNZ Network, which includes regional business associations (EMA, Business Central, Business South, BusinessNZ Canterbury) and sister organisations like ExportNZ, ManufacturingNZ, the Sustainable Business Council (SBC), and the BusinessNZ Energy Council (BEC). Internationally, BusinessNZ (and by extension MCG) is affiliated with global employer bodies – it is New Zealand’s representative in the International Organisation of Employers (IOE) and a member of Business at OECD (BIAC), providing links to the OECD and ILO policy circles. MCG also engages with the Australia-New Zealand Leadership Forum (ANZLF), which connects top companies from both countries for trans-Tasman policy dialogue.
Sponsorships / Collaborations: MCG and its members frequently partner on research and events:
BusinessNZ-Deloitte Major Companies Tax Survey – collaboration with Deloitte to survey corporate tax issues.
Southern Cross – BusinessNZ “Wellness in the Workplace” Survey – sponsored by Southern Cross Healthcare on employee wellbeing.
BusinessNZ Prime Minister’s Update – an annual event co-hosted with Christchurch Airport and pharma company Janssen, featuring the Prime Minister.
BNZ – BusinessNZ Performance of Manufacturing Index (PMI) and Services Index (PSI) – monthly economic indices produced in partnership with Bank of New Zealand.
BusinessNZ “Back to Business” Cocktail functions – networking events sponsored by Westpac NZ, attended by MPs and business leaders.
BusinessNZ Pre-Budget Lunch – co-hosted with Fujitsu, providing a forum for the Finance Minister’s budget briefing to business audiences.
(These partnerships allow MCG members to “showcase their brand to stakeholders” while contributing to policy discussions.)
Events (held or organised): The Major Companies Group organises exclusive, high-impact events to connect business leaders with policymakers:
MCG CEO Forum – A private forum held thrice yearly, where CEOs of member companies meet with the Prime Minister, senior Ministers (and Opposition leaders) for frank, closed-door discussions. These confidential forums are a flagship MCG event for top-level influence.
CEO Dinner with the Prime Minister – An annual invitation-only dinner for MCG chief executives to dine with the Prime Minister and government caucus members, enabling informal dialogue at the highest level.
Private Regional Dinners – Monthly small-group dinners around the country, hosted by MCG, at which members meet and lobby senior Cabinet Ministers or Opposition MPs on regional and national economic issues.
Corporate Affairs Forums – Held ~5 times a year in Auckland and Wellington for government relations executives of MCG firms to engage directly with policymakers and regulators on specific policy initiatives. These forums facilitate two-way discussion on upcoming laws and “help integrate policy directions” across member companies.
“Back to Business” Networking Cocktail – An annual BusinessNZ/MCG networking reception (often each February) that is famously well-attended by Members of Parliament from all major parties, providing informal access for MCG members to a broad swath of politicians.
Pre-Budget Luncheon and End-of-Year Review – High-profile events where the Finance Minister or Prime Minister addresses MCG members before the Budget and in December, respectively. These are often run in partnership with member companies and draw significant political attendance.
Issue-Specific Forums and Seminars – e.g. Health reform forums (during the COVID-19 period, MCG convened health sector discussions on DHB/Pharmac changes); Wellington Seminar on understanding the legislative/regulatory process for executives (including how to engage in Select Committees); Trade Delegations where MCG members join official overseas delegations or host inbound delegations to influence trade policy.
(Through these events, MCG ensures its members “have a strong voice in policy… throughout the policy making process”.)
Political Donations: No publicly recorded political donations have been made by the Major Companies Group or BusinessNZ. The organisation itself maintains that it does not fund political parties or candidates (its influence is exercised via advocacy, not donations). (Individual member companies may donate in their own capacity, but MCG as a body has no known donations on record.)
Controversies: The Major Companies Group’s influence has occasionally sparked criticism and concern:
Fair Pay Agreements (FPA) Opposition: BusinessNZ (on behalf of MCG and wider members) fiercely opposed the Labour Government’s Fair Pay Agreements labour law. In late 2021 it refused to participate in the FPA system and lodged a formal complaint with the International Labour Organization, alleging the law breached ILO conventions. This move – effectively trying to overturn domestic law via an international body – was unprecedented and drew fire from unions and ministers for undermining elected policy. (The ILO did not stop the law; FPAs were later implemented and then repealed by a new government in 2023.)
“Secret” Influence & Transparency Critiques: Transparency advocates have accused MCG of operating in the shadows of NZ’s political system. Its closed-door meetings with ministers (often unminuted and undisclosed except via diary releases) have been cited as examples of the lack of a lobbying register in New Zealand. Critics argue that MCG’s significant behind-the-scenes role in policy – such as shaping the COVID-19 wage subsidy criteria and the proposed income insurance scheme – was not transparent to the public. These concerns have fueled calls for greater oversight of lobbying.
“Integrity Washing” Allegations: Observers have noted a disconnect between MCG’s public messaging and its actions. The group advertises its mission as supporting the “wellbeing of all New Zealanders”, yet it primarily advances the interests of large corporations. Commentators like political scientist Bryce Edwards suggest BusinessNZ and MCG engage in “integrity washing” – projecting an image of broad public interest advocacy while actually lobbying for deregulation, tax and labour policies favoring big business (e.g. derailing climate and labour reforms). MCG’s outsized influence relative to ordinary citizens’ groups has been highlighted in debates about democratic accountability.
Other information of note: MCG’s membership collectively accounts for an estimated 67% of New Zealand’s GDP, giving it unparalleled economic clout as a lobby. It operates under the governance of the BusinessNZ Council, meaning major decisions are channeled through BusinessNZ’s board structure. There is no legal requirement for MCG to disclose its lobbying activities or member contributions – a gap frequently pointed out by reform advocates. In recent years the group has tried to publicly position itself as a constructive “partner” to government (for instance, being invited onto the Pandemic Response Advisory group and various taskforces), even as it has also been willing to mount legal challenges or threaten withdrawal from consultation when policies go against its members’ interests. Its dual role – sometimes collaborating with government (as in jointly developing policy proposals), and sometimes campaigning against government initiatives – makes it a uniquely powerful and sometimes controversial actor in NZ policy debates.
Recipient of Wage Subsidy Scheme: No. Neither the Major Companies Group nor BusinessNZ appears as a recipient of COVID-19 wage subsidies in the official employer subsidy database (indicating they did not apply for or receive the wage subsidy). Notably, however, BusinessNZ was instrumental in advocating for the creation of the wage subsidy scheme in March 2020 – meeting with the Prime Minister and Treasury to propose the subsidy, which the Government then implemented. Thus, while not a beneficiary of the scheme, MCG’s organisation played a key role in shaping it.
[1] BusinessNZ – Major Companies Group (MCG) page, BusinessNZ, https://businessnz.org.nz/major-companies-group/ (MCG ensures large companies have a strong voice; 100+ members representing 67% of NZ’s GDP)
[2] BusinessNZ – Profile by Bryce Edwards (The Integrity Institute), Democracy Project Substack, https://democracyproject.substack.com/p/business-nz (BusinessNZ Company Number: 8290321; NZBN: 9429050291915; Incorporated Society)
[3] Major Companies Group – LinkedIn Profile, LinkedIn, https://nz.linkedin.com/company/major-companies-group (Industry: Public Policy; Headquarters: Wellington; Company size: 11-50 employees; Type: Nonprofit)
[4] Meet The Team – Catherine Beard bio, BusinessNZ, https://businessnz.org.nz/about-us/meet-the-team/ (BusinessNZ’s Advocacy Director: BusinessNZ network includes Major Companies Group, formed to represent thousands of businesses)
[5] ILO Working Paper No.2 – New Zealand Profile (2009), International Labour Organization, https://researchrepository.ilo.org/ (BusinessNZ was established in 2001 from amalgamation of the NZ Employers’ Federation and Manufacturers’ Federation; operates a Major Companies Group of 40+ top companies)
[6] Contact Us – BusinessNZ, BusinessNZ, https://businessnz.org.nz/contact/ (BusinessNZ Head Office: Level 13, 157 Lambton Quay, Wellington; PO Box 1925, Wellington 6140; main phone number)
[7] Major Companies Grp (@major_comp) – Twitter (X) profile, Twitter/X, https://twitter.com/major_comp (Official MCG feed describing itself as helping ensure NZ’s largest companies are heard in policy debates)
[8] Neeraj Lala’s LinkedIn post (Dec 2023), LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/posts/neeraj-lala-4b943635_honoured-to-share-that-ive-been-named-co-chair-activity-7163598097225297920-frlq (Neeraj Lala named Co-Chair of BusinessNZ’s MCG CEO Forum for 2024, co-chairing with Tracey Ryan of Aurecon)
[9] Toyota NZ Press Release – Neeraj Lala co-chair appointment (Feb 2024), Toyota New Zealand News, https://www.toyota.co.nz/about-toyota/toyota-news/2024/february/neeraj-lala-announced-as-co-chair-of-business-nz-major-companies-group-ceo-forum/ (Neeraj Lala’s first duty as co-chair is to chair the MCG CEO Forum meeting, indicating leadership structure)
[10] Meet The Team – Katherine Rich bio, BusinessNZ, https://businessnz.org.nz/about-us/meet-the-team/ (Katherine Rich, BusinessNZ Chief Executive, was a Member of Parliament from 1999 to 2008 before leading the Food & Grocery Council 2009–2023)
[11] Meet The Team – Phil Love bio, BusinessNZ, https://businessnz.org.nz/about-us/meet-the-team/ (Phil Love, BusinessNZ Deputy CEO & General Manager, oversees commercial partnerships and development of forums including the Major Companies Group’s CEO Forum)
[12] Meet The Team – Mike Burrell bio, BusinessNZ, https://businessnz.org.nz/about-us/meet-the-team/ (Mike Burrell, Executive Director of Sustainable Business Council, previously NZ’s High Commissioner to South Africa and MFAT Director, highlighting crossover of staff with government roles)
[13] Lobbying – BusinessNZ & Government agencies (June 2023 briefing), The Integrity Institute, https://theintegrityinstitute.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Lobbying-Business-N-Z-and-Government-agencies.docx (ACC paid $285,000 since 2009 for MCG membership; ACC withdrew in 2023 amid criticism of agencies funding BusinessNZ)
[14] RNZ News – “Fair Pay Agreements ‘fundamentally flawed’ – BusinessNZ” (25 Mar 2022), Radio New Zealand, https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/463974/ (BusinessNZ CEO Kirk Hope vehemently opposing FPAs, calling them unlawful and indicating BusinessNZ wrote to the Minister and went to the ILO to fight the scheme)
[15] BusinessNZ – MCG Members list (2025), BusinessNZ, https://businessnz.org.nz/major-companies-group/mcg-members/ (Comprehensive list of MCG member companies across sectors: e.g. Air NZ, Fonterra, ANZ, Fletcher Building, Woolworths NZ, Westpac, Toyota, Xero, etc.)
[16] Policy Quarterly Journal (VUW) – Chapple & Fletcher (Nov 2021), “A Critical Consideration of Social Insurance Policy in NZ”, Victoria University of Wellington, https://ojs.victoria.ac.nz/pq/article/view/7311 (Notes BusinessNZ’s ‘major companies’ group of 100+ firms produces over 67% of GDP; perspectives largely represent big business in a non-unionised labour market)
[17] Ministerial Diary – Hon. Iain Lees-Galloway (Workplace Relations), Beehive.govt.nz, released via OIA, https://www.beehive.govt.nz/ (Entry for 12/05/2020: “Webinar with Business NZ Major Companies Group – Videoconference – Kirk Hope and BusinessNZ MCG”)
[18] NZ Future of Work Tripartite Forum – Press Release (May 2019), Beehive.govt.nz, https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/future-work-forum (Announces BusinessNZ and Council of Trade Unions as partners with government in the Future of Work Forum, illustrating BusinessNZ/MCG’s formal role in policy co-design on labour market issues)
[19] BusinessNZ Board – Honours List Citation (Queens Birthday Honours 2016), Dept. of Prime Minister & Cabinet, https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/ (Philip O’Reilly’s ONZM citation: notes he transformed business lobbying and “helped develop” MCG, SBC, BEC; also first NZer to chair OECD’s Business & Industry Advisory Committee)
[20] International Organisation of Employers – Member List (New Zealand), IOE, https://www.ioe-emp.org/members/asia-pacific/new-zealand (Confirms BusinessNZ as NZ’s representative in the IOE, the global federation of employer groups, giving it international affiliations)
[21] BusinessNZ Publication – “Major companies – growing NZ’s value” (Mar 2024), BusinessNZ, https://businessnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Major-Companies-Group-Growing-NZs-Value_18-Mar-24.pdf (Highlights MCG member benefits and partnerships: CEO forums, PM’s annual dinner, Deloitte-BusinessNZ tax survey, Southern Cross-BusinessNZ workplace wellness survey, BNZ-BusinessNZ PMI/PSI indices, Westpac “Back to Business” cocktails, Fujitsu Pre-Budget lunch, etc.)
[22] BusinessDesk – “Speakers: NZIIA Conference 2025” (preview), NZ Institute of International Affairs, https://www.nziiaconference.nz/speakers (BusinessNZ’s statement: “represents most large companies in NZ through our Major Companies Group…our CEO Forum meets thrice yearly with PM, senior ministers, opposition leaders and key officials for confidential high-level dialogue”)
[23] LinkedIn – Phil Love post (Feb 2023), LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/posts/phil-love-58817112a_businessnzs-major-companies-group-hosted-its-activity-7029974498119131136-VX4f (Phil Love describing an MCG event: first big event of the year had to cap numbers; often these are exclusive dinners or forums connecting members with ministers)
[24] NZ Initiative – Twitter/X post (Roger Partridge speaking at MCG) (Nov 2022), The New Zealand Initiative,
https://twitter.com/NZInitiative/status/1597448374511267840
(Shows NZ Initiative’s Chair addressing a “packed room at BusinessNZ’s Major Companies Group” – an example of the high-level audience that attends MCG forums, likely including PM or senior MPs)
[25] BusinessNZ – “Procurement advocacy” submission (Mar 2025), BusinessNZ, https://businessnz.org.nz/major-companies-group/procurement-advocacy/ (Illustrates BusinessNZ corresponding on government procurement rules on behalf of MCG members, seeking improvements in rules – implying regular dialogues on such policy topics)
[26] BusinessNZ – “Networking caucuses & events” (MCG promotional material), BusinessNZ, ibid. (MCG highlights networking with Coalition and Opposition MPs, “Back to Business” cocktail as most politician-attended event, Pre-Budget lunch with Finance Minister – showing frequency of informal engagement opportunities with lawmakers)
[27] The Integrity Institute – NZ Lobbying & Influence Register (2023), DemocracyProject Substack, https://democracyproject.substack.com/p/nz-lobbying-and-influence-register (Entry for BusinessNZ confirms “Political Donations: No publicly disclosed donations” and details MCG events, indicating BusinessNZ claims non-partisanship and does not donate to parties)
[28] Newsroom – “Fair pay complaint to ILO crashes and burns” (8 Feb 2022), Newsroom.co.nz, https://www.newsroom.co.nz/fair-pay-complaint-to-ilo-crashes-and-burns (BusinessNZ took its fight against FPAs to the ILO; the ILO’s Committee found the complaint misinterpreted their conventions. The move was seen as undermining domestic policy through international channels)
[29] The Integrity Institute – “Stakeholders’ influence inappropriate” (Mar 2021), The Integrity Institute, https://theintegrityinstitute.org.nz/stakeholders-influence-inappropriate/ (Reveals a Dec 2020 NZ Herald report that on 2 March 2020, BusinessNZ met PM & Finance Minister to propose the wage subsidy, and that days before lockdown a phone conference with business leaders agreed lockdown conditions – with no equivalent consultation with citizen groups. Highlights conflicts of interest in relying on stakeholders who benefited from the subsidy scheme, and lack of independent voices in those meetings)
[30] The Spinoff – “The quiet deals done behind closed doors at the start of lockdown” (4 Aug 2020), The Spinoff, https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/04-08-2020/the-quiet-deals-done-behind-closed-doors-at-the-start-of-lockdown (Describes how government ministers had direct lines to BusinessNZ and corporate leaders ahead of lockdown decisions, with Grant Robertson later referencing a “deal done with businesses” – illustrating preferential consultation of MCG over other stakeholders)
[31] MSD Wage Subsidy Employer Search (2020), Ministry of Social Development, https://www.msd.govt.nz/about-msd-and-our-work/newsroom/2020/covid-19/covid-19-wage-subsidy-employer-search.html (Public database of all employers who received COVID wage subsidies – searching for “BusinessNZ” or “Business New Zealand” yields no entries, confirming BusinessNZ/MCG did not claim subsidies for itself, though many member companies appear in the listings)
[32] RNZ – “Businesses and wage subsidy – keeping it or paying it back” (21 May 2020), Radio New Zealand, https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/417166/ (Highlights debate on large profitable companies taking wage subsidies. BusinessNZ defended the scheme’s design and companies’ right to use it if criteria met, arguing certainty and speed were paramount. Some companies did repay after public pressure.)
[33] NZ Herald – “Big read: Tax dodging is hurting the poor and destroying capitalism” (30 Jan 2019), NZ Herald, https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/ (Mentions BusinessNZ’s opposition to CGT and notes BusinessNZ commissioned polling with possibly leading questions to show public opposition. Also notes BusinessNZ’s perspective tends to reflect big business owners, not small businesses or workers)
[34] Policy Quarterly – “Social Insurance…Democratic norms” (Nov 2021), Victoria University of Wellington (Chapple & Fletcher), https://ojs.victoria.ac.nz/pq/article/view/7311 (Critiques the development of the Social Unemployment Insurance, noting it was promoted by CTU and BusinessNZ as “social partners” behind closed doors, raising questions about representativeness and democratic debate, given CTU and BusinessNZ collectively represent a minority of workforce and skew to certain demographics)
[35] Transparency International NZ – “National Integrity System Assessment” (2018 update), Transparency International New Zealand, http://www.transparency.org.nz/ (Highlights lack of regulation of lobbying in NZ as a weakness; notes that powerful groups like BusinessNZ can exert influence with little transparency, and calls for measures like a lobbying register and disclosure of meetings to improve integrity)
[36] DPMC Honours List – Citation for Phil O’Reilly, Department of PM & Cabinet (2016), https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/queens-90th-birthday-honours-list-2016 (Phil O’Reilly’s ONZM citation explicitly credits him with transforming business lobbying and establishing key BusinessNZ groups including the Major Companies Group and Sustainable Business Council, underscoring the importance of these entities in NZ’s lobbying landscape)
[37] Reuters – “NZ PM Ardern surprises with decision against capital gains tax” (17 Apr 2019), Reuters, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-newzealand-tax-ardern-idUSKCN1RT07N (Ardern ruled out a CGT, citing lack of consensus and that “many New Zealanders do not” support it. BusinessNZ had vehemently opposed CGT. The Reuters piece notes business confidence had been sinking and opponents warned a CGT could hurt the housing market, reflecting arguments made by business lobbyists leading up to the decision.)
[38] 1News/Colmar Brunton Poll – “Public Opinion on Capital Gains Tax” (Apr 2019), TVNZ News, https://www.1news.co.nz/ (Referenced in media: a poll commissioned by BusinessNZ found ~54% opposed a CGT (after being told it could affect economy), drawing criticism for potentially leading phrasing. This poll was part of BusinessNZ’s public campaign influencing the CGT debate.)
[39] Bryce Edwards – “Dirty Politics 2.0? Lobbying in the Shadows” (Jun 2023), The Democracy Project, https://democracyproject.nz/2023/06/ (Edwards argues NZ’s lobbying industry – citing BusinessNZ – operates with minimal oversight, highlighting that policy outcomes can be heavily shaped by unregistered lobbyists. He launched the Lobbying & Influence Register to shine a light on groups like MCG and calls the current situation a ‘wild west’ of lobbying.)
[40] NZ Herald – “Business confidence and influence of BusinessNZ” (Nov 2022), NZ Herald, https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/ (BusinessNZ’s influence noted in context of government policy shifts; mentions that Labour consulted BusinessNZ on policies to avoid business backlash and that National was closely aligned with BusinessNZ’s policy preferences, demonstrating MCG’s cross-party leverage)
Spot anything in this entry that is wrong? Please either leave a comment at the end or email, in confidence: bryce@democracyproject.nz