Business-govt platform upgrade

About the project

The Business.govt.nz Platform Upgrade project is modernising the Government's primary digital channel for New Zealand businesses by replacing ageing technology, establishing a scalable platform for future digital services, refreshing content and enhancing tools to improve user experience.

The project is divided into 2 delivery phases, each with a separate Business Case.

In October 2025 Workstream 1 successfully delivered a redesigned website, modern architecture, improved user experience, and refreshed content. The current phase (Workstream 2) is redeveloping eight key business tools for delivery to the new platform, and retiring legacy systems.

Combined, these workstreams improve reliability, performance, maintainability, findability, and navigation.

Current focus

In September, a request will be submitted to the MBIE internal Governance Board to update the delivery date from November 2026 to March 2027. This does not impact on the project scope or approved budget amount.

Another 2 of 8 tools (ONECheck and Choose Business Structure) will be made live on the business.govt.nz website on 16 September 2026. The 3 remaining tools are scheduled for deployment in November 2027.

Latest update

Two tools went live on 29 July 2026, including the Funding Explorer tool and tools designed to support business owner decision-making. The platform performance and stability has been resolved and remaining tool delivery is underway.

Red status

The planned closure date can no longer be achieved. There are several issues and risks that have delayed delivery, and the remaining work requires an achievable delivery plan which may impact a revised schedule and budget to deliver the remining scope.

Path to Green

Recovery work is addressing reliability and performance issues. A revised scope, budget and update to the whole of life cost, and timeline will be considered through governance the internal governance in September.

Expected benefits

• A more reliable and higher-performing Business.govt.nz platform.
• Easier access to trusted information and tools for New Zealand businesses.
• Improved ability to release and maintain digital services, including Funding Explorer.
• Reduced technical risk and a stronger foundation for future improvements.

Latest Change Request

Change type: Financial, scope, timeline and benefits

Financial: Unspent capex estimated at $466,835 in FY24/25 to FY25/26 to deliver Phase 1 in September 2025. Allocate $43,468 of opex from cost centre 9381 to FY25/26 to complete Phase 1 and produce the Business Case for Phase 2.

Scope: Remove authentication and content personalisation from the scope.

Schedule: Change the go live dates from 31 May to 30 September 2025. Change the dates for Workstream 2 Business Case (Lite) from 16 June to 21 July 2025.

Benefits: Change in benefits and the associated support risks from benefit # 2219 from personalised user experience to improved integrated user experience.