Small business and manufacturing

Small Business and Manufacturing in New Zealand

Small businesses (those with fewer than 20 employees) are a major part of New Zealand’s success story. They make up around 97% of all enterprises and contribute about 42% of our total economic value. Many manufacturers are also small businesses (91%). Boosting manufacturing productivity can unlock economic growth and export potential.

Approximately 250,000 people are employed in manufacturing (between 8-9% of the working population), with the sector contributing around 8% of GDP and accounting for about 60% of New Zealand's exports.

The productivity and prosperity of small businesses and manufacturers are vital to economic growth and to the thousands of people they employ. Small businesses and manufacturers provide jobs and incomes across all parts of the country, deliver essential goods and services that keep our regions strong, and help showcase New Zealand as a world-class place to visit, study, live and do business. 

Small Business and Manufacturing portfolio

The Small Business and Manufacturing portfolio helps drive New Zealand’s economic growth by supporting strong and resilient small and medium-sized businesses. Its work focuses on engaging with key stakeholders to strengthen capability and confidence by making it easier for businesses to access information, adopt digital tools, interact with government, and reduce compliance costs. The portfolio’s initiatives provide practical tools, expert guidance, and streamlined support to help business owners succeed.

Government support for small business and manufacturers

Small businesses are represented in all sectors, use a wide range of business models and interact with government and the economy in different ways. To support small and medium-sized businesses, MBIE focuses on:

• understanding the unique needs and characteristics of New Zealand’s small businesses, including their challenges and emerging opportunities, by working closely with the private sector, industry bodies, and other government agencies
• helping to create an enabling regulatory environment that supports small businesses to grow and thrive
• delivering digital solutions that modernise business interactions with government and promote consistency across government services
• providing accessible information and resources to support businesses through the different stages of business development
• helping businesses connect with and make effective use of available support across the public and private sectors.

Services and tools are available to assist small businesses and manufacturers

A range of government services and tools is available to help small businesses and manufacturers access reliable information, build capability, and connect with the support they need to operate, innovate and grow.

• Business.govt.nz(external link)
  The main channel for New Zealand businesses to connect with government.
• Regional Business Partner Network(external link) — Business.govt.nz
  Direct one-to-one support for businesses.

Making it easier for businesses to transact with government

We provide digital tools and platforms that make it easier, faster and more secure for businesses to complete their transactions with government.

• businessconnect.govt.nz(external link)
  A one-stop-shop for licences, registrations and other online dealings with government. Business Connects primary product is FormBuilder, an easy to use, low-cost way for government to provide digital forms.
• einvoicing.govt.nz(external link)
  A direct, secure exchange of invoice data between financial systems, a ‘game changer’ for small business cash flow.
• New Zealand Business Number (NZBN)(external link)
  A globally unique identifier that makes doing business faster and easier.

In addition to the above services, we have partnered with Advancing Manufacturing Aotearoa (AMA) to support industry-led initiatives that build workforce pathways, support innovation and promote the manufacturing sector.

Advancing Manufacturing Aotearoa (AMA)(external link)

• Regional student-manufacturer engagement programmes: linking students to manufacturing careers. For example, Earn as You Learn, Careers Expos, and the Manufacturing pathways pilot.
• Support for technology and innovation uptake: support to manufacturers in adopting new technologies, including collaboration with organisations such as the NZ Product Accelerator and other R&D partners.
• Manufacturing Awards & sector‑promotion campaigns: delivery of the Minister for Manufacturing Awards and running the Future Makers campaign to promote manufacturing as a career and investment opportunity.