About the National Contact Point

Governments play a key role in supporting business effectively implementing Responsible Business Conduct standards by providing an enabling policy environment, creating incentives, and exemplifying Responsible Business Conduct in their own activities, as recognised in the Recommendation of the OECD Council on the Role of Government in Promoting Responsible Business Conduct adopted in December 2022.

Recommendation of the OECD Council on the Role of Government in Promoting Responsible Business Conduct(external link) — Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)

As an adherent to the Guidelines, New Zealand has a National Contact Point for responsible business conduct (NCP) that is in the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE) which oversees:

• promoting awareness and uptake of the Guidelines, and
• handling complaints against MNE’s on non-observance of the Guidelines.

National Contact Point Liaison Group

The NCP is supported by a Liaison Group, made up of representatives from government agencies, unions, civil society, and business. The Liaison Group assists, advises and monitors the operation of the NCP. The Liaison Group meets biannually and the minutes from meetings are published.

Minutes of the Liaison group

The National Contact Point Global Network

The New Zealand NCP is part of a global network of governments adherent to The Guidelines, each having their own NCP. There are 52 countries in the global network of NCPs, covering 50 per cent of the world’s Gross Domestic Product, 61 per cent of global trade and 80 per cent of international investments. This network helps support functional equivalence in the operation of the NCPs the way they promote the Guidelines and the handling of complaints. Through this network, NCPs can stay informed and support their governments’ policy coherence.

Over the past 20 years, the global network of NCPs has handled over 750 complaints (referred to as ‘specific instances’) in over 110 countries, including more than 50 countries that are non-adherents to The Guidelines.

From 2011-2024, the most common sectors for complaints were mining and quarrying, manufacturing, and financial and insurance activities. The most raised issues were human rights, general policies/due diligence, and employment and industrial relations. Two-thirds of submitted complaints were accepted and moved forward to offer mediation services.

The number of complaints received has increased over time, with 56 complaints received in 2024 and 57 per cent of cases with mediation leading to agreement between the parties. Details on the global NCP network and its impact of the network can be found in the OECD’s website and annual report.

National Contact Points for Responsible Business Conduct(external link) — Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)

Annual reports of the National Contact Point

New Zealand’s National Contact Point reports annually to the OECD.

Peer review of the National Contact Point

In late 2022, New Zealand’s National Contact Point was peer reviewed. See below to read the review.

Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises National Contact Point peer reviews NZ(external link) — Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)