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Ministry of Business & Innovation (MBIE) Stories

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Ministry of Business & Innovation (MBIE) stories

Explainer: How New Zealand's workplace safety law changed
Risk & Compliance

Explainer: How New Zealand's workplace safety law changed

Businesses will face new duties from April 2027 as Wellington puts serious harm at the centre of workplace safety law.

By Sean Mitchell • 9 min read • This month
New Zealand minerals royalties broadly match overseas
Oil and Gas

New Zealand minerals royalties broadly match overseas

Most of the Crown's mining income still comes from older permits, clouding the impact of any future royalty changes on revenue and investment.

By Sean Mitchell • 4 min read • This month
New Zealand SMEs widen AI adoption gap, MYOB finds
Software-as-a-Service

New Zealand SMEs widen AI adoption gap, MYOB finds

Smaller firms risk being left behind as medium-sized companies in New Zealand are far more likely to have AI embedded in daily operations.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 5 min read • This month
TUANZ calls for connectivity to be essential infrastructure
Hybrid & Remote Work

TUANZ calls for connectivity to be essential infrastructure

Gaps in access and affordability are leaving one in 10 New Zealand households offline, prompting calls for stronger public investment and resilience.

By Mark Tarre • 4 min read • Last month
Auckland tech expo aims to link founders & investors
Software-as-a-Service

Auckland tech expo aims to link founders & investors

A central challenge for New Zealand tech firms is finding the right investors and partners, organisers say, as 3,000 attend.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 4 min read • Wed, 24th Jun 2026
Vibe coded AI problems just got a lot more serious
Data Protection

Vibe coded AI problems just got a lot more serious

Open banking in New Zealand is set to expose weakly secured AI tools to live client financial data, raising breach and compliance risks.

By Staff Writer • 4 min read • Sat, 18th Apr 2026
New Zealanders fear online fraud & AI-driven scams
Surveillance

New Zealanders fear online fraud & AI-driven scams

Almost nine in 10 New Zealanders worry about online identity theft as Experian says fraud losses and AI scams are climbing.

By Catherine Knowles • 3 min read • Fri, 10th Apr 2026
AcademyEX launches AI training scheme for charities
eLearning

AcademyEX launches AI training scheme for charities

New Zealand charities will gain donated AI training places as businesses buy academyEX licences, widening access beyond the corporate sector.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 4 min read • Tue, 7th Apr 2026
Open banking is coming: New Zealand's vibe-coded AI problems just got a lot more serious
Data Protection

Open banking is coming: New Zealand's vibe-coded AI problems just got a lot more serious

Banks and advisers face a bigger security test as open banking will let more AI tools handle live client data from mid-2026.

By Jacob Muñoz • 5 min read • Wed, 1st Apr 2026
WorkSafe finally stirs on industry supported ACOP
Agricultural Technology

WorkSafe finally stirs on industry supported ACOP

Businesses face new compliance guidance as WorkSafe begins consulting on three draft industry-led approved codes of practice.

By Staff Writer • 4 min read • Thu, 5th Feb 2026
Over 20,000 lifejackets found to be faulty
Ministry of Business & Innovation

Over 20,000 lifejackets found to be faulty

More than 21,000 inflatable vests sold nationwide are under recall after a mechanism fault raised fears they may fail to inflate properly.

By Michael Curreen • 2 min read • Tue, 3rd Feb 2026
Yes minister, and selective hearing
Agricultural Technology

Yes minister, and selective hearing

Businesses are set for more guidance and lighter enforcement as WorkSafe pivots towards support, though some groups say consultation is still missing.

By Staff Writer • 7 min read • Wed, 21st Jan 2026
NZ launches AI advisory pilot for small businesses
Digital Transformation

NZ launches AI advisory pilot for small businesses

New Zealand launches an AI advisory pilot, offering up to NZD $15,000 co-funding to help small firms plan and safely adopt AI tools.

By Mark Tarre • 4 min read • Mon, 19th Jan 2026
5 new workplace regulations you should prepare for before year-end
Data Protection

5 new workplace regulations you should prepare for before year-end

New Zealand employers face sweeping payroll, KiwiSaver, safety and privacy reforms, making year-end the crucial time to prepare systems.

By Sanam Ahmadzadeh Salmani • 3 min read • Thu, 18th Dec 2025
Certified builders welcome mandatory warranties
Risk & Compliance

Certified builders welcome mandatory warranties

Homeowners will need cover before work begins as New Zealand moves to mandatory warranties and stronger protection under a new liability system.

By Staff Writer • 2 min read • Wed, 3rd Dec 2025
KiwiNet Awards celebrate innovators driving real-world impact
Health Technologies

KiwiNet Awards celebrate innovators driving real-world impact

The 2025 KiwiNet Awards celebrated New Zealand innovators transforming research into global-impact solutions across tech, health and sustainability sectors.

By Shannon Williams • 4 min read • Thu, 23rd Oct 2025
New Zealand job ads stabilise as spring brings early recruitment surge
Agricultural Technology

New Zealand job ads stabilise as spring brings early recruitment surge

Job ads in New Zealand rose 0.6% in July, marking a spring recruitment surge as tourism and IT sectors prepare for a busy summer season.

By Shannon Williams • 3 min read • Wed, 17th Sep 2025
Safety & compliance prequalification guidance for WorkSafe
Risk & Compliance

Safety & compliance prequalification guidance for WorkSafe

New guidance could cut compliance costs for builders, as WorkSafe is tasked with clarifying when prequalifications and scaffolding are actually needed.

By Staff Writer • 4 min read • Wed, 27th Aug 2025

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Ministry of Business & Innovation (MBIE) stories