Minister Chris Penk on growing New Zealand’s SME sector [Video]

The recent cabinet reshuffle by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon signals a renewed focus on economic growth, an urgent priority after New Zealand was identified as the worst-performing economy in the developed world. With this in mind, the appointment of Chris Penk as Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing has come at a significant time. SMEs are the backbone of the country’s economy, contributing significantly to employment, innovation, and GDP. Minister Penk is now tasked with ensuring these businesses not only survive but thrive.

NZBusiness Editor David Nothling-Demmer sat down with Minister Penk to discuss his priorities, the key challenges facing SMEs, and his strategies for fostering growth in a tough economic climate.

From the outset, Penk made it clear that his primary objective is to ease the regulatory and compliance burden on small businesses. “Over the years, successive governments have added layers of compliance – often with good intentions – but the reality is that these …