On social issues

restrict it, and business is now calling for it to be fixed or replaced.

95 per cent say the RMA should be changed or replaced, to better guide councils and achieve better planning processes The Local Government Act sets broad rules around what activities councils may undertake, allowing councils to get involved in a wide range of activities and enterprises. Business would like to see the Local Government Act amended to make it clear that councils should stick to core functions such as providing infrastructure, and should only get involved in selling goods and services that can’t be more efficiently provided by businesses. They say goods and services legitimately provided by councils should be subject to commercial disciplines and user charges.

65 per cent want local government to stick to core functions, especially infrastructure, and only provide goods and services that businesses can’t provide more efficiently

60 per cent say water, wastewater and roading services provided by councils should be subject to greater commercial discipline and user charges Sustainability continues to build momentum in NZ businesses. Companies are more aware than ever of the need to proactively address issues such as greenhouse gas emissions, diversity, waste and inequality, and many are using sustainability to create long term value. Businesses surveyed say sustainability issues are important to them, citing customer expectations, reputation and the need for future proofing. Many businesses would like monetary incentives to help the path to sustainability.

58 per cent say customers expect them to act sustainably

55 per cent say sustainability is a reputation issue for their business

51 per cent want monetary incentives to help with cleaner production and resource efficiency Businesses surveyed say climate change will impact them in a variety of ways, including costs, resource use and innovation. Fourteen per cent say climate change is one of the top three issues for government, and nearly a third thought Government could support more sustainable business practice by engaging with business on how to transition to a low emissions economy.

41 per cent say it will affect the cost of inputs, products or services

25 per cent say it will directly impact infrastructure or assets

20 per cent say it will create opportunities for new products or services *The BusinessNZ-Deloitte Election Survey was conducted in May 2017, surveying 575 businesses in all sectors and regions in NZ.

We need to broaden the partnership schools to get serious contestability in the provision of state-funded education. Change the incentives on local government so that it has a direct fiscal benefit from growth, which will encourage progrowth decision-making and fund infrastructure needed to support it.

Re-write the RMA to streamline urban planning and respect property rights