Small and medium sized enterprises

Small and medium-sized enterprises of up to 20 employees (SMEs) are an important part of the New Zealand economy. They account for:

97.2 percent (457,374) of all enterprises
30.7 percent (580,690) of all employees
43.6 percent of the economy’s total output (on a value added basis).

We provide advice and research on issues that are important to SMEs. We also provide secretariat services for the Small Business Advisory Group.

Related information

Start, manage and grow your business: A guide on how government agencies can help you solve business problems [2.2 MB PDF]

Government releases and speeches relating to small business

The Small Business Advisory Group

The Small Business Advisory Group was first established in 2003 to advise government on issues affecting SMEs and help government agencies communicate more effectively with them.

The members are small business owners from around New Zealand and are appointed for three years. The current members appointed in December 2009 are:

Jeannette Samundsen - food manufacturing and aged care, Hawke's Bay
Bryan Nunweek - machinery hire, Auckland
Nancy Beck - horticulture, Auckland
Peter Clinton-Baker - tourism, Nelson
Rae Finlay - event management, Christchurch
Mark Duxfield - manufacturing, Auckland
Graham Dockrill - IT, Christchurch
Suzanne Hall - manufacturing and IT, Auckland
Hanne Andersen - retail, Wellington
Mark Whitecliffe - marketing and design, Wellington.

The group provides reports on the areas it believes the government should focus on.

Related information

Research on the structure and dynamics of New Zealand SMEs

Read research conducted annually by us and Statistics New Zealand on the SME sector.

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