Structure of Business in New Zealand

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SMEs in New Zealand: Structure and Dynamics - 2003

[ Last Updated 4 November 2005 ]

Private enterprises form a significant part of the economy

Figure 1 illustrates the structure of businesses in New Zealand, highlighting the predominance of the private sector, especially small and medium sized enterprises. 97.3 percent of all private enterprises are small and medium sized enterprises, accounting for 49.4 percent of private sector employment.

Figure 1: Structure of Business in New Zealand³

Graphic of Figure 1: Structure of Business in New Zealand

	Enterprises⁴	FTEs
All businesses: total public and private sector	281,338	1,467,900
Public sector⁵	3,494	250,290
Private sector⁶	277,842	1,217,620
Private sector small and medium businesses	270,260	601,390

³Statistics drawn from Business Demography Statistics, as at February 2002, Statistics New Zealand.

⁴Generally defined as enterprises with greater than $30,000 annual GST expenses or sales or enterprises in a GST-exempt industry.

⁵Includes enterprises in ANZSIC division M: Government Administration and Defence.

⁶These figures (and those used in the remainder of this report) exclude enterprises in ANZSIC subdivision A01: Agriculture.

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Printed: 26/11/2009