Nature and Scope of Functions
The Ministry of Economic Development is the Government's lead advisor in its work to achieve a step change in sustainable economic growth. The Ministry includes the Ministry of Consumer Affairs and the Ministry of Tourism.
We work for Ministers in eight portfolio areas:
- Economic Development
- Communications and Information Technology
- Commerce
- Energy
- Tourism
- Consumer Affairs
- Small Business
- Rugby World Cup.
The Minister for Economic Development is our Responsible Minister, overseeing the Government's ownership interest in the Ministry.
The Ministry's overall aim is to help develop an internationally-competitive and sustainable economy.
Our role is to help the Government develop and implement business and consumer policies and services that contribute to this outcome.
We fulfil this role by undertaking the activities identified in our organisational chart shown in Figure 1.
Policy Advice
We advise the Government on a wide range of business-related issues including telecommunications and information technology, energy, commerce, industry and regional development, small business, tourism, and consumer affairs. We provide advice on issues that affect the business environment as a whole, and advice on what government can do to actively develop the economy.
In addition, the Ministry plays an advisory and monitoring role in relation to a number of Crown entities including the Electricity Commission, the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority, the Commerce Commission and Securities Commission, Tourism New Zealand, and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise.
Delivering Services to Business
We deliver government services to business. These include registering companies, handling insolvent companies, issuing patents and trade marks, licensing oil and gas exploration, supervising the management of registered superannuation schemes, ensuring insurance companies comply with relevant legislation, managing the radio spectrum, and ensuring the safe supply and use of electricity and gas.
Leadership
We lead a whole-of-government approach to economic development. This is aimed at ensuring that government's overall economic development effort is focusing on the right things, and is implemented effectively.
Figure 1: How the Ministry is Structured
→ Full size version of Figure 1 [332 kB JPG]
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