All change from 1 July

David Smol, acting MBIE head.

It’s all change from 1 July, when a new Super Ministry will govern the country’s business matters.

The New Zealand government has announced that a new Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment will kick in on 1 July 2012. This will draw together the existing functions of four current government departments: the Ministry of Science and Innovation: the Minister of Economic Development: Department of Labour; and Department of Building and Housing.

The new Ministry will assist the Government to drive forward its business growth agenda and make it easier for businesses to engage with the government, Economic Development minister Steven Joyce says.

An acting chief executive has already been appointed. David Smol, currently the chief executive of the Ministry of Economic Development, will take up the role to ensure smooth transition to the new agency. The appointment of a new chief executive by the State Services Commissioner is expected by the end of September.

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In another move, agriculture, biosecurity, food safety, forestry, and fishing have already been rolled into one department and the former Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has been renamed the new Ministry of Primary Industries. The change took effect from 30 April and was described by Primary Industries Minister David Carter as “a logical move”.

It recognises the broad role of the Ministry in growing and protecting the primary sector, the power house of New Zealand’s economy. “Importantly, it provides the different parts of the organisation with a single, unifying identity,” he said.

Existing brands for MAF, BioSecurity New Zealand, the Ministry of Fisheries and New Zealand Food Safety Authority will be phased out. The Crown Forestry brand will be retained because it is a commercial forestry business that stands apart from the policy, regulatory and service delivery roles of the Ministry.