The government has launched a new system where businesses will be assigned a unique number allowing them to provide information to government agencies in one place rather than having to contact them individually.
Economic development minister Steven Joyce and commerce minister Craig Foss today officially launched the New Zealand Business Number and opened public consultation on who should be assigned the numbers.
In December last year all companies were assigned the unique identifying number. But around half of New Zealand businesses are not a company.
...By 2016 businesses will only have to provide government with their information once, which will automatically be shared across government agencies.
The consultation will ask if businesses think the number should be extended to sole traders, partnerships and trusts.