Ian McKelvie: Keep economy moving

Ruapehu Alpine Lifts chief executive Ross Copland with his children James and Georgia.

The whole country benefits when our businesses have the confidence to grow, invest, employ more staff and boost wages.

Last week I spent some time in the northern part of the Rangitikei electorate, including the pulpmill at Karioi which primarily produces wood pulp that's mainly used for newsprint and paperboard manufacture.

It is an impressive operation - the company has a commitment to investing in resources, technology and its staff. Karioi is the second largest timber mill in New Zealand, a significant employer in the region and, over the past 40 years, it has continued to diversify its product range so market fluctuations are more easily absorbed.

I also met with Ross Copland, chief executive of Ruapehu Alpine Lifts (RAL), another significant employer in these parts, and a company which has a number of major infrastructure projects under way which will further boost the region.

RAL work closely with Ngati Tuwharetoa to ensure development on the mountain reflects their shared values, and at the same time the importance of preserving and protecting their cultural values and the environment.

It is a company with vision and drive and I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about its plans.

National Party leader Simon Bridges and I hosted a public meeting at the Cosmopolitan Club in Taumarunui which was attended by more than 100 people.

The discussion topics included everything from compliance costs, provincial police stations, the effect of new technology on the workforce and the nurses' strike.

It's clear that some businesses are concerned about Labour's plans to wind back the clock on industrial relations by strengthening the unions, pitting employers against employees, and putting a strain on workplace relationships. Some people are worried that the planned reforms will mean fewer jobs for New Zealanders and result in businesses being less competitive and, indeed, more vulnerable.

It's not rocket science to make the link between escalating industrial action making it tougher to do business and harder for Kiwis to access the critical public services they need.

What's more, the combined effect will cause our economy to slow down, and that will have an impact on New Zealanders' quality of life.

For people in rural and provincial New Zealand, these concerns are very real and pose a significant threat to employment, prosperity and the way of life.

A decline in business confidence, a reduction in gross domestic product growth and fewer jobs being created quickly translates into fewer opportunities for New Zealanders to get ahead.

Ending the starting out wage, removing 90-day trials for businesses with more than 20 staff, reducing flexibility, and 1970s-style standardised wage bargaining will all mean increased risks and higher costs for businesses.

Over recent years tourism has boomed, farming has done pretty well and there has been significant investment in the region.

Whether you've got seven employees or 700, surety and an economy that is moving forward are what drives success and growth.

These enterprises are the backbone of this region's business economy - they need the confidence to grow, and their staff deserve it.

Our unique part of the world depends on it.