Newsletter & Blog

As the days begin to cool and we ease into autumn, March offers a natural pause point. The busy pace of summer starts to shift, giving many of us a moment to look up from the day to day and reflect on the bigger picture, both in our workplaces and in our communities.

There’s a lot in this month’s edition. We’re looking at what diversity and inclusion really mean in practice, what business leaders are predicting for 2026, and what the proposed Modern Day Slavery Bill could mean for your business. We also touch on innovation in the primary sector, and unpack the latest changes signalled in the Health and Safety Amendment Bill.

We want to acknowledge the whānau and communities affected by the recent weather events and extend our deepest sympathies to those who have lost loved ones. Moe mai rā.

February brings Waitangi Day, a time to reflect on Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the principles of partnership, protection, and participation. Those principles continue to provide an important lens for conversations about work, fairness, and how people are treated in our workplaces.

As we move into the year ahead, our focus remains on putting people first and supporting fair, safe, and respectful workplaces. We’ll continue to share practical guidance and clear updates, with a strong emphasis on wellbeing, pastoral care, and human rights due diligence throughout the year.

As we head into December, it’s a good moment to take stock of a year that has stretched most of us. The pace of regulatory change, workforce pressures and the sheer volume of operational demands have been tough, yet the resilience shown across our membership has been impressive. Employers, managers and teams have continued to front up, look after their people and support each other through another challenging year.

This final newsletter for the year brings together a few updates to help you close out 2025 with clarity. It’s also a chance to acknowledge the strength of the New Zealand Ethical Employers community. Your willingness to share insights, ask the hard questions and stay committed to ethical practice has shaped our work throughout the year and strengthened the support we can offer.

This month, our Chairman, Mike Chapman, discusses the Health and Safety at Work Amendment Bill 2026 and what it means for Primary Industry.

This month, our Chairman, Mike Chapman, discusses the RMA planning reforms and what this means for worker accommodation.

This month, our Chairman, Mike Chapman, considers the important difference between Ideology and Reality when it comes to economic survival.