Chamber of Commerce steps up political activity

Compliance costs are hammering businesses according to the South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce which is growing in political strength to counter it.

The chamber held its annual meeting last night and president Steve Lyttle spoke of the chamber taking a more active political stance.

"Early in the year we created a part time position of policy and development officer.

"This appointment has enabled the chamber to spend more time making submissions on various issues that relate to the chamber and the business community in general.

"Central Government seems to be increasing the level of business compliance on a weekly basis and it's vitally important to the chamber and the business community that we challenge additional and unnecessary compliance costs."

In the lead up to the local body election the chamber sent a questionnaire out to candidates.

"It was amazing the reaction we got to that with some candidates not prepared to answer.

"Christchurch Chamber of Commerce spends a lot of time lobbying."

Auckland businessman Ken Stevens also spoke at the meeting last night about his company and role in Export New Zealand.

New Zealand distance from the world market place meant exporters needed to be constantly overseas and working in their potential markets, he said.

"My wife thinks we have only been married for 20 years rather than 40 because of the amount of time I have spent away.

"The market place is fickle and you need to be out there and aware of what is happening."

His business Glidepath, a world leader in airport baggage handling and sorting systems.

He established Glidepath in 1972 and has since been involved in 449 projects in 38 countries – including building a new baggage handling system at Toronto International Airport worth $40m.

His company has subsidiaries in Sydney, Shanghai, Toronto, United Arab Emirates, Dallas, Santiago, Lima and Mexico. The company's head office is in Auckland.

- © Fairfax NZ News