News 

Nat's R and D cuts disaster

Pete Hodgson

09.10.2008

New Zealand businesses know what a disaster National's plans to axe the research and development tax credit would be for our country's long term prosperity, Economic Development Minister Pete Hodgson said today.

"New Zealand needs more innovation and more investment in research and development, but National has cut the R&D tax credits for businesses in their short-sighted tax package. Today we have had several business leaders criticising National's plans," Pete Hodgson said.

Selwyn Pellet, CE...  more +

National punishes the cleverest businesses

Pete Hodgson

02.10.2008

The National Party's announcement that it will increase taxation on companies who undertake research and development has been condemned by Economic Development Minister Pete Hodgson as punishing "some of the cleverest businesses in the land."

Speaking at the Institution of Professional Engineers' political forum in Hamilton, Mr Hodgson said that claiming $100 million a year in tax off research and development was myopic and would slow economic transformation

"About 2500 to 3000 businesses will be affected. These are the com...  more +

Extra funds for business incubators

Pete Hodgson

01.10.2008

The Incubator Support Programme will be enhanced and will get a $1.8 million funding boost -- a 67% increase on the existing funding

Economic Development Minister Pete Hodgson today announced that the Incubator Support Programme run by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) will be enhanced and will get a $1.8 million funding boost. The $1.8m funding is a 67% increase in the $2.7m existing funding.

"The enhanced su...  more +