8. COLIN KING (National—Kaikōura) Link to this
to the Minister for Economic Development
What steps has the Government recently taken to support New Zealand’s billion dollar - plus wine industry?
Hon DAVID CARTER (Acting Minister for Economic Development) Link to this
Last week in conjunction with the Minister of Customs I was pleased to announce a significant simplification of the wine excise rules. These changes to the thresholds for payment will benefit more than half of New Zealand wineries, and they are a common-sense solution to reducing the regulatory burden on our small wine producers. This is just another example of the National Government’s support for the vital export sector.
Our wine industry is a $1.1 billion export earner for New Zealand. It should not be hobbled by unnecessary red tape and regulations. These changes to the thresholds are the first in 14 years. They are not about reducing the wineries’ tax obligation; they are about aligning their excise payments with their revenue flows. It is a common-sense move that will cut administration costs and in a number of cases will enable some small wineries to actually stay in business.