TIANZ speaks at Select Committee

2 June 2004

TIANZ speaks at Select Committee for the tourism industry

The Tourism Industry Association represents 3500 businesses and organisations within the tourism industry. Members include airlines, airport companies, and regional tourism organisations, rental car, coach and taxi companies, inbound tour operators, accommodation providers, tourism attractions, researchers, training organisations and tourism services providers.

Tourism is New Zealand’s largest export earner – accounting for 14.3% of this country’s export earnings. The Tourism Industry Association organises the New Zealand Tourism Conference, TRENZ and the New Zealand Tourism Awards. Visit www.tianz.org.nz

‘Visitors will suffer because business will suffer!’ that is the warning employers in the tourism industry are giving government if it follows through with the Employment Relations Law Reform Bill.

The Tourism Industry Association New Zealand (TIANZ) has canvassed the advice of members on proposals in the Bill and finds there is no support, but rather, uncharacteristic and fulsome criticism.

“The industry enjoys a co-operative partnership with government in many areas so our members are thoroughly dismayed to see proposals in this Bill that not only counter that goodwill, but will systematically damage their businesses.” said John Moriarty, Chief Executive, TIANZ.

As a result of feedback TIANZ believes this Bill will disable employment and business practice and is calling for a re-write - or better yet - the removal of the Bill.

Businesses exist only through customers support - but the obligations of this proposed Bill make New Zealand’s valuable visitors secondary to imposed relationships between management and staff.

The priority that is lacking is focus on flexible and equitable employment legislation that makes it easier for businesses to serve their customers. Nothing like this is in the proposed Bill.

“As a result of the timing of this Bill we were forced to survey our members during the busy season but they couldn’t come forward fast enough. To us this demonstrates the level of concern and our advice to government is: Listen.” said Mr Moriarty.

TIANZ is appearing before the Transport and Industrial Relations Select Committee today to brief the committee on the submission it presented in February. To view this submission go to www.tianz.org.nz and click on Recent Policy Issues.

ENDS

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