Retail NZ will focus its attention on the continuation of the ‘de minimus threshold’ and handling costs of different payments in 2015.

The industry body is continuing to focus on Government action to resolve the inequitable de minimis threshold for GST on offshore online sales, which acts as a reverse tariff and disadvantages local New Zealand retailers.

CEO, Mark Johnston, has met with the new Minister of Commerce, Paul Goldsmith, and written to the Minister of Finance, Bill English, on the same subject.

In relation to the cost of handling new payment technologies entering the market, retailers need to understand the costs involved in each form of payment.

Retail NZ has commissioned economic consultancy, Covec, to conduct research in this area by asking its members to provide data.

A similar survey is done in the UK for British retailers. Retail NZ will develop this to assist New Zealand retailers make more informed business decisions.