MEDIA RELEASE
Xero congratulates Government for Single Business Number initiative
30 August 2012
Xero congratulates Government for Single Business Number initiative Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce and
Internal Affairs Minister Chris Tremain have today announced a single customer number for New Zealand businesses.
See http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/smart-online-govt-services-make-it-easier-public Xero congratulates the Government for their progress on the initiative, which will accelerate commerce between large
and small businesses.
Xero CEO Rod Drury says “A single business number is key to establishing a business’s identity electronically. It will
facilitate the electronic sending of trading documents between businesses. It will increase trust, improve cash flow and
reduce compliance costs. We believe this will be an accelerator for cloud computing."
The idea for a single business number was raised 3 years ago as the Government consulted with the business software
industry. “This was one of the big ideas where we needed Government help,” says Xero CEO Rod Drury.
“New Zealand is leading the world in Cloud Computing. The industry has been proactive with the Cloud Computing Code of
Conduct, we are developing world-class global solutions and Government is working well with industry.
The next big decision is whether all businesses receive the identifier. Currently the Companies Register does not
include partnerships and sole traders - which are a big number of New Zealand trading entities.
Xero is ready to begin implementing the Single Business Number and will work hard to reduce the effort required for
small businesses to implement their new number.
ENDS