Catherine Beard: Business NZ Advocacy Director on the Government's loan scheme to help businesses transition from natural gas

Best of Business · May 25, 2026 · 3m · transcript

Business NZ says a new loan scheme to help businesses ditch gas is a necessary step.

This year's Budget funds up to $1.2 billion in guaranteed bank loans to help businesses transition to renewables.

Potential losses are accounted for with $48 million set aside.

Business NZ Advocacy Director Catherine Beard told Ryan Bridge it's still a loan business will need to pay back, but it will help.

She says the barrier for businesses trying to move away from gas is often capital expenditure, so they're in favour of lowering that hurdle.

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