Why is it easy to start business in New Zealand?

As well as the economic reasons why it's so easy to start a business, it's also due the general attitude of New Zealanders towards business, and to be frank, everything. New Zealanders tend to be incredibly open: generally due to the fact that as a small country, they feel the need to stick together. Kiwis are generous, and support small businesses too. Another idea that contributes to this New Zealand principle of helping out your neighbours is the fact that many people prefer small businesses to large businesses in their towns/neighbourhoods - purely because smaller businesses generally mean better customer service. Also, it's the Number 8 Wire story. New Zealanders are described as ingenius people who can fix anything, and will try everything. The let's-give-this-a-shot attitude and sheer perseverance keeps the business owners trying to make it work - which often leads to the success of the business.

While New Zealanders, like most peoples, moan about bureaucracy, the reality is that NZ is one of the easiest places in the world to do business. There are very few restrictions in place. If you want to open a business then as long as you have the money to do so, then you open one. Retail space is generally easy to find and not overly-expensive to lease (outside of the big cities anyway). However, staying in business is not so easy. Go to any mid size town or city in NZ and walk down the main street. Go back and do it again 12 months later and chances are many of the small businesses will have gone. NZ is grossly over-retailed in my opinion, and it is not easy to carve a niche in the market.