New Zealand family businesses continue to play a critical role in the economy; deeply connected to their communities, guided by strong values and shaped by long-term thinking. However, the next decade will test whether those traditional strengths are enough.
Drawing on insights from 51 New Zealand family business leaders, this report explores how local businesses are preparing for a more complex future. It considers the challenges of sustaining growth, changing customer expectations, the growing urgency of succession planning, and the rising importance of technology adoption and cyber resilience.
The findings point to a sector with strong confidence and clear ambition, but also a need for more deliberate action. The family businesses best placed for the future will be those that strengthen governance, invest in capability, professionalise where needed, and preserve the values that make family ownership distinctive.
