Carbon Credits that translate into charges on business consumers have not featured as prominently in the media as expected.

We acknowledge the initiative of Radio New Zealand National in affording us the opportunity on Morning Report to state publicly our reservations on behalf of small business.

We based our case on the low incident of environmentally damaging activities secure in the knowledge that two-thirds of active micro-enterprises operate out of residential areas in skill and intellectual services with zero emissions.

Small manufacturing, trade based and retail businesses make a minuscule contribution compared with the farming sector, which on past record has very successfully used its lobbying muscle as a strategic export dominant industry to stave off any meaningful government imposition.

We firmly believe that while in favour of our country taking a lead, any levies on business should be in proportion to their contribution to global warming and not according to a “fit all” formula.

We deplore the lack of prior consultation before Government made its announcement, but believe that it is not too late to engage our SME sector in constructive dialogue.