"New Zealand's social structure is very similar to that of other advanced capitalist economies. One major difference is that New Zealand farming is organised along the lines of other small to medium sized capitalist enterprises usually as family businesses employing a moderate sized labour force for wages. Another important difference is the prevalence of small workplaces ... the majority of workplaces in which [workers] are employed have less than 50 staff." [Quote p.16]
Brosnan et al identify six broad groupings within the labour force -"
Although there is a semblance of democracy in electing the boards of public companies ... membership of company boards is restricted to a small elite -- 100 to 300 persons who through interlocking directorships effectively control a substantial prportion of capitalist enterprise." [Quote p.17]
"One of the enduring features of New Zealand government from its earliest days is that people look to the government to do things for them. This is in contrast to other countries particularly those which have a stronger pro-capitalist ideology. ... the state took on roles that it would not have elsewhere and adopted a more modern view of itself as being responsible for the collective welfare of its citizens." [Quote pp.24-5]