It can't be a fail, Iceman, as it hasn't started yet. In fact the submissions have been pre-structured into 23 questions that should be answered.
Q15 states: "Is the minimum threshold set at the right level? If 'no', please provide further details.
Here is a link to the files. http://www.mbie.govt.nz/info-service...-tax-incentive
Considering even the likes of farmer-funded DairyNZ can apply for this credit from taxpayers, I think it's important that smaller businesses, of which there are many tens of thousands in NZ, can also access a small credit for their true R&D activities. They shouldn't need to get to say 3-4 staff before they can afford to spend $100,000 a year on R&D. A setting like $50,000 might be more suitable as a threshold if they really want to include small businesses. The credit for that amount is $6250 off your tax bill, which starts to make it a worthwhile exercise for the business owner to do the report/claim, and it would also be a valuable source of R&D data for the govt.
SMEs should send in submissions, there is an online or postal system for it.
I must note that the annual threshold of $100,000 only applies if a firm carries out their own R&D. There is no threshold if they use an external "approved provider".