That submission concluded that there is no good case for early ratification. Action likely to harm the competitiveness of New Zealand businesses for no discernible environmental benefits would be inconsistent with the government's goals for economic growth and its declared concern to pursue business-friendly policies and listen to business views. Read more
In Losing Sight of the Lodestar of Economic Freedom Wolfgang Kasper looks at New Zealand's economic performance since the reforms of the 1980s and explores why the economy has not produced faster and more sustained growth. Even though a recent New Zealand Treasury briefing to the incoming government reports that "? Read more
This collection of speeches, submissions and articles is the eighteenth in a series produced by the New Zealand Business Roundtable (NZBR). The previous volumes in the series were Economic and Social Policy (1989), Sustaining Economic Reform (1990), Building a Competitive Economy (1991), From Recession to Recovery (1992), Towards an Enterprise Culture (1993), The Old New Zealand and the New (1994), The Next Decade of Change (1994), Growing Pains (1995), Why Not Simply the Best? Read more
The NZBR supports markets as the best mechanism for determining the relative pay rates of New Zealand workers. In our view, a deregulated and flexible labour market is most likely to lead to better labour market outcomes for all New Zealanders. Read more
This comment on the Commerce Commission's final report on airport activities at Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch International Airports is made by the New Zealand Business Roundtable (NZBR), an organisation comprising primarily chief executives of major New Zealand businesses. The purpose of the organisation is to contribute to the development of sound public policies that reflect overall New Zealand interests. Read more
In the early 1990s, the World Bank identified four prerequisites for achieving sustainable economic growth: sound macroeconomic policies; competitive domestic markets and openness to international trade; more and better private and public investment in people; and achieving the ‘right’ balance between the roles of the public and private sectors. This paper considers the fourth of these prerequisites for growth: achieving the best balance between the public and private sectors. Read more
The Committee last considered climate change policies earlier this year when it had before it the government's National Interest Analysis (NIA). The hearings on the NIA occurred prior to the release on 29 April 2002 of the government's Preferred Policy Package. Read more
The NZBR acknowledges and fully endorses the importance of sound CG practices by public companies and listed issuers. However, we do not believe there is any such thing as "the full universe of CG best practice" alluded to in the Foreword. Read more
There is no summary available. Read more
The NZBR has taken a close interest in securities market regulation. A recurring theme has been a plea for more rigorous analysis of problems and of the likely efficacy of proposed remedies. Read more
The Auckland City Council (the Council) is to be commended for the steps that it is taking to concentrate on its core activities and reduce the rate of growth in spending and rates. The proposed strategic plan is also better focused and more realistic than the previous strategic plan, The First City of the Pacific, which has justifiably been discarded. Read more
In submissions over the past few years, we have called on the Wellington City Council (the Council) to focus on its core business, exit from other activities and implement more efficient funding arrangements. By focusing on its core activities the Council could cut expenditure and rates, which we believe is an essential step towards making Wellington an attractive place for business. Read more
The New Zealand Business Roundtable submits that the best way for the government to eliminate uncertainty created by the current tariff freeze would be to announce that the programme of tariff reductions in place prior to the freeze is to resume in 2005. Read more
Broadly, the proposed changes are aimed at extending coverage of the HSE Act, encouraging employee/union participation in workplace health and safety and strengthening the enforcement provisions of the Act. Read more