The Council can most efficiently contribute to the welfare of citizens in Wellington by focusing on its core objectives, existing non-core activities, and keeping its rate and regulatory burdens as low as possible. In our view, the Council is not sufficiently focused on these objectives. Read more
The key weakness in the Strategy is the absence of a valid analysis of the proper role of the government and, in particular, that of regional government. The role of government at any level differs from that of the private sector. Read more
To secure a viable future, the industries covered by the Bill must match the rates of improvements in innovation and productivity of other sectors in a better performing economy. Otherwise, they will lack profitability and be unable to compete successfully for resources. Read more
The New Zealand Business Roundtable supports the underlying principles of the Bill, namely that it is in the public interest to detect and prevent serious wrongdoing wherever it occurs. However, the likely effects of fundamental changes of the kind proposed in the Bill must be carefully researched and their application considered in the widest possible context before such legislation is contemplated. Read more
The fiscal strategy outlined in the 1997 Budget Policy Statement (BPS) is, in our view, inconsistent with the government's objectives for economic growth and international competitiveness. We submit that if New Zealand is to achieve its potential, an economic strategy involving substantial reductions in government spending and taxation, flatter tax rates, an active privatisation programme and further deregulation is required. Read more
In 1996 parliament passed legislation to give effect to the government's tax reduction and social policy programme. The programme provided for a reduction in personal rates of tax in July 1996 and 1997, increases in family support and guaranteed minimum family income (GMFI), and the introduction of an independent family tax credit for low and middle income families that earn market incomes. Read more
The New Zealand economy has undergone considerable reform in the last decade. Reform of the tax system has been an integral part of this process. Read more
An important pillar of the Alliance’s economic policy is the proposal to replace the goods and services (GST) with a Financial Transactions Tax (FTT). This report examines whether FTT should be preferred to GST on efficiency and equity grounds. Read more
Many people in this country have argued that good government is smaller government, and for some of them the recent election may seem to have delivered the ultimate nirvana – truly minimal government. Certainly the financial markets have rallied strongly, and business people have been able to get on with their job of running businesses, free of the risk of immediate political surprises. Read more
The present review should build on the Laking reforms in establishing an efficient regulatory framework that is appropriate for the 21st century. Read more
This submission on the Working Group on CO2 Policy’s June 1996 discussion document Climate Change and CO2 Policy (the Document) is made by the New Zealand Business Roundtable (NZBR), an organisation of chief executives of major New Zealand business firms. The NZBR’s purpose is to contribute to the development of sound public policies that reflect overall New Zealand interests. Read more
There are clearly deep divisions of opinion in New Zealand on the relationship between the courts and the Employment Contracts Act 1991 (ECA). These address both substantive and jurisdictional issues. Read more
This submission first outlines the harmful effects of minimum wages and the considers the reasons advanced in June 1995 by the Department of Labour in favour of increasing the minimum wage. An annex considers studies of the employment impact of the minimum wage in the US and the conflicting conclusions drawn from them. Read more
Health care has become an enormously contentious political and intellectual issue over recent years, both in the United States and else-where in the world. Previously the debate had taken place mainly among technical people - academics and health specialists. Read more