Efficient capital markets lie at the heart of the private enterprise system. Their regulation, including the role and effectiveness of regulatory agencies, is a significant public policy issue. Read more
In our view, the economic strategy unveiled in the 1998 Budget Policy Statement (BPS) is risky to the point of imprudence. It is putting the fiscal position, the country's credit rating and the economy at risk. Read more
The NZBR believes that substantial efficiency gains can be achieved by reforming the management of the roading system. It has therefore supported the work on these issues undertaken by the government. Read more
Many factors influence the effectiveness of government institutions in achieving desirable results in conservation. Consistent with its former traditions in other areas, New Zealand has used command and control approaches to conservation rather than approaches that rely more on private property rights, markets and prices. Read more
The review of tertiary education provides an opportunity to advance policy affecting an important sector of the economy. The government should only intervene where the benefits from doing so exceed the costs. Read more
The NZBR believes membership of students associations should be voluntary and supports the general thrust of the bill. We do not wish to comment on its detailed provisions. Read more
The NZBR welcomes the review of holidays legislation. The current legislation is a source of inconvenience and cost to employers and employees. Read more
MINISTERS OF THE CROWN, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen. It is my very pleasant duty to welcome you here this evening on behalf of the New Zealand Business Roundtable. Read more
Under Section 5 of the Minimum Wage Act, the Minister of Labour is required to review the minimum wage rate(s) prescribed under the Act each year. This is the NZBR's submission to the 1997 review of the minimum wage. Read more
The purpose of this paper is to introduce business people, lawyers and public servants unfamiliar with the international protection of human rights to a potentially important matter which receives little public consideration and on which surprisingly little detailed analysis has been published. The discussion about international protection of human rights tends to be confined to a small group of academics, lawyers and diplomats who have interested themselves in these matters. Read more
The legislation granting the New Zealand Dairy Board the power to control the export of all dairy products gives it the status of an export monopoly. Although the Board is able to grant licences to other exporters, it does not approve applications for licences which it considers to be incompatible with its own strategy. Read more
President Bill Clinton, it is said, can speak for days without inhaling and is capable of holding sincerely, sometimes for minutes on end, exactly the same views as whatever group he is standing in front of. The columnist Dave Barry has even suggested that if Bill is put in front of tress, given enough time, he will engage in photosynthesis. Read more
Reform of pension systems has become a serious policy issue in many countries, including New Zealand. The Chilean scheme provided a model for similar reforms of state pensions in countries such as Argentina, Mexico, Bolivia, Colombia and Peru. Read more
The NZBR believes that substantial efficiency gains could be achieved by reforming the management of the roading system. It has therefore strongly supported the work on these issues that has been undertaken by the Ministry of Transport and has had valuable contacts with Transit New Zealand on the subject. Read more
The Auckland Regional Services Trust ('the Trust') was established as a temporary structure and is an anomaly in local government. No comparable structures exist elsewhere in the country. Read more