When David Lange made his famous remark in 1998 about the country needing to stop for a cup of tea and take a break from the task of economic reform, he probably had not idea that his metaphor would enter the national vocabulary in the way it has. The call for a teabreak symbolised the loss of momentum and direction of the latter years of that Labour administration. Read more
The NZBR welcomes the Ministry of Transport's Discussion Document and the opportunity to comment on regulatory options for road management. The Discussion Document focuses on options for managing road safety, including the appropriate rights of road owners to control access to their assets. Read more
The Plan states the purpose of the Council is to make Christchurch as attractive as possible a city for its citizens in which to live, work and enjoy life. Wide-ranging objectives for the Council are defined to this end. Read more
Towards the end of 1996, the trade and foreign investment policies of New Zealand were the subject of a comprehensive assessment within what is now the World Trade Organisation (the WTO). These assessments are in three parts: the government under examination submits a policy statement; the WTO Secretariat prepares a detailed report; and, on the basis of these two documents, in a meeting held at WTO headquarters in Geneva, officials from the Organisation's other member countries make comments of their own, and put questions to the Ambassador of the country concerned. Read more
Successive governments have reduced the Crown’s involvement in the provision of financial markets. Notwithstanding the reforms to date, the Crown remains responsible for the operations of the Nations Provident Fund (NPF), the Government Superannuation Fund (GSF) and the Public Trust Office (PTO) and the Public Trust Office (PTO). Read more
A key weakness in the Plan is the absence of a valid analysis of the proper role of the public sector and, in particular, that of territorial local government. The role of government at any level differs from that of the private sector . Read more
The proposed building has received much attention in the media and a petition opposing it has attracted almost 200,000 signatures. In this submission, we suggest that there are several issues with the proposal and that they should be considered by the committee. Read more
The Working Group's recommendations, as presented in Recommendations for Improved Investment Product and Investment Advisor Disclosure, Final Report (21 December 1995, corrected 25 January 1996) are delineated in Chapter One of this report. Following each of the important points on which the recommendations are based, I give brief assessments. Read more
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
