The 2010 Budget: Rough Water Ahead
Preparations for the 2010 budget will be underway in government circles. The 2010 Budget Policy Statement, which sets out the broad parameters, is due in December. Read more
22 October, 2009
Submission: Climate Change Response (Moderated Emissions Trading Amendment)
The Business Roundtable believes that policy development on climate change entered a more constructive phase in 2009. We were critical of the previous government’s ‘carbon neutrality’ ambitions because of their enormous potential adverse economic impact; the lack of an adequate regulatory impact analysis as a basis for policy; many design features of its Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS); and the rushed process. Read more
16 October, 2009
Inflation and Housing: Three Myths
Recently there have been renewed calls to tax capital gains on housing. Opposition leader Phil Goff has indicated Labour would be open to talks. Read more
8 October, 2009
Whatever Happened to the Idea of Progress?
The idea of progress – human flourishing in all its dimensions – has permeated Western thinking since ancient times. It has been defined as the belief that material, political, social, intellectual and moral conditions have continually improved throughout human history and that such an improvement will continue in the foreseeable future. Read more
25 September, 2009
New Hope for Better and Less Regulation
A potentially important announcement by the government last month has not been widely reported. It took the form of a Government Statement on Regulation, which was released with an accompanying Cabinet paper. Read more
24 September, 2009
Holidays Legislation: Do We Need the Nanny State?
Holidays legislation has been a nightmare for many businesses since the Labour government amended the Holidays Act in 2003. A large-scale survey of 1500 enterprises by Business New Zealand in 2005 found that it had increased costs for 74% of respondents. Read more
21 September, 2009
Submission: Holidays Act 2003 Review
The New Zealand Business Roundtable welcomes the review of the Holidays Act 2003 which is one of the most problematic areas of New Zealand employment law. We believe it needs to be substantially reformed on a first-principles basis. Read more
12 August, 2009
Does a Bad Start in Life Make for Failure at School?
At an Easter hat parade at Bellfield Primary School in Melbourne, a child’s mother got into a punch-up with another mother and head-butted her unconscious in front of 250 children. Did anyone bat an eyelid? Read more
9 August, 2009
Te Oranga o te Iwi Maori Working Paper 5: Maori and Welfare
Writing in the Dominion Post in 2006, New Zealand Business Roundtable chairman Rob McLeod (Ngati Porou) reminded us that when the general unemployment rate had been over 8 percent there was widespread anxiety, yet Maori unemployment was still that high and was attracting little comment. 1 At that time, 88,500 or 29 percent of working-age Maori (18-64 years) were receiving a benefit. Read more
20 July, 2009
Submission: NZIER/Infometrics Report on Climate Change Policy
We regard the NZIER and Infometrics as reputable consultancy organisations. Having said that, we cannot emphasise too strongly that the NZIER/Infometrics report isnot a Regulatory Impact Statement. Read more
1 July, 2009
Submission: Commerce Commission's Draft Report on Mobile Termination Services
This submission on the Commerce Commission's 30 June 2009 Draft Report recommending the designation of mobile termination access services (incorporating mobile-to-mobile voice termination, fixed-to mobile voice termination and short-message-service termination) is made by the New Zealand Business Roundtable, an organisation comprising primarily chief executives of major New Zealand business firms. The purpose of the organisation is to contribute to the development of sound public policies that reflect overall New Zealand interests. Read more
1 July, 2009
Submission: Auckland Local Government Bill
The Local Government Forum welcomes the opportunity to make a submission on the Local Government (Auckland Council) Bill. Overall, the Forum supports the Bill's intent and recommends that it should proceed - subject to specific comments in this submission. Read more
26 June, 2009
Opportunities of a Lifetime: Lessons for New Zealand from New, High-Growth Economies: The 2009 Sir Ronald Trotter Lecture
Your excellencies, ministers of the crown, members of parliament, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen. I am Bill Day, vice-chair of the New Zealand Business Roundtable, and it is my pleasure to welcome you to the fourteenth Sir Ronald Trotter Lecture. Read more
7 April, 2009
Submission: Review of the Emissions Trading Scheme
Most business organisations are saying that now that Australia, and perhaps the United States, are planning to put a price on carbon in some way, New Zealand should do likewise. But the issue is a political one, given that all New Zealanders will ultimately bear the costs of policy action. Read more
19 March, 2009
Submission: Budget Policy Statement 2009
The Business Roundtable believes New Zealand is facing grave economic problems, many of them the result of policy errors in recent years. They are both of a short-term nature due to the international crisis and longer term due to the slump in productivity growth. Read more
31 January, 2009