The only hope of achieving consensus and stability on retirement income is to build policies on a sound conceptual foundation. Policies in the recent past lacked such a foundation and proved unsustainable. Read more
In past submissions we have called on the Wellington City Council (the Council) to focus on its core business of providing local public goods and undertaking regulatory functions conferred on it by central government. We have urged it to exit from commercial activities and review its provision of and/or funding of club goods such as the libraries, the zoo and swimming pools. Read more
The Auckland City Council (the Council) is to be commended for the steps that it has taken to concentrate on its core activities, reduce the rate of growth in spending and rates, and lower net debt. The thrust of the Council's policies over the last couple of years has been consistent with those advocated by the Forum in past submissions to the Council. Read more
The proposal to replace appeals to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council with appeals to a domestic Supreme Court is the most important constitutional issue raised in New Zealand since the mixed member proportional (MMP) voting system was introduced following a 1993 referendum.1 A change in New Zealand's final appellate court could have profound consequences for business and future generations of New Zealanders. It has the potential to significantly alter the role of the courts and the public perception of their role, and to alter the relationship between the courts and the political branches of government. Read more
This submission finds much to commend in the Issues Paper, particularly its acknowledgement of the importance of dynamic efficiency; the need for analysis to focus on the long term; and the proper identification of the problem a proposed regulation is intended to solve. Read more
The Status of Redundancy Bill is a Member's Bill arising out of the collapse of the Weddel meatworks and claims by workers who subsequently became unsecured creditors for their redundancy payments. The bill proposes three significant changes to current legislation. Read more
The transport system is a core part of New Zealand's infrastructure. An important role for the government in promoting economic growth is to ensure the transport system is efficient and responsive to users' needs. Read more
In this submission, section 2 reviews the outlook for economic growth in the light of the government's growth targets. Section 3 comments on the government's fiscal strategy in relation to its growth objective. Read more
There has been much debate over the appropriate level and form of government support for tertiary education, but comparatively little analysis of the merits of the underlying policies. Who Should Pay? Read more
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