Economic Debate – Do We Need The Cullen Fund?
February 26th, 2009
The PM is sandwiched on Cullen Fund questions between ACT (which has Green support in backing calls to suspend payments into the fund) and …
Archive for February, 2009
Infrastructure Seen As New Economic Cure All
February 26th, 2009
The Govt in setting up an infrastructure unit under Treasury’s umbrella has put a Treasury Deputy Secretary Mike James in as interim head, and …
Searching For Options To Plug The Deficit Drain
February 26th, 2009
With the recession slicing billions off Govt revenue, the Govt faces an operating deficit of $6.2bn (an $8.4bn deterioration from before the election). Besides …
Economic Debate – To Bail Or Not To Bail?
February 19th, 2009
Govts can do whatever they like to help troubled companies at the best of times, let alone in a deepening recession when the political …
Resisting Pressure To Lift NZ’s Commitment To Afghanistan
February 19th, 2009
After talks with his counterparts in Canberra and London, Defence Minister Dr Wayne Mapp is heading to Krakow in Poland for a meeting of …
Auckland Governance Could Hold Economic Key
February 19th, 2009
The Govt is looking to the Royal Commission on Auckland governance, due to report next month, for some proposals which will streamline the system …
Economic Debate – To Spend Or Prune?
February 12th, 2009
It sounds good: $483.7m of publicly funded infrastructure projects (housing transport and education) are being fast-tracked to boost the Govt’s economic stimulus programme. How …
Starting The Huge Task Of Filling The Infrastructure Gap
February 12th, 2009
In fast-tracking $500m of projects spanning the housing, transport, and education sectors, the Govt says it will create work for businesses in the regions, …
Govt Finances A Balancing Act On A High Wire
February 12th, 2009
Now the hard yards begin. The Govt has to frame a budget under the harsh restraints of falling revenue, a deepening global recession, increasing …
New Urge For FTA Between Korea And NZ
February 5th, 2009
The deepening recession may have sharpened protectionism in Europe (Trade Minister Tim Groser has been working the traps in Davos and Brussels over the …
Govt Sets Sights On Defence Review
February 5th, 2009
The Govt is preparing to write a major review of NZ’s defence policy in the form of a new white paper. Ministers may appoint …
Economic Debate – How Much Intervention Is Too Much?
February 5th, 2009
So far so good, for those who fear a slide back towards Muldoonism. The PM has done no more than tell us he is …
Duncan Cotterill