Economic Debate – Have We Got It Right On Mines?
March 31st, 2010
Double standards are at work in Govt policy on resource development. When three companies proposed farming 18,000 cows in the Mackenzie Basin using European …
Archive for March, 2010
NZ Welfare Policy: Welfare Changes Play Well In National’s Heartlands
March 31st, 2010
Re-asserting its agenda to pick up momentum again, the Govt announced wide-ranging welfare changes, as well as its mining stocktake. Both issues played well …
NZ Resources: Brownlee Signals NZ Inc Is Open For Business
March 31st, 2010
The dawn of a new age of prosperity or an ecological disaster? The country appeared split down the middle as Energy and Resources …
Economic Debate – How Much Fiscal Consolidation Is Needed?
March 25th, 2010
Addressing a business audience late in January, RBNZ Governor Alan Bollard championed the country’s inflation-targeting monetary policy. He said it had proven flexible, durable …
NZ State Sector: Turnaround In Public Sector Performance Is The Key
March 25th, 2010
What the Key coalition is seeking to deliver out of the public sector is different from what any previous administration has done. Faced with …
NZ Politics: Ministers Scramble To Tidy Up – Opposition Exploits Flaws
March 24th, 2010
While last week we reported the Govt was finally shedding its “do nothing” image, its attempts to gain momentum have foundered somewhat. Ministers were …
Economic Debate – How To Measure Public Service Productivity
March 18th, 2010
The headline on a statement from Education Minister Anne Tolley qualifies for a place on a Tui billboard. Her Ministry is being spruced up …
NZ Politics: Opposition Gaining Traction, But Key’s Popularity Not Hurt
March 18th, 2010
The Labour Opposition sees itself getting real traction from its Axe-The-Tax campaign. MPs on the bus tour report they are getting a strong response. …
Key Govt Sheds Its “Do Nothing” Image
March 17th, 2010
Not so long ago the Govt was being accused of being a “do-nothing” outfit (not only by its critics but even by one of …
NZ Rail Sector: Parts Of The Rail Network May Be Axed
March 11th, 2010
The National Infrastructure Plan unveiled this week makes it plain much of KiwiRail’s network hangs in the balance. A huge investment including $250m for …
NZ Economy: Where Will Money For Superannuation Rise Come From?
March 11th, 2010
John Key sought to de-fang the political onslaught of Grey Power lobbyists against the Govt’s planned GST increase by promising superannuitants a “double whammy” …
NZ Politics: Heatley’s Demise – No Substitute For Political Experience
March 10th, 2010
When National campaigned in 2008 there was the usual emphasis on law and order issues. Almost all political parties compete to present themselves as …
Economic Debate – Which Inflation Target Is Best?
March 4th, 2010
The boffins at BERL were buoyant, when senior IMF researchers published their assessment of world macroeconomic policy over the past 20 years and found …
NZ Public Sector: Crucial Phase In Lifting Public Sector Performance
March 4th, 2010
A crucial phase in the process to lift public sector performance has been reached this week. As part of the budget process, state departments …
NZ Politics: NZ A Laboratory For Policy Development Again
March 3rd, 2010
Polling for the television channels appears to confirm the Govt will see its support base shrink rapidly when it increases GST in the May …
Duncan Cotterill