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Broken housing market at the heart of unbalanced economy
New data shows rising rents are hitting people on modest incomes and beneficiaries in the pocket, while the cost of living for wealthier households is more manageable, the Green Party said today. In the last three months, the cost of living rose 1.4 percent for beneficiaries and 1.3 percent for low expenditure households, compared to just 0.5 percent for high expenditure households, according to the Statistics NZ Household Living Costs Price Index. “Under National, it’s getting harder for people on... -
Govt failing businesses on R&D
The National Government’s research and development (R&D) strategy has failed, with a lower proportion of businesses now engaging in R&D than when they took office, the Green Party said today. The Statistics NZ Business Operations Survey released today shows that in 2009, eight percent of businesses engaged in R&D. In 2016, that number had fallen to seven percent. Labour productivity data also out today tells a similar story, with labour productivity growth at its lowest levels, over the growth cycle,... -
OECD highlights urgent need to green our economy
Today’s OECD environmental report has highlighted the urgent need for New Zealand to change direction and move to a low carbon, green economy, the Green Party said today. The OECD has said that New Zealand has the second-highest level of emissions per unit of GDP in the developed world. We also have the fifth-highest emissions per capita. “The New Zealand economy is highly carbon intensive and this can’t be sustained if we want to also play our part in addressing... -
Real cost of living reveals unbalanced NZ economy
The rising cost of living is hitting people who earn modest incomes and beneficiaries hardest, the Green Party said today. Living costs for beneficiaries and low-spending households rose more than twice as much as for high-spending households in 2016, according to Statistics NZ’s Household Living Costs Price Index data. “Bill English says the economy is humming along nicely but the truth is that while people at the top might be doing well, thousands of families on lower incomes are feeling... -
Vision for NZ missing from PM’s speech
Bill English’s state of the nation speech today lacked vision and leaves New Zealanders with a stark choice about the kind of government they want, the Green Party said. “The new Prime Minister didn’t talk about the housing crisis, or stagnant wages, or polluted rivers and lakes. These issues aren’t going to go away – in fact, it’s now clear that the only way to fix them is by changing the Government,” said Green Party Co-leader James Shaw. “New Zealanders... -
Fall in exports shows need to focus on value not volume
New Zealand needs a new economic strategy that grows the value of our exports because National is taking the economy in the wrong direction, the Green Party said today. Statistics NZ data, released today, shows that revenue from goods exports fell for the second year in a row in 2016. “National has built an economy based on cheap commodities like milk powder and meat, and now we’re paying the price,” said Green Party Co-leader James Shaw. “The quantity of dairy... -
Wellington businesses need earthquake support
A Government support package for earthquake-affected Wellington businesses is absolutely vital, the Green Party said today. More than 100 small and medium businesses are reportedly still affected by the earthquakes, with discussions ongoing between the Government and Wellington City Council around possible support measures. “Our city’s diverse small businesses are a key part of what makes it great and they need support to get through this,” said Green Party Co-leader James Shaw. “Wellington’s economic muscle might be the public sector... -
New data shows National’s two-track economy
The real cost of living has grown more for people on low incomes, beneficiaries, and superannuitants than it has for people on moderate and high incomes under National, the Green Party said today. New data from Statistics NZ’s Household Living-costs Price Indexes shows the effect of rent and power bills rising faster than the general rate of inflation. Low-expenditure households have seen their living costs rise twice as much as high-expenditure households since 2008. “National has built an economy where... -
Housing failures hurting businesses and workers
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/mood-of-the-boardroom-2016/news/article.cfm?c_id=1504161&objectid=11716804 -
Greens will establish a Minister for Manufacturing in Government
The Green Party announced today that it will establish a Minister for Manufacturing in Cabinet, to better represent the interests of manufacturers and ensure they thrive. The Minister will be inside Cabinet and have responsibility for the long-term interests of the manufacturing sector. New working groups within the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) will be created — no new government departments will be created. Costs of reassigning resources in MBIE will be met within existing baselines. “Today’s announcement...