NZ Centre for Political Research

This week's poll asked:

Do you believe New Zealand needs a national economic strategy?

*1. We used to have pre-election policy that was economic strategy to increase productivity and prosperity - what happened?
2. Today the political system disrespects the will of the people - there is no trust.
3. The ASX has not moved for the last 5 years!
4. The next crash will happen after June 30th - get your money out of high risk shares and into gold.
5. Analysts that count call it the 'flash crash'- I call it simply another step along the path of self destruction as we step down to third world status.
6. We cannot continue to use debt to fill the gap in our reducing production outputs.
7. The dependence on a totalitarian, dictatorship run by facists using a police state is a fantasy that will end in continued destruction of our way of life. China is for China. Do not take too long to face the reality!!!
8. The fundemental thinking must change for any rational economic strategy to emerge. There are answers but they cannot be found unless the problems are faced. Nick

*Do you believe New Zealand needs to develop a national economic strategy?
Every Government in N.Z. has a strategy or rather strategies BEFORE an election, and to be honest most political parties know that whatever their strategies are, they must convince the general public that they are primarily in the country’s interest.
Without sounding cynical these strategies after an election however, must conform to the political necessary of having enough Members of Parliament to be able to pass any election promises and/or strategies into law before the first term of Government expires.
This has become the golden rule, especially so under an M.M.P situation, whereby minorities actually control Government to such a degree that all strategies become adulterated and so washed out as to be unrecognisable. Thus they fail, not only in practice but also to the voters.
The merit of a National Strategy whereby all parties sit down and agree on a single course of action is only available in such dire emergencies such as a State of War. To expect all political parties to sit down together is in itself a dream; to expect them to formulate a National Economic Strategy is a nightmare.
Why? Answer we are a democracy, (or in reality half of one) a nation of differing fundamental views and opinions so diverse that only the gravest emergency will send our political masters to the table, and come to a collective agreement!
We must get the fundamentals correct, firstly where are the checks and balances of a second house in this equation?
How can public opinion such as the overwhelming vote against the “Smacking Bill” be ignored? How can one ethnic group be given, subsidize, supported and wet nursed into being awarded under such a flimsy demand as “customary rights”, to such a huge coast line overriding the rights of the majority of New Zealanders?
How can any Government whatever its political persuasion publically ignore and refuse to allow a free vote on any of the above measures, especially before we can expect to arrive at any national economic strategy?
What is a plain strategy is that we cannot continue our present standard of living by borrowing against the future; we must encourage and remove the obstacles which our huge bureaucracy has imposed upon business; coupled with the “Luddite” attitude to a further expansion of an export led industry and agricultural development.
The myth of a clean green New Zealand and its exports need to be brought into the practical world of reality. Does anyone really think that the primary cause against selling our exports is a view that some overseas buyer thinks we are messing up our environment!!
The only criteria is first and foremost is price, not the airy fairy world of an unpolluted “God’s Own”, and the “life saving” Carbon Tax which, it seems we are ahead of the world with. No doubt the major powers are hastening to equal our bizarre logic and ruin their economy as soon as possible. Brian

*We have to get rid of our cargo cult thinking. Forbes

*One does not have to go far to thing of ways to improve the economy 1.A flat tax 2. Youth wage rate 3. tax insentives for green field start ups 4, Redice government spending and so reduce taxes 5. Ask Roger Douglas. John

*Have a look at ISRAEL'S thriving economy. Tiny country, same population but Israelis have the education, skills and DRIVE to succeed that we should try to emulate. Refer http://www.cicweb.ca/scene/2011/04/israeli-professor-on-israels-thriving-high-tech-startup-economy/ Brian

*Absolutely they could start by taking off some of the rules and regulations that are strangling growth and those who want to get ahead. Clark

*NZ is going backwards due to a lack of direction. Carleon

*Where to start? Government - the Civil Service - is too big, too ready to defend vested interests. Government is too ready to legislate. Acts of parliament don't necessarily solve problems, thanks to the law of unintended consequences amongst other things. Government is too ready to absolve citizens of their responsibilities. The state - bureaucracy, both central & local - is too overweening, too intrusive, too controlling, to allow the needed progress & prosperity. Dave

*And it needs to be a strategy for all NZers not just the chosed few. Carol

*No mention about all the Maori welfare separatist payouts which would be an economic saving. Why would John Key want to develop an economic strategy because then we might be able to criticize him and expose his vagueness & disinterest in NZ's future. Monica

*Perhaps a good starting point would be a Finance Minister with aclear sense of direction and the balls to follow it. Ron

This week's poll asked:

Do you believe New Zealand needs a national economic strategy?

*We're already on the swedish slippery slope to doomsday so it doesn't really matter one iota. Had Rent-my-house-bill grown even the smallest of bollocks and slashed the FORTY SEVEN BILLION dollar welfare extravagance, perhaps we would stand a fighting chance of improving our lot. But, eunuchs-united AKA the NZ Government have miserably failed the country yet again. Mark

*After 2.5 years of Key we are like a rudderless ship. Ronmac

*If we not PLAN to succeed; we will not succeed!! This really is a no-brainer. Peter

*A cake can be cut in to just so many slices. Alwyn

*And some commitment to adopt and follow it. Wally

*We Need leadership, John Key doesn't have that leadership. He is an opportunist to better his own position. Very short sighted. Jack

*Merely fiddling the books and moving money from A to B is not the answer. We need GROWTH. I had hoped that John Key, with his vaunted financial erpertise, would have had some plan for real growth, but he doesn't appear to have. Sheila

*We all need to plan for the future. JW

*Roger Douglas and Don Brash and all economists worth their salt know exactly what is needed - cut government spending, starting with useless bureaucracy, and welfare programmes that give disincentives for people to work, and slash unnecessary red tape so that business can do business. Of course, vote ACT which is the only party with both the policies and the back-bone to do the job. I.e. Put them there to give National some back-bone. Duncan

*Yes based on stopping handouts and keeping ownership of our assets. Peter

*If we are not already there we will be a 3rd world country very shortly. When will we get politicians that work for the people. Carol

*It is about time that the Government took steps to encourage our private sector industry instead of signing deals that enable oversaeas companies to supply what is capable of being produced within New Zealand. Quite simple - I do this when organising my houshold budget ie I buy the tools and dig the hole (even though it may "cost more" as my labour rate is much higher than the local contractor) so that I keep my $$ in my Bank. If you go back 20 years local Councils were made to purchase from local suppliers, this meant that the ratepayers money remained within the community. Why can't the Government do the same with our Taxes. Mark

This week's poll asked:

Do you believe New Zealand needs a national economic strategy?

*Yes, we certainly do. Some of our economic disasters seem to have sprung from the "Trust us we know what we're doing" schemes of our politicians.

1.Surely we should look at the policies adopted by other countries who have put a feasible economic plan into place. Muriel has given Canada as one example.

2. Take a machete to unnecessary spending, e.g. ETS, perhaps quasi-govenment agencies which have added to our costs over the last thirty years or so.

3. Put or keep in place a savings scheme for retirement which will diminish the billions the country spends on National Super.
The Australian scheme is worth looking at.

4. Put an end to the never ending handouts to Maori interests. No wonder the country is broke! Denis

*Government has no place busybodying in business. What Government needs to do is gather a substantial group of successful business people ... New Zealanders ... and ask them what needs to be done to facilitate economic activity that will provide profitable, sustainable businesses? Then Govt needs to examine all legislation and remove the stupid bureaucratic obstacles that hobble business people at every touch and turn. There are so many impediments to small business operations and so much bureaucratic b/s around safety alone that impedes ordinary low risk business operations and wastes years of manhours every year with nonsensicle compulsory sector training ... applying rules and regs that are no more than basic common sense to people who have been doing the job for 40 years. It's absurd in the extreme. It's no wonder our country is on it's knees! Employment law needs substantial modification so that rules can be enforced. Employees doing drugs and stealing need to be instantly dismissed. This alone would save millions of wasted revenue every year. To blazes with strategies ... just get back to basics and get Government out of the way of businesses. Dianna

*Long overdue but dont hold your breath. It may or may not happen. Robert

*A properly researched and thought-out strategy would be better than what we have at the moment. The Key-led government policies are driven by the incessant polling to see what turns people on. John Key needs to understand that people will take the pain if they can see a logical pathway to improvement which may be paved by certain sacrifices. In other words, get a spine, John Key! Stop trying to appeal to everyone. You are leading a government not a public relations popularity contest. Peter

*I thought that the National Govt would have developed a national economic strategy in 2009 the year after it came into power. David

*Having witnessed the spin orientated talk fest that was 'Catching the Knowledge Wave' I thought that Key as a pragmatic business man and not a wooley academic like Clark, we might actually get the economy moving.... finally. Alas we have seen yet more of that New Zealand past time. The Committee and the report and precious little action. Key is a disappointment. Peter

*Yes we do need a national economic policy. The trick is that it needs to be for the country, not to help return a political party to power. Polititians with VISION for the country are required. Trouble is we are lumbered with ones that are just out to feather their own nest. Neil

*In your govt spending you didn't mention the billions on waitangi payouts and other such wasteful spending of hard earned tax dollars. We need a government that REALLY wants to improve the state of the country rather than just wanting to stay in power. John Key has already shown his committment to this by saying if National doesn't win the election he'll retire from politics! Nigel

*WE cannot just keep expecting everything will work itself out. Alan

*How long can we flounder along without a serious economic strategy. "Trickle down" isn't a strategy, it's "happenstance". But neither do we need a state directed,tightly prescribed Soviet-style plan. We need sound sequential steps to remove development road blocks, a desire to upskill youth so that they can hit the future, running, and lift educational attainments across the board in ways that build meaningful econommic self fulfilment and achievement. They need to be nation-wide goals across the entire community. Self fulfilment also applies to long range retirement planning. To this end, Australian's trillion dollar plus superannuation schemes are an example of beneficial intervention as a catalyst to saving and wealth accumulation. Kiwi-Saver should be compulsory for all, at meaningful contribution rates, as a universal solution to a universal problem re future numbers of retirees. It would also provide capital for the investments in development, private and public, that's sorely needed. None of this is new, it just needs commitment and selling. "Trickle down" is happenstance. Brian

*Time for the beaurocrats to uncover their backsides and work for the good of the country and not to just preserve their employment after they are the unproductive society not the productive. Graham

*As the old saying goes Is the Pope & Catholic. Geoff

This week's poll asked:

Do you believe New Zealand needs a national economic strategy?

*With an electoral system where the tail wags the dog and a welfare system that encourages non performance from the masses nothing can change. John

*Some serious Enterprise Architecture required within the state sector, starting with social services. This is partially how the Canadians turned things around. Steve

*NZ needs some inspired leadership desperately. Clive

*Looks as though we are going to be expected to by shsres in State Assets that we as taxpayers have already financed. Colin

*Absolutely, coupled with a strong socio-political and moral strategy! Frank

*Money comes from our taxes into the super fund so I get fed up with hearing that superannuants are bludgers. As the Govt's have been more than happy to give millions to the Maori for past greviences it's about time they paid back into the fun the money that was taken out by Muldoon when he was PM. Put it back! Margaret

*Absolutely! We're just floundering now! Ray

*Duuhhh! We already had one, produced by Don Brash et al, at the request of this Government. Did they take any notice of it at all? So what is th epoint of having a national strategy with that background to consider? Catch Australia in the next 500 years? How far did that go? Hugh

*It just goes to prove beyond all doubt, that this mob, just like the last outfit, are there to be re-elected and really don't give a damn about this nation. If they cut working for families, pald maternity leave and a lot of other "bullshit" programs, those affected would be just like newly weaned calves, stand at the gate and bellow, till they got hungry enough to go and find something to eat themselves. Sam

*Yes. We have gone from our workers doing 4 days per week down to 1 day per week. Brent

*We need it like a sore toe. The decisions reached after 234 when all it will mean is the setting up of another expensive committee. Malcolm

*Will it happen, no. Does any party care about anything but votes is the big question? Iain

*But not one you would like. George

*A business requires a forward thinking plan to continue to succeed. This is BIG business so why is there no comprehensive stategic planning? Because government is too busy protecting it's hide for the next election! Get tough on benefits, cut out working for families and come down non overdue student loans. Peter

*Continual borrowing doesn't make progress."Live within your means" is an excellent motto. Mary

*It is pathetic that about 30% of New Zealanders rely on the Government for either direct income, or income supplements. George

This week's poll asked:

Do you believe New Zealand needs a national economic strategy?

*It would be something that defines the nations priorities. John

*And we also need plans in place to stop successive govts derailing things, ie kiwisaver etc. One suggestion to help NZ money plans is to stop putting our money in overseas owned banks, get ALL NZ Govt money passed through KiwiBank, the interest earned would help heaps. Wendy

*Without it is like driving with a blindfold on. Economic literacy is badly missing in this country. It should be taught alongside reading and maths in our schools. Willy

*Long overdue, I had hoped that this government would have had the nous to put together a real plan for economic growth despite the Christchurch earthquakes. Rob

*This is well overdue and NZ needs to focus on its core competencies to build value. The world will be carbon short in the future and NZ has the capacity to produce low cost clean energy as a cornerstone of its economic development. It then needs to add value in those sectors that are core competencies - milk, meat, fish, food, timber, wine and tourism. Develop the support industries into world class players. We need to add value to those commodities locally rather than export them and then import them once process by another country. Cheap clean energy is cornerstone and threfore sell off of this sector needs to be challenged. Clean energy especially hydro and geo thermal should be strengths as should wind power. Lower clean energy input costs builds on the Pure NZ brand and forms the cornerstone for future economic development. Then the politicians can play around with concepts such as the weightless economy and knowledge society based on strong foundations and core competencies. John

*Yes we do and we need half the number of MPs. The country needs growth and those that employ need to be treated with respect because without them there would be no growth. Reduce company tax now. Murray

*Sadly turkeys will never vote for thanksgiving. The benefit system has created far too many turkeys. Tim

*Yes and it needs to be made public so that all NZers can see what it is that needs to be achieved. This public statement will or should get rid of the rabble that get more than their fair share of publicity. As long as the plan is clear and concise. Brian

*At least 100 years - yes? Lindsay

*Yes...its about time a; the parties pulled together to create a stronger economy. Sandy

*WELL THEY NEED TO BOOST UP THE ECONOMY, BUT I THINK THEY HAVE MISSED THE BOAT. LET GET OUT THERE AND DO IT, NOT ONLY WILL YOU BE BETTER OOFF BUT SO TOO THE ECONOMY. RAWIRI

*Stop pandering to the vested interest groups. Work for NZ not devisive groups. Jack

*Otherwise we will become a third world country along with Spain and the rest. Sonia

*Unfortunately the major political parties are hell bent on staying in power when they are in control. Consequently the really hard decisions are not made. In addition, as O'Reily pointed out, backward looking interest groups are generally against any development that may result in progress, resource extraction in particular. One might also include maori corporates in the vested interest group. Ray

*What a disappointment the Nats have been. They continue to tinker round the edges, afraid of losing votes if they upset people. Don't they realise we are screaming out for leadership and to hell with the Greens and other enviromentalists who are holding back progress while they worry about a few snails....these people do not vote National anyway. Thank goodness for Don Brash and his supporters as the country certainly needs a party that will force some of these important issues. Go ACT....Carolyn

*Stop Picking on the disinherited!!, be happy to see the end of this bungling national/act govt!, And where are the JOBS?????, I have two boys who cannot get a job for love or money!!!!! To hell with get tough policies! Rick

This week's poll asked:

Do you believe New Zealand needs a national economic strategy?

*Absolutely - NZ is in desperate need of a plan for growth and has been for decades! Imagine how badly businesses would do if they had no plan to drive them. It is no wonder that the county continues to slide down the economic ladder. Peter

*It is pathetic that governments don't have to abide by sound economic strategies - it is quite shocking really. Marie

*NZ has been badly managed for years. I would have expected something different from National though. Simon

*Roger Douglas had a plan for growth but the government wouldn't listen to him. I wonder if they will take any notice of Don Brash? Andrew

*It's quite a shock to see how dependent this country is. And look how cunning Labour were to enmesh working families in the welfare net through Working for Families. The scheme needs to be scrapped as it stops people working harder and gaining promotions because of fear of losing their topup payments. David

*I expected John Key to have a proper strategic plan in place by now. What's wrong with the man! Paula