In our view, the economic strategy unveiled in the 1998 Budget Policy Statement (BPS) is risky to the point of imprudence. It is putting the fiscal position, the country's credit rating and the economy at risk. Read more
The NZBR believes that substantial efficiency gains can be achieved by reforming the management of the roading system. It has therefore supported the work on these issues undertaken by the government. Read more
The review of tertiary education provides an opportunity to advance policy affecting an important sector of the economy. The government should only intervene where the benefits from doing so exceed the costs. Read more
The NZBR believes membership of students associations should be voluntary and supports the general thrust of the bill. We do not wish to comment on its detailed provisions. Read more
The NZBR welcomes the review of holidays legislation. The current legislation is a source of inconvenience and cost to employers and employees. Read more
Under Section 5 of the Minimum Wage Act, the Minister of Labour is required to review the minimum wage rate(s) prescribed under the Act each year. This is the NZBR's submission to the 1997 review of the minimum wage. Read more
The NZBR believes that substantial efficiency gains could be achieved by reforming the management of the roading system. It has therefore strongly supported the work on these issues that has been undertaken by the Ministry of Transport and has had valuable contacts with Transit New Zealand on the subject. Read more
The Auckland Regional Services Trust ('the Trust') was established as a temporary structure and is an anomaly in local government. No comparable structures exist elsewhere in the country. Read more
The NZBR welcomes the Ministry of Transport's Discussion Document and the opportunity to comment on regulatory options for road management. The Discussion Document focuses on options for managing road safety, including the appropriate rights of road owners to control access to their assets. Read more
The Plan states the purpose of the Council is to make Christchurch as attractive as possible a city for its citizens in which to live, work and enjoy life. Wide-ranging objectives for the Council are defined to this end. Read more
A key weakness in the Plan is the absence of a valid analysis of the proper role of the public sector and, in particular, that of territorial local government. The role of government at any level differs from that of the private sector . Read more
The proposed building has received much attention in the media and a petition opposing it has attracted almost 200,000 signatures. In this submission, we suggest that there are several issues with the proposal and that they should be considered by the committee. Read more
The Council can most efficiently contribute to the welfare of citizens in Wellington by focusing on its core objectives, existing non-core activities, and keeping its rate and regulatory burdens as low as possible. In our view, the Council is not sufficiently focused on these objectives. Read more
The key weakness in the Strategy is the absence of a valid analysis of the proper role of the government and, in particular, that of regional government. The role of government at any level differs from that of the private sector. Read more
To secure a viable future, the industries covered by the Bill must match the rates of improvements in innovation and productivity of other sectors in a better performing economy. Otherwise, they will lack profitability and be unable to compete successfully for resources. Read more