In early August New Zealand received a warning notice from China as a result of inspections in China detecting the fungus Neofabraea actinidiae in a shipment of Kiwifruit. This notice has brought about a halt to shipments of Kiwifruit to China, until Zespri can set up more stringent pre-shipment measures.
*An improvement to dairy’s economic and environment impact*
Implementing monetary policy
Okay, let’s nail this immigration issue once and for all.
As has been widely reported – it appears the Rock Star has returned. Strong GDP growth figures for the June quarter – recorded at a per annum 3.6% – reinforce New Zealand’s position at the head of the OECD pack. But there is a nagging feeling that is difficult to shake for many. So, are the nagging concerns justified? Or, are we set to live the life of a truly envious rock star life? Bluntly, the elephant in the room remains our debt imbalances. Together with international instability and volatility, the presence of an asset price bubble of this magnitude is not only unwelcome – it is potentially toxic.
On an annual basis, rises in arrivals of migrants with Resident visas and falls in arrivals of migrants with Student visas are driving the increase in annual net migration.
Tourism has very much been the jewel in the export crown this year with 3.4 million international visitors in the year to October.
As was seen from the reaction of former Prime Minister, John Key, to the warning from the Treasury that, without changes to the settings, the cost of NZ Superannuation would balloon out of control in the longer term, the issue of Superannuation is politically very sensitive. Put simply, the country faces the prospect of much larger numbers of old people living longer, and the question of how they can continue to be supported financially demands to be addressed.
It might be opportune for another summit. However, this time round, the debate needs to include child poverty and inequality.