Media Release: OECD recommendations mirror The New Zealand Initiative’s Policy Manifesto
Wellington (15 June 2017): The OECD’s 2017 report on New Zealand endorses The New Zealand Initiative’s policy recommendations for New Zealand.
The report, released today, stresses the importance of improving numeracy in our country’s schools; of reducing net public debt; of opening the country to foreign investment; of encouraging better local council decision-making by letting them share in the proceeds of economic growth; of bringing forward changes and, of better financing infrastructure.
The OECD also points out the importance of immigration in improving New Zealand’s skills base.
“I met with the OECD team in October last year to discuss New Zealand’s economic performance and the policy improvements that could really make a difference. It is great to see that the OECD has taken up so many of our recommendations,” says the Initiative’s Executive Director, Dr Oliver Hartwich.
“It is especially important that central government listen to the recommendations around local government. Fixing local government incentives, so that local governments share in the benefits of economic growth instead of only the costs, will change Councils behaviour and help restore housing affordability.”
The New Zealand Initiative’s reports in these policy areas are listed below. Their policy recommendations were summarised in Dr Hartwich’s Manifesto 2017, released earlier this year.
- The New New Zealanders: Why migrants make good Kiwis
- The Local Manifesto: Restoring local government accountability
- In the zone: Creating a toolbox for regional prosperity
- Un(ac)countable: Why millions on maths returned little
- Guarding the public purse: Faster growth, greater fiscal discipline
- Open for business: Removing the barriers to foreign investment
- Capital doldrums: How globalisation is bypassing New Zealand
ENDS
Dr Oliver Hartwich and Dr Eric Crampton are available for comment. To arrange an interview, please contact:
Media contact
Simone White, Communications Officer
The New Zealand Initiative
Phone: +64 4 494 9109
Mobile: +64 21 2937 250
Email: simone.white@nzinitiative.org.nz