Labour takes NZ backwards

Two new reports out today prove the Labour Government is taking New Zealand backwards, according to National Party Welfare spokeswoman Katherine Rich.

"The UN's 2003 Human Development Report says New Zealand has slipped down the ladder of 175 countries to the same spot it occupied in 1990.

"According to the UN report, which compares life expectancy education and living standards, New Zealand has slumped to a position seven places below where we were in 1975.

"While Australia is the fourth ranked country, New Zealand is 16 places further back on 20th," says Mrs Rich.

"The latest Economic Freedom Network report also signals worrying trends.

"It shows the amount of Government imposed red-tape climbed rapidly between 2000 and 2001 when the research was carried out.

"The report also suggests the size of our Government began to increase rapidly at the same time, even before Labour moved to expand the role of local Government.

"Given these observations, it's becoming increasingly easy to understand why the Government has backed away from its promise to return New Zealand to the top half of the OECD in a decade.

"It's now clear, there's absolutely no chance of that."

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