9 November 2009

TVNZ 7’s lively political show is marking Spotlight On The Economy with a special which will lay bare the economic aims from the government representatives themselves.

Confirmed as panellists for Wednesday night are ACT MP Sir Roger Douglas, Green Party Co-Leader Russell Norman, Labour MP David Cunliffe, and National MP Aaron Gilmore.

Tune in as Wallace Chapman and the Back Benches Panel, accompanied by special guests, debate the future of New Zealand’s economy. Up for discussion on the night is unemployment – now at 6.5% how do we create jobs for the 150,000 kiwis out of work?

Charles Finny (Wellington Chamber of Commerce) will be probed on the role of businesses, while the Back Benches panel will talk about the role Government can and will play. Special guests include, Fonterra’s Global Trade Managing Director Kelvin Wickham and, Eco Store’s CEO & Founder Malcolm Rands.

Plus, what can we learn from New Zealand businesses that have been successful despite the recession.

Chapman hopes to liven up this discussion with the ministers and mavericks while rubbing shoulders with the spectators.

“There’s nothing like a bunch of MPs and a live audience all gathered around a pint to get things stirred up, which is just what we’re going to do for our Spotlight on the Economy special,”says Chapman.

This episode of Back Benches will screen live this Wednesday 11 November at 9.10pm on TVNZ 7. The show will also be available on line after the show has aired at http://http://www.tvnz.co.nz/backbenches.

TVNZ 7 is available on Freeview Channel 7 and SKY Channel 97.

ENDS

Scoop Business: Will Good Politics Fix Broken Tax System?

Prime Minister John Key is obsessed with two things about the New Zealand economy. One is the fact that productive industry has been shrinking as proportion of the economy for more than five years.

The other is the price of houses – an issue that Reserve Bank governors and other politicians have identified for years and done nothing about. More>>