Treasury offers students ‘Challenge for their Lifetime’

20 March 2012

Treasury offers students ‘Challenge for their Lifetime’

The Treasury has launched its inaugural Long-Term Fiscal Schools Challenge and staff are this week holding workshops with secondary schools around the country.

Schools have been invited to propose policy options that address New Zealand’s long-term fiscal challenges, offering Year 12 and 13 students the chance to put themselves in the shoes of the Treasury in analysing and advising on one of the major issues facing governments across the world.

“The Treasury is interested in encouraging fresh ideas and a healthy public debate about the long-term fiscal challenges facing society,” Treasury Secretary Gabriel Makhlouf said.

“This is a challenge for the students’ lifetime - the ageing of our population is expected to have wide-ranging fiscal implications for government tax and spending programmes in the future, and the students’ generation will be directly affected.”

Students will work in teams to prepare analytical research papers, and selected teams will in May be invited to deliver presentations to a panel of judges from the Treasury and Victoria University of Wellington.

The winning team will be announced in June, with prizes sponsored by Victoria University.

“The challenge will also promote the study of economics and related disciplines in schools and provide students with an insight into what a career in public policy could involve,” Mr Makhlouf said.

Further information is available here:
• http://www.treasury.govt.nz/government/longterm/schoolschallenge
• http://img.scoop.co.nz/media/pdfs/1203/2298603_1.pdf

Participating Schools

Monday 19 March - Otago/Southland
• Central Southland College
• Columba College
• James Hargest College
• Otago Boys’ High School (to host workshop)
• Wakatipu High School

Tuesday 20 March – Nelson
Waimea College

Tuesday 20 March – Canterbury
• Burnside High School (to host workshop)
• Christchurch Boys’ High School
• Christchurch Girls’ High School
• Lincoln High School

Tuesday 20 March – Hastings
Lindisfarne College

Thursday 22 March - Wellington
• Hutt Valley High School
• St Mary's College
• Scots College
• Taita College

Week starting Monday 26 March – Auckland and Hamilton
• Hamilton Boys’ High School
• Auckland Grammar School
• Mount Albert Grammar School
• Onehunga High School

ENDS

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