National should commit to promoting business and jobs

National needs to add to its growing list of dramatic policy U-turns and institute a full reversal of its anti-economic development position, says Progressive MP Matt Robson.

"National and ACT use every opportunity to attack investors in New Zealand, to attack businesses and to frighten our regional economies with the threat that a National-led government would dismantle this government's One Stop Shop for Business, NZ Trade & Enterprise.

"It is tragic and it is wrong. National's anti-New Zealand stance in Parliament today, begrudging the work of NZTE for successfully attracting vital investment in New Zealand-based high technology exporter, Navman, is plainly incoherent.

National's acting leader, Gerry Brownlee, today condemned NZTE's Investment New Zealand for successfully attracting new investment in Auckland-based high technology marine company, Navman.

"The reality is that it took Navman 18 years to grow sales to $100 million. Thanks to the Brunswick connection facilitated by Investment New Zealand's work, Navman now has the potential to increase sales to one billion dollars over the next five years.

"The deal has significantly increased Navman's access to global markets, research and development. Since the investment, Navman has created scores of new very well paid jobs and will continue to contribute even more to our economic growth. Supporting key, high value industries is the best way we can help lift the living standards of all New Zealanders.

"It is a tribute to New Zealand Trade and Enterprise and it is sad that Mr. Brownlee can't get his mind around how the modern world works, but it would be a disgrace for the National Party not to reverse its mistaken policy – just as it has reversed its other historic policies on Four Weeks Annual Leave and the National Superannuation Fund," Matt Robson said.

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>