ACT has received a vote of confidence from the country's manufacturers as the party most able to improve New Zealand's competitiveness and growth.

In a survey of New Zealand manufacturing companies and all New Zealand political parties 'Election 99 - Business Policies of the Main Political Parties', the Manufacturers Federation found ACT's policies were best, followed by those of the National party.

ACT Leader Richard Prebble says the survey found manufacturers thought a cut in business tax was the single most important measure to galvanise New Zealand's competitiveness.

The Manufacturers' Federation report says: "Only ACT has offered a clear table for reducing business tax, with a 3 cent tax cut each successive year, down to a flat rate of 20c in the dollar."

"The country's manufacturers have agreed with ACT that a simple reduction in business tax will be more effective than tax measures targeted at specific areas," Mr Prebble said.

"As the party which is serious about increasing jobs for New Zealanders, ACT's policy is to ensure that manufacturers and other employers have a tax regime which encourages them to hire more staff. Cutting the business rate is the simplest way to growth and jobs."

Mr Prebble said ACT's policies on rates and the Employment Contracts Act, Reserve Bank Act and Fiscal Responsibility Act were also closest to the manufacturers' preferences.

ENDS

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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.

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