23 May 2002

Christian Heritage must give a bouquet to the government for its part in our achieving the lowest unemployment figures since the early eighties, if the figures reflect reality.

By not decreasing tariffs they have allowed our exporters to take full advantage of the low exchange rate. By not removing tariffs they have also countered the ‘Big Business’ strategy accepted by the previous Labour and National governments, of making us compete with low tax low wage manufacturing in Asia. A strategy that lowered our manufacturing sector wage rates and standard of living in US$ terms while the internationally mobile professions fled New Zealand to work in countries where standards of living are protected.

Christian Heritage in parliament will strengthen the stand of those, reject direct competition with low wage economies and focus our hopes for economic growth on skills education in the productive sector and reduction in compliance costs for small businesses.

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