Scoop  Politics

11 MARCH 2019

The Reserve Bank should focus on monetary policy and prudential supervision, rather than hiring a Maori Cultural Capability Advisor, says the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union.

Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director Jordan Williams says “The Reserve Bank has a specific and exclusive job of managing the health of New Zealand’s monetary system. For the sake of New Zealand’s economy, it is important that the Reserve Bank takes this job very seriously and invest its limited resources effectively. There is simply no need for the Reserve Bank to have a cultural capability team.”

“The Reserve Bank Governor’s regular description of the Reserve Bank as Tane Mahuta – a Maori Tree God – is now a punchline in Wellington and in the business media. The Bank’s doubling-down on expensive feel-good PC box-ticking puts the Reserve Bank’s reputation even more at risk.”

“Teaching Bank economists about Tane Mahuta when the Bank’s reputation is following that of The Treasury is a waste of money. The Bank should stick to its knitting.”

ENDS

© Scoop Media

 

Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines

Gordon Campbell: On Why Big Spenders Are Not Our Tourism Salvation

Covid and climate change have been changing the face of tourism. That’s why it seemed oddly premature last week for Tourism Minister Stuart to announce that New Zealand isn’t interested in mass tourism any more, or in attracting the sort of budget visitors who “travel around our country on $10 a day eating two-minute noodles.” Instead, New Zealand aims to focus its marketing efforts on attracting wealthy, big spending tourists. “In terms of targeting our marketing spin,” Nash said, “it is unashamedly going to be at … High-quality tourists.” Really? The comments have raised a few eyebrows overseas, and a few hackles here at home. Nash’s comments have also been something of a gift to an Opposition adept at portraying the Ardern government as a bunch of liberal elitists out of touch with ordinary people...
More>>