More Support For Growth

29 April 2002

A new survey shows a growing number of New Zealanders understand the link between a strong, growing economy and quality jobs and access to first class or good health and education services, says Business NZ.

The survey conducted this month follows on from one undertaken last December by UMR Research, which measured New Zealanders' attitudes towards economic transformation and the knowledge economy [1].

In the December survey, 83% of respondents said growing the economy was the best way to deliver more quality jobs, and better health care, education, and other social services. In the April survey this had increased to 86%.

By contrast, the numbers favouring higher tax rates fell from 10% to 6% between December and April.

Unchanged between the two surveys was the proportion of respondents (21%) who thought the economy is performing well enough to deliver enough quality jobs and quality health, education and other social services.

Business NZ Chief Executive Simon Carlaw said the April results confirmed that growth is a critical election issue because action is needed now to implement the policies needed to lift New Zealand onto a higher growth path.

Business NZ is surveying all political parties currently represented in Parliament on their growth policies and will score them against Business NZ's policy priorities [2].

The results will be released at a conference in August: Election 2002: Growth, Politics and Business, where all Parliamentary parties will be invited to discuss their plans for growing the economy.

Ends

[1] Survey carried out by UMR Research on behalf of Business NZ, Knowledge Wave Trust, and Science and Innovation Advisory Council. This was a telephone survey of a nationally representative sample of 750 New Zealanders aged 18 and over conducted from 4-8 April 2002. The margin of error for a 50% figure at the 95% confidence level is 3.6%.

[2] See http://www.businessnz.org.nz/cgi-bin/businessnz/item.pl?id=277

© Scoop Media