Issue an Auckland currency, says new party

14 February 2012

Auckland should be thinking of a regional currency, redeemable for rates fees and fees to fund part of their new transport infrastructure, according to the New Economics Party.

Spokesperson Deirdre Kent said it was ridiculous to see politicians argue about how they could scrape up more national dollars when they could be creating their own rates vouchers and setting them into circulation.

An Auckland currency could be the answer to a lot of their funding problems. A proportion of all labour could be paid in these rates vouchers. All their rail fares and local goods could be paid in Auckland dollars.

“It is time to think outside the square. Aside from the question of whether all the roading projects will end up being white elephants as oil becomes dearer and dearer, the regional currency idea should be put at the top of the list of the 14 options now on the table,” said Ms Kent.

“Digital currencies using all the best technologies are ideal for the job because you can build in a circulation incentive to ensure they move faster than the national currency. And mobile phones can be used. It is ridiculous that Aucklanders should be using precious national dollars to trade for labour and for in goods made in Auckland.”

Deirdre Kent
New Economics Party spokesperson
http://neweconomics.net.nz
Economics for the 21st century

ENDS

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