Comment on Labour Policy Announcement by NZMEA President
“This policy release from the Labour Party is so important that if it becomes government policy it would define a shift in New Zealand’s
culture,” says Brian Willoughby President of the NZMEA and Managing Director of Plinius Audio and Contex Engineers.
“While the NZMEA has long advocated for the policies in the document, we have been criticised as promoting the
self-interest of a particular group. What has happened here is that the Labour Party has recognised that these are
policies that will ensure the future well-being of all New Zealand’s citizens.”
“The Manufacturing Inquiry was criticised by some as a political stunt. We hope this policy announcement will not be similarly dismissed and
demeaned."
“Logical, reasoned criticism will not follow because there isn’t any that will withstand scrutiny, so we can instead
expect old fashioned Chicago School of Economics philosophy arguments that are proven to not work well, even in large
economies and are disasters for small open economies like New Zealand.”
"The question is will New Zealanders outside the tradable sector recognise how groundbreaking and important this is to
them and their children, so they vote for this in September? Only time will tell.”
“But as first a father, then a grandfather and finally a manufacturer, I certainly hope so.”
Official comment by the NZMEA on the Labour announcement can be found here.
Ends