Latest Information
- 3 Dec 2009 - Submission released from Gordon Ward.
- 30 Nov 2009 - First report of the 2025 Taskforce and other material released.
- 30 Nov 2009 - Submissions released from: Business New Zealand, Federated Farmers of New Zealand, Independent Research Association of NZ, Employers and Manufacturers Association (Northern), New Zealand Business Rountable, Independent Business Foundation, Corporate Taxpayers Group, Kerridge & Partners.
- 18 Nov 2009 - Submissions released from: BRANZ, New Zealand Venture Investment Fund, Property Council NZ, Tony Friedlander.
2025 Taskforce
Page updated 3 Dec 2009
Answering the $64,000 Question - First Report of the 2025 Taskforce Released
The report is available at From the Taskforce. A summary of the report, media statements, questions and answers and the presentation used by the 2025 Taskforce at the media briefing are also available.
Message from the Chair
Close the income gap with Australia by 2025 – a straightforward enough goal, but how to achieve it is anything but straightforward. It immediately raises a large number of real questions:
- Is there an income gap? If so, how big is it? What caused it?
- Is it growing or reducing? What if we carry on "business-as-usual"?
- Does the gap matter? Why?
- Is the goal realistic? Can anyone – individuals, businesses and/or Government – do anything about it?
- Specifically, what can the Government do?
- At what cost – to individuals, communities, and the country as a whole?
One thing is certain: Closing the income gap will take more than a year or two – it will demand ongoing commitment and determination over many years, and many terms of government, if we are to get there. And if we don't start very soon, the challenge will just get bigger and bigger, as the ready reckoner graphically shows. Personally, I cannot think of a more important goal to the long-term future of New Zealand.
Changes of this nature – we're talking about long-term improvements in real living standards – don't happen just because governments change a few policies. They happen because people think differently about the choices open to them. Public understanding and debate about the income gap, and what it will take to close it, will therefore be critical to getting there. I see the 2025 Taskforce as a catalyst for this debate, and welcome ideas and comments from across the spectrum of New Zealanders.
The 2025 Taskforce has been appointed for a term of three years. As we progress, we will make available key papers, submissions and Taskforce reports on this website. I encourage you to keep in touch with the views and reports we are receiving by checking back at this website from time to time. Closing the gap is up to us all – I welcome your contribution.
Don Brash,
Chair, 2025 Taskforce
Submissions
Submissions received by the 2025 Taskforce can be viewed at Having Your Say.
Background Material
Background papers and presentations that the 2025 Taskforce has considered are available at Background Material.
Timetable
- The 2025 Taskforce released its first report on 30 November 2009.
- Subsequent reports are due on 31 October 2010 and 31 October 2011.
