The tale of two report cards
When asked to consider the National-led Government on its performance in key areas since the 2014 election, CEOs rated the Budget surplus focus at 4.55/5 s most highly, followed closely by economic growth at 4.21/5.
This is perhaps unsurprising given this year’s Budget showing the Government recording a stronger operating surplus than was forecast, and the recently released Pre-Election Fiscal Economic Update showing a robust economy growing at an average of around 3 per cent over the next four years.
“The country has benefited on many fronts from stable and skilled economic policy making,” says Beca Group chief executive Greg Lowe.
But survey respondents cautioned though National can be proud of the economic health of the country, there are significant social issues that need tackling.
“National’s steady as she goes approach needs to change up if they get another term,” says an agribusiness chairman. “They must be more aspirational in their approach to the big-ticket items including water, climate, homelessness and poverty.”
This tale of two very different report cards is obvious in the survey, with National’s performance tackling housing issues (2.43/5), environmental/water quality (2.50/5) and poverty and homelessness (2.43/5) among the five lowest scoring areas.
“There are plenty of gaps starting to appear,” says an automotive chief executive. “They have not addressed environment and housing that well as they don’t want to offend their rating of 2.43/5. “New Zealand’s performance on a global scale has been impressive in comparison to most economies and National deserve credit for that,” says a director of two prominent companies. “But there are some notable underachievements, including the rise of homelessness — just walk along Queen St.”
When asked “should we be doing more to help the homeless population?” 85 per cent of CEOs said yes, 5 per cent no, and 10 per cent were unsure.
“Homelessness is simply not the New Zealand way. We fail ourselves as a society by condoning it in any form,” says Simplicity managing director Sam Stubbs.
Stubbs was not alone with this sentiment. “Everyone needs a home,” and “there is always more to be done in this space,” and “surely this problem is solvable” were comments peppered throughout this year’s survey responses.
But how to tackle poverty and homelessness was much harder for business leaders to agree upon.
“Give tax breaks to low and midincome people and stop the merry go round of money,” says Erica Crawford, Loveblock Wine chief executive.
“Our people are struggling and kids struggling to learn. Too many homeless and hungry. Do something.”
The challenge now for National is to clarify what their vision for the future is — for both New Zealand and New Zealanders, explains Deloitte chief executive Thomas Pippos. “They need to capture the hearts, souls and minds of the voting public around it — not straightforward for anyone given the shallow decisionmaking criteria it seems the average voter adopts.”