2013: the year in 3D
Continued from page 7 SIMON MOUTTER
Chief executive Telecom.
What are your predictions for New Zealand in 2013?
New Zealanders will increasingly embrace the future as they see how communications technologies and their associated applications can enrich their lives, bring them closer to friends and families and make their businesses run smarter. Mobility will be a key driver as people make more use of smartphones and tablets to stay connected anywhere, any time.
The efforts of the private sector and Government over recent years to strengthen economic ties with Asia will continue to pay off. Asia is becoming much more than a factory and back-office for the world, and a market for our primary products. It’s also a rising force in technology and innovation.
The Christchurch rebuild will pick up speed. Canterbury businesses are well placed to incorporate new communications technologies and connectivity into their workplaces. They’re already ahead of the curve in areas like remote working – they’ve had to be, given their office buildings were munted in the earthquakes.
Business conditions will remain tough. But businesses will just get on with it – they’ll accept that a low-growth economy is better than a no-growth economy.
How many people does New Zealand need?
It’s more important that New Zealand encourages and benefits from increasing diversity in our population. A lot of the growth will come through more immigration from Asian countries which will strengthen our ties with the world’s most dynamic and fastest growing region.
What’s the biggest challenge New Zealand faces?
Embrace the fact we are a tiny nation and turn that to our advantage by being adaptable and nimble.
Where do you plan to spend the holidays?
Omaha Beach with my family.
ANDREW BARCLAY
Chief executive Goldman Sachs NZ.
What are your predictions for New Zealand in 2013?
The fiscal cliff will be averted and will become a distant memory by year end. Global equity markets will continue to improve and interest rate remain at historic lows.
Domestically, we will see the Christchurch rebuild gain further momentum and we will see our first successful listing of a state owned enterprise under the Mixed Ownership Model programme which will help reinvigorate capital markets.
We will see more women join boards of New Zealand companies as we realise the competitive advantage this offers us. We will continue to see the rise of the Asian economies in global economic leadership.
I also see a top 4 finish for the Blues!
How many people does New Zealand need?
It’s a matter of the quality of our talent pool not the quantity. Our focus should be on investing and continuing to improve our education standards at all levels, increasing our economic productivity and becoming more efficient and innovative. Immigration or population growth per se is not the answer.
What’s the biggest challenge New Zealand faces?
A comprehensive long term (30-year plus) economic development plan and the political consensus to apply it consistently.
Where do you plan to spend the holidays?
At the beach but the best part of it will be with my family doing volunteer work in the Pacific.
MARILYN WARING
Former National MP, professor of public policy at AUT’s Institute of Public Policy. rich and poor, and no attempt to deal with this, in a context where evidence clearly demonstrates that higher ‘‘growth’’ rates (if that’s what you are after) come with the lessening of gaps between rich and poor.
No attempts to focus on ‘‘wellbeing’’ as opposed to ‘‘growth’’, and so an increase in intergenerational ecological inequity; no capital gains tax, demonstrably the only real policy response to housing prices if you desire a different outcome; no real increase in women appointed to boards in the public or private sector, and no change in the gender pay gap.
Central government decisions continuing to be driven by ideology, as opposed to evidence, across many sectors; but some real progress and outcomes in the management and regulations regarding fresh water use in New Zealand.
Emerging leadership to put an end to the racist nonsense around Te Tiriti, and increasing recognition of the debt all who live in New Zealand owe to tangata whenua.
The dignity of marriage equality for all New Zealanders.
How many people does New Zealand need?
A wrong-headed question – no reason not the ‘‘need’’. . .
What’s the biggest challenge New Zealand faces?
Changing male behaviour to eliminate violence against 55 per cent of New Zealand women who experience this.
Where do you plan to spend the holidays?
Places where I will body surf, play golf and watch tennis.
What are your predictions for New Zealand in 2013?
Rationalisation of the mainstream print media on a national basis because of a drop in revenue from online trends.
Government asset sales finally get off the ground, late. Mighty River Power shares are in huge demand. Len Brown gets reelected as Mayor of Auckland.
A sustained economic crisis in Europe with another major economy in trouble – maybe Italy. New Zealand continues to do better than most of the rest of the world in economic terms.
David Shearer spends another year letting the Greens run rampant as the ‘‘official Opposition Spokespeople’’.
How many people does New Zealand need?
More than we currently have. Our immigration policies of recent years have given us a good cross-section of new immigrants, and good investment-friendly immigration policies can be a big boost to economic growth.
What’s the biggest challenge New Zealand faces?
Resisting our default position of expecting the Government to solve all our problems.
Where do you plan to spend the holidays?
First Christmas off Waiheke for 10 years, going to the Gold Coast to play golf and lie in the sun for two weeks.