Backing our businesses
by Joseph Mooney MP for Southland and Shadow Spokesperson for Tourism
Queenstown is known as an adventurous tourist destination, but what may not be so well known is that it has a vibrant community of women leaders shaping the local business landscape.
More than half of the Queenstown Chamber of Commerce Board as well as the Chair and the CEO are local women business leaders, and women are leading exciting new and established businesses throughout the region.
Then there are women who are leading the social and cultural innovation ecosystem including things like Te Atamira, Impact 100 Wakatipu, and Baskets of Blessing to name a few. Women in business are contributing to our diverse multicultural community in many different facets.
The Queenstown-Lakes area has benefitted from having these women, and many others, at the helm of their organisations. The National Party has long recognised the incredible talents of women including fielding New Zealand’s first female Prime Minister Rt Hon Jenny Shipley. Many hold lead roles in Caucus including Nicola Willis, National’s Deputy Leader, and Finance Spokesperson.
Nicola Willis, along with the rest of the National Party, have recently finished one of the busiest weeks in a Parliament year. Budget Week is one of the most critical weeks for New Zealand as they learn the current Government’s fiscal plans for the next year.
If you were hoping for some relief for your business in the Blowout Budget 2023, you will have been sorely disappointed.
The Labour Government had promised New Zealand a prudent budget, but instead New Zealand has been faced with a reckless one.
Grant Robertson has his foot to the floor with spending. The Reserve Bank has been pumping the brakes on the economy by raising interest rates for some time now, Robertson is not getting the message.
Robertson and the Labour Government are creating pressure for the Reserve Bank to continue hiking the official cash rate putting further pressure on the housing market, which Treasury sees crashing to 21 per cent below its November 2021 peak.
Inflation will last longer resulting in 60% of kiwis paying more on their mortgages. Repayments on a $500,000 mortgage fixed just two years ago are already up $700 a fortnight.
The long-term effects of Robertson’s Blowout Budget are as worrying as the short term. With a forecast debt blowing out to $95 billion by 2026, they are saddling our children with debt.
National will fix the economy by adjusting tax brackets for inflation and end wasteful Government spending. Allowing hard-working New Zealanders to keep more of their hard-earned income while reducing the Government spending that is fanning the flames of inflation.
National will back our businesses who have done an incredible job during a tough trading environment, keeping our economy going and people in jobs. With the biggest balance of payments deficit in the developed world, it is more important than ever that we can confidently trade with the world.
I recently hosted Chris Luxon in Queenstown. It was great to help Chris connect with our business community once again. Queenstown is full of hard-working, innovative people and it was good for us to hear direct from source where solutions lie.
National will bring back trust to the relationship between business and Government.
Funded by the Parliamentary Service, Authorised by Joseph Mooney, Parliament Buildings, WGTN
