Page 7 - Export and Trade

been edging lower, and our participation in global value New Zealand does not need to choose between a
chains is limited. prosperous economy and a clean environment. We can
And while just under one in four workers derive their have both.
livelihoods from exports, this share has been trending
downward for the past 15 years. Despite offering We are fortunate to be in a country with a strong
higher wages, New Zealand is devoting less and less of natural resource base that is an attractive place to visit
its workforce to exporting. and live. However, our recent economic growth has
largely been driven by increasing both the population
In my opinion, New Zealand has a capital allocation and the volume of low-value exports. This has put
problem. We spend too much money trading houses pressure on our infrastructure and our environment.
at ever increasing prices, but don’t invest enough in As such, a big focus of this Government will be on
productive businesses. productive growth. To move from volume to value
Policy settings should encourage investment in high ZH PXVW EHWWHU XWLOLVH RXU ODQG SHRSOH DQG ¿QDQFLDO
productivity export businesses, rather than speculation capital. It means investing in infrastructure, the
in Auckland rental properties. regions, our systems and our national brand to create
a country that gives everyone the opportunity to
Trade is a means to an end, not an end itself. A succeed.
prosperous and fair economy is the end goal, with the
EHQH¿WV RI WUDGH VKDUHG DFURVV JURXSV DQG UHJLRQV 7R Such initiatives, along with continued gains in market
SDUDSKUDVH P\ FROOHDJXH WKH +RQ 6KDQH -RQHV ZH DOO access, will see a reallocation of resources to our export
have the right to better living standards, no matter who sector, and substantial gains in our export earnings.
we are or what part of our country we live in.

Our growth – both in exports and domestic activity The Honourable David Parker
– should not come at the expense of the environment. Minister for Trade and Export Growth

NZ Export & Trade Handbook 2018 5