who pay a five-figure subscription fee, represent most of the large business interests in the country. The
subscription fee funds the New Zealand Business Roundtable's activities.
The New Zealand Business Roundtable has the aim of contributing to the development of policies that
it believes reflect New Zealand's overall national interests. To this end, the organisation produces a
wide range of publications (books, reports, submissions) and undertakes other activities that
inform/influence public debate on key policy issues. Over the years the organisation has brought many
prominent speakers to New Zealand, including Bjørn Lomborg, Francis Fukuyama, Martin Wolf of the
Financial Times and Yegor Gaidar.
The NZBR strongly supported the controversial market-oriented reforms undertaken in New Zealand
during the 1980s and 1990s. These reforms were intended to play a role in lifting New Zealand's
economic growth-rate. The country as of the early 21st century boasts one of the lowest unemployment
rates in the OECD. However, the benefits of such reforms remain a point of contention among
economic commentators and members of the public. Also, other business organisations, such as the
Business Council for Sustainable Development and The New Zealand Institute, claim to present
alternative views in public debate.
The NZBR's market-based policy advocacy continues to reflect what it sees as world best
practice and often appear aligned with those advocated by international organisations such as the
OECD and the International Monetary Fund. Its policies also track overseas trends toward greater
use of the private sector and reduced regulation of business and enterprise.
Now after the currency attack in 1987, the business round table ( The New Right ) financed a
discussion paper to solve the current economic problems plaguing New Zealand at that time.
In 1983, Douglas became responsible for Labour Party economic policy. Throughout the year he
attempted to create an economic policy for the next government. Although his ideas were unorthodox
for a Labour Party MP, Douglas was not at this time a free market ideologue, but someone looking
for practical solutions to the problems of the economy.
He was greatly influenced by Doug Andrew from the Treasury, who had spent time working with the
World Bank, ( influenced by the IMF ) when he became a strong supporter of free market economics.
In June 1983, Andrew became the Treasury liaison with Labour and participated in the party’s debates.
He arranged for Douglas to meet non-government economists to draft an economic policy, the result of
which was the Economic Policy Package put together by Andrew, Douglas and economist Geoff Swier,
and was accepted by the caucus Economic Committee.
The package faced opposition when presented to the Labour Party Policy Council: an alternative
policy was written by Public Service Association economist Peter Harris and others. Neither policy had
enough support to be accepted, but Douglas had the advantage that caucus had the power to send any
policy it did not agree with back to the policy council.
Because of this the alternative policy had no chance of being accepted, and the Economic Policy
Package became the basis of Labour Party policy.
After the snap election of 1984, Douglas hastily began to reform the New Zealand economy, under the
government’s slogan of "We will do the right thing". The speed of the reforms can partially be
attributed to the ‘currency crisis’ that resulted from Robert Muldoon’s refusal to devalue the dollar
after being advised to do so by the incoming government. Labour had planned to devalue the dollar but
had not announced devaluation as part of its election policy - Douglas later stated that doing so
"...would wreak havoc in the foreign exchange market and invite a run on the New Zealand dollar" The
business community became aware of the government's plan and speculated against the dollar,
subscription fee funds the New Zealand Business Roundtable's activities.
The New Zealand Business Roundtable has the aim of contributing to the development of policies that
it believes reflect New Zealand's overall national interests. To this end, the organisation produces a
wide range of publications (books, reports, submissions) and undertakes other activities that
inform/influence public debate on key policy issues. Over the years the organisation has brought many
prominent speakers to New Zealand, including Bjørn Lomborg, Francis Fukuyama, Martin Wolf of the
Financial Times and Yegor Gaidar.
The NZBR strongly supported the controversial market-oriented reforms undertaken in New Zealand
during the 1980s and 1990s. These reforms were intended to play a role in lifting New Zealand's
economic growth-rate. The country as of the early 21st century boasts one of the lowest unemployment
rates in the OECD. However, the benefits of such reforms remain a point of contention among
economic commentators and members of the public. Also, other business organisations, such as the
Business Council for Sustainable Development and The New Zealand Institute, claim to present
alternative views in public debate.
The NZBR's market-based policy advocacy continues to reflect what it sees as world best
practice and often appear aligned with those advocated by international organisations such as the
OECD and the International Monetary Fund. Its policies also track overseas trends toward greater
use of the private sector and reduced regulation of business and enterprise.
Now after the currency attack in 1987, the business round table ( The New Right ) financed a
discussion paper to solve the current economic problems plaguing New Zealand at that time.
In 1983, Douglas became responsible for Labour Party economic policy. Throughout the year he
attempted to create an economic policy for the next government. Although his ideas were unorthodox
for a Labour Party MP, Douglas was not at this time a free market ideologue, but someone looking
for practical solutions to the problems of the economy.
He was greatly influenced by Doug Andrew from the Treasury, who had spent time working with the
World Bank, ( influenced by the IMF ) when he became a strong supporter of free market economics.
In June 1983, Andrew became the Treasury liaison with Labour and participated in the party’s debates.
He arranged for Douglas to meet non-government economists to draft an economic policy, the result of
which was the Economic Policy Package put together by Andrew, Douglas and economist Geoff Swier,
and was accepted by the caucus Economic Committee.
The package faced opposition when presented to the Labour Party Policy Council: an alternative
policy was written by Public Service Association economist Peter Harris and others. Neither policy had
enough support to be accepted, but Douglas had the advantage that caucus had the power to send any
policy it did not agree with back to the policy council.
Because of this the alternative policy had no chance of being accepted, and the Economic Policy
Package became the basis of Labour Party policy.
After the snap election of 1984, Douglas hastily began to reform the New Zealand economy, under the
government’s slogan of "We will do the right thing". The speed of the reforms can partially be
attributed to the ‘currency crisis’ that resulted from Robert Muldoon’s refusal to devalue the dollar
after being advised to do so by the incoming government. Labour had planned to devalue the dollar but
had not announced devaluation as part of its election policy - Douglas later stated that doing so
"...would wreak havoc in the foreign exchange market and invite a run on the New Zealand dollar" The
business community became aware of the government's plan and speculated against the dollar,
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