Should the Reserve Bank target unemployment as well as inflation? Will the new government abolish the dual mandate?
Back in 1989 – near the end of the fourth Labour government – the inflation-busting Reserve Bank Act was passed. Labour has shifted well away from the Rogernomics of that decade, and in 2021 Grant Robertson added maximum sustainable employment to the bank’s mandate - with the support of coalition partner NZ First.
The next three years – the job ahead for Labour, Greens and Te Pāti Māori
The Fabians had a session on Nov 14th reflecting on the elections. Our panel of Simon Wilson, Senior Writer at NZ Herald, Bridie Witton, Stuff Press Gallery Reporter and Ollie Neas, freelance writer used the election results as a springboard to target some of the key issues for Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori as they head into opposition.
Thank you for the opportunity to discuss the Pae Ora health reforms with you.
Since I was sacked by the Health Minister I have taken time to reflect on the experience and to make a considered assessment of what I learned in the process. My intention tonight is to share that with you, making the assumption that we share common ground in wanting to have an effective, efficient, excellent and equitable public health service.
If anyone does not want that, I don’t really have anything useful to share with you.
Interview transcript: Ambassador Wang Xiaolong with NZ Fabian Society
Hello, my name is Mike Smith, from the New Zealand Fabian Society. It's my great pleasure today to interview Ambassador Wang Xiaolong from the People's Republic of China to talk with us about China's values. I heard Ambassador Wang speak at a meeting convened by the Institute of International Relations(NZIIA) last year and in the course of that meeting, he addressed the question of China's values and said, "China's choice for values, social system and path to modernity is made by our own people, based on our own history, culture and realities. All these choices have proven to be suitable and effective to solve China's problems and meet the needs of the Chinese people".
The Fabian Society is an independent membership-based organisation that aims to provide a forum for education and debate on progressive policy priorities by providing quality events, publications and research. Via a series of lectures and seminars, we will provide a forum for critiquing the prevailing economic orthodoxy and the advocacy of viable alternatives.
Fabian Societies have been established and been active in New Zealand from time to time; in Christchurch in the late 19th century, and in Auckland in the 1940s and 1950s. Peter Fraser and Walter Nash extablished the Wellington Fabain Society in 1934 with the express purpse of hearing a lecture from Bernard Shaw, then visiting New Zealand.
The New Zealand Fabian Society was established in 2009 as an Incorporated Society, with branches currently active in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. Fabian Societies have helped develop an independent social-democratic tradition throughout the 20th century in English-speaking countries, particularly Britain and Australia.
While independent of other Fabian groups, the New Zealand Fabian Society aims to generate and disseminate ideas that are original, meet the challenge of the times, and are of high quality. Our values are that we are independent of all political parties, open and progressive. We do not believe that “There is no alternative”; rather that there are not enough alternatives. Our motto is “Inciting debate – Wero o te ahi”.
Vision
The advancement of New Zealand Society through progressive education and debate.
Mission
We aim to change the intellectual climate by making progressive thinking commonplace.
We will be at the forefront of education and debate about progressive ideas and policy reforms.
Provide information to members to encourage progressive reforms and practice.