Human Rights, Environment Obligations, and Ethical Investment: Aotearoa New Zealand is Going Down the Wrong Path
Dr Robert Howell
1 Introduction and Summary
A considerable portion of the world’s investments are unethical in that they have inadequate regard for the welfare of people and/or the planet. They invest in companies that abuse workers’ or other stakeholders rights. Their activities destroy our environment. Very few companies are fully fossil-free, or operate within ecological boundaries. One of the reasons for this is that the term ethical investing is defined by such unvalidated concepts as ESG, or responsible.
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.
Our Reserve Bank joined a powerful grouping of central banks that have dual targets, including the US Federal Reserve, the Reserve Bank of Australia, the Bank of Canada, the Bank of England and the European Central Bank.
Going into the 2023 election, National and Act committed to a return to the 1989 objective. Will they take us out of the mainstream and into a straitjacket rather than a life-jacket? And how does it square with their stated aim of getting people off the dole and back to work?
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.
The Fabian Society is an independent membership-based policy forum. It aims to provide an open, pluralist and progressive forum for education and debate on policy.
Applying progressive values to contemporary issues.
First established in the UK by Sidney and Beatrice Webb, the UK Society has had a major influence on British policy formation in its 100+ years of work. See https://fabians.org.uk/about-us/our-history/.
New Zealand Fabians do not take formal stances on issues but we do advocate for progressive policies and we recognize that progressive politics are multi-party.
An Independent Membership-Based Policy Forum
We aim to provide an open, pluralist space for education and debate on policy, through quality forums, publications and research. Our publications, research and lectures are the responsibility of their authors. There is no collective position for members to be held to, or collective responsibility to uphold. We encourage diverse, respectful and sharp debates that can drive better policies
Action as well as ideas
We seek to build a community of interested and engaged citizens thinking about policy and acting on their progressive ideals to make a difference to New Zealand society.
Membership
Membership is open to any interested person who endorses the Society's values and approach.