Christopher Luxon says Auckland Council should open up Eden Park to unlimited concerts.
“Kiwis spend thousands flying across the Tasman to see massive concerts, go out to bars and restaurants, and boost the Australian economy when, back home, Eden Park sits empty because of council event rules,” the Prime Minister said in a state of the nation address today to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce.
“Now in fairness, the council has increased the limit, but I think they should seriously consider abolishing it completely.
“There’s always a reason to say no, but if we keep saying no, we’ll keep going nowhere.
“We need larger ports. We need more concerts.”
A focus on growth
During his state of the nation speech, Luxon said he wanted to talk about the economy “and almost nothing else”.
He said New Zealand needs to focus less on economic recovery and more on economic growth.
“Our Government has made big changes to improve the quality of public services – and make sure Kiwis get better outcomes over time.
“But as far as I’m concerned, going for growth is, without a doubt, priority number one.”
Cutting red tape
To action this, Luxon said New Zealand needed to “repeal and replace” the Resource Management Act, and fix “broken” health and safety rules. He said the Fast-track Approvals Act would begin to deliver some of the growth needed.
“Fast Track will supercharge economic growth, enabling major investments and growth in energy, transport, aquaculture, and a range of other sectors – but we can go further.
“The RMA is fundamentally broken and it needs to be replaced. Just ask anyone building a house or any farmer trying to get on and grow their business.
“I back builders and I back farmers to make a major contribution to growth in the New Zealand economy, and practical rules that let them do it will play a big part in unleashing growth.”
On the health and safety rules, Luxon said he “wouldn’t be shocked” if cones were New Zealand’s fastest growing industry.
“[Auckland Mayor] Wayne Brown has done a great job fighting back here in Auckland, and Simeon Brown fought hard against them in his time as Minister of Transport too.
“But they are just a symptom of a bigger problem.
“Our broken health and safety rules layer on costs and slow down activity – often without making Kiwis any safer.
“This year we will crack on and make big changes.”
The Prime Minister laid out his plans during his state of the nation address. (Source: 1News)
Time for mining
Luxon said mining needed to play “a much bigger role” in the country’s economy.
“It’s easy in politics to say you want a sovereign wealth fund like Norway, or much higher incomes like Australia – but it’s much harder to say you want the oil and mining that pays for it.
“In regions like Taranaki and the West Coast there are big economic opportunities – higher incomes, support for local business and families, and more investment in local infrastructure.
“The minerals sector will also be critical for our climate transition – EVs, solar panels, and data centres aren’t made out of thin air.
“I want to see mining employ more Kiwis and power more growth in the economy and I’m adamant we must take further steps to make that a reality.”
Tourism and farming
Tourism and farming were also featured in the speech. For tourists, Luxon said the Government needed to make it easier to come into the country.
“Tourism has a massive role to play in our growth story – and I want the Government to work with the sector to make that happen. “
Luxon said RMA reforms need to make it easier to be a farmer, with more time spent milking cows and “less time filling out paperwork asking for permission”.
“Enabling gene technology is about backing farmers. It is about embracing growth. It is about saying yes, instead of no.”
“Our political opponents can continue the scare campaigns of the early 2000s. But, we will back the scientific community, push on, and get that law passed this year too.”
Overseas investment
Luxon said “substantial” changes to the Overseas Investment Act would also be “critical” to encourage more investment into the New Zealand economy.
Furthermore, he announced the establishment of Invest New Zealand as the Government’s “one-stop-shop” for attracting foreign direct investment.
“The objective is to increase capital investment across a range of critical sectors – like banking and fintech, key infrastructure like transport and energy, manufacturing, and innovation.”
He said Minister of Trade and Investment Todd McClay would take the lead on the agency.
Science and technology
The Prime Minister also announced changes to “increase the role of science and technology into the economy”.
“Cabinet has agreed to shake up our Crown Research Institutes, establishing four Public Research Organisations – focused on bio-economy, earth sciences, health and forensic sciences, and advanced technology.”
He also announced the establishment of an advisory council for researchers, which “will set research priorities” and ensure funding is “targeted for maximum impact”.
“While having good institutions is important, incentivising scientists to make major breakthroughs – and then commercialise them – is critical.
“Right now, scientists see too few of the proceeds of their own research. Too often, any resulting intellectual property is swallowed up by universities and effectively shelved with any potential commercialisation often an afterthought.
“In Denmark – a country like New Zealand of around five million people – recent pharmaceutical breakthroughs have delivered a modern economic miracle, creating a tidal wave of growth, employment, and opportunity.”