Sometimes, our remoteness on the globe can lead us to underestimate how the world sees us. As a tourist destination we are highly regarded and this is something to be very proud of.
With international visitor number up by more than 13 per cent from August 2015 to August 2016, the economic benefits have also increased. Their spend has increased to $14.5 billion. Included in that is $2.8 billion in GST which funds our schools, roads and hospitals.
But this week The World Bank's Doing Business report ranked New Zealand as the Number 1 country in the world for ease of doing business. This is a huge achievement.
The report is made up of 10 different indicators that affect the life of a business. New Zealand ranks first in half of these including starting a business, dealing with construction permits, registering property, getting credit, and protecting minority investors
The report highlights the good work government agencies are doing through our comprehensive Business Growth Agenda to reduce the cost of doing business. There is always room to improve further and the Government will continue to work hard to make it easier to do business in New Zealand.
This international accolade is a real honour. But the more significant point is that we have systems in place that suits our particular New Zealand style. We embrace the 'can do' attitude and no one wants unnecessary obstacles when doing business. We want to enjoy a competitive and productive economy that provides more and better paying jobs.
