OUR ECONOMIC PROSPECTS

I know that things are hard for many of you at the moment. You may be worried about your job or the jobs of your friends or loved ones. You may be losing customers or having to cut costs. You may be struggling to juggle your household budget.

Despite this, I think the future of New Zealand is still very positive. And I think we can use this recession as an opportunity to boost our future prospects.

I have a very clear vision of where New Zealand can get to and what it is we're going to succeed at. I believe we are capable of leap-frogging other countries we compete with economically so that New Zealanders are much better off on a relative basis.

We can be wealthier than we are now. We can offer our children better opportunities. We can provide more financial security for our families and better-paying jobs for our young people. And we can have better schools and better hospitals.

This can be a country that more New Zealanders living overseas want to come back to.

Yesterday I gave a speech outlining how I think New Zealand can achieve these things and how our first Budget in Government fits in with that. You can read and comment on it here.

MAKING THE MOST OF OUR OPPORTUNITIES

Earlier this week I gave three speeches on two important parts of our primary sector - the dairy industry and our fisheries - which provide high-quality food to the world.

The speeches look at some of the challenges these industries face, and how the National Government wants to make the most of the huge opportunities they provide for our future. You can read and comment on these by clicking on the links below:
- Speech at the launch of the Strategy for New Zealand Dairy Farming
- Speech to the Seafood Industry Conference
- Aquaculture Deed of Settlements

IMPROVING AUCKLAND'S GOVERNANCE

Now that the Government has announced our position http://www.auckland.govt.nz/ on the Royal Commission's Report into Auckland's Governance, we're taking the next step.

This will start with a legislative process that considers the proposed changes, listens to the public, and defines the structure of the Auckland Council and the roles of the local boards. Aucklanders will be invited to contribute their views through select committee hearings in the region over the next few months.

We'll be sending three Bills to Parliament. The first Bill will be passed into law under urgency. This will put in place some transitional measures that will establish the Auckland Council as a legal entity, set up a transition agency to oversee the changes, and define how the region's existing councils should work in the meantime - as recommended by the Royal Commission.

The second and third Bills will deal with the structure of the Auckland Council and how councillors are elected, and the roles of the local boards. You will get a chance to have your say on these critical issues as the Bills go through select committee.

If you feel strongly, I hope you will make a submission.

SENIOR CONSTABLE LEN SNEE

I was deeply shocked to learn about the death of Senior Constable Len Snee in Napier yesterday. Len has made the greatest sacrifice anyone can make for their community. I know that his family will be absolutely devastated, and my thoughts are with them.

John Key
Prime Minister

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