Nash Stuart: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
Nash Stuart: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
[Volume:676;Page:21579] 
10. 
STUART NASH (Labour) 
 to the  
Minister of Finance 
: How many more families report their income is “not enough” to meet everyday needs since the Government took office according to the Household Economic Survey (Income) comparing the 2008 survey to the latest survey? 
Hon BILL ENGLISH (Minister of Finance) 
: 
 First of all I am advised that comparing this measure across different surveys is not advisable given that it is a subjective self-reported measure that is very dependent on day-to-day events. I am also advised by Statistics New Zealand that the 2008 data was later revised so I can give the member the revised data. In the 2008 household expenditure survey 18.6 percent of households or 295000 reported their income was “not enough” to meet everyday needs. In the latest survey for 2010 18.5 percent of households—roughly 295000—reported that their income was “not enough” to meet everyday needs. So no change. 
Stuart Nash 
: Can he confirm Australian Bureau of Statistics and Statistics New Zealand data that show that the GDP per capita gap between Australia and New Zealand has widened by 2.6 percent since his Government took office? 
Hon BILL ENGLISH 
: I cannot confirm that but I can confirm the data I think quoted yesterday which is that since this Government has been in office all of the drop in per capita GDP occurred before the middle of 2009. In fact per capita GDP started shrinking in 2008 under the previous Government. There was a big drop in 2008-09. Since then it has levelled out and now it is likely to rise. 
Stuart Nash 
: I would like to table a document that shows— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Before the member says what it shows we must know the source of the document. 
Stuart Nash 
: It is a document prepared by the Parliamentary Library and it shows that the GDP per capita gap has widened by 2.6 percent under this Government. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is no objection. 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House. 
Stuart Nash 
: Is he aware that the real average wage has fallen by 3.2 percent since his Government came into office according to the labour cost index? 
Hon BILL ENGLISH 
: Just for the member’s assistance the labour cost index is actually a measure of wage inflation—that is how much is paid for the same work. It is not a measure of the wages actually paid. Secondly in respect of real wages after-tax real wages have risen. I know that sticks in the member’s craw but actually despite a recession in New Zealand after-tax real wages have gone up. 
Stuart Nash 
: I have something prepared by the Parliamentary— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I cannot hear the member. 
Stuart Nash 
: —sorry Mr Speaker—prepared by the Parliamentary Library showing that real wages have actually fallen by 3.2 percent since National came into office. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document prepared by the Parliamentary Library. There is objection. 
Stuart Nash 
: Can he confirm that according to the household labour force survey 49000 more New Zealanders are unemployed since his Government came to power? 
Hon BILL ENGLISH 
: No I cannot confirm that number but I can confirm that the Government is working very hard to get on top of the unusual situation where under his Government despite there being a long phase of global growth the number of New Zealanders on benefits rose significantly. We are taking on the challenge of getting those numbers down despite global growth looking a bit moderate. 
Stuart Nash 
: I seek leave to table something from the Parliamentary Library giving Statistics New Zealand figures that show that the number of people unemployed has increased by 49000 since December 2008. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document prepared by the Parliamentary Library. Is there any objection? There is no objection. 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.