Barry Maggie: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to MembersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeBarry Maggie: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members[Sitting date: 01 August 2013. Volume:692;Page:12240. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]2.MAGGIE BARRY (National—North Shore)to theMinister of Finance: What reports has he received on business and economic conditions in New Zealand?Hon STEVEN JOYCE (Associate Minister of Finance)on behalf of theMinister of Finance: There have been a number of reports in recent weeks that show business conditions are improving and confidence amongst New Zealand companies is increasing. For example just yesterday the ANZ issued its ANZ Business Outlook survey for July. It confirmed that overall business confidence increased three further points in the month with a net 53 percent of respondents expecting better times ahead. This is the highest level of business confidence since April 1999 or more than 14 years. Perhaps not coincidentally that was when National was last in Government. ANZ noted: “The latest lift in confidence is symptomatic of a broader expansion of the economy than we have seen previously.” It included a demonstration of confidence in the manufacturing sector which increased five points to a net plus 44 percent.Maggie Barry: What contribution do the medium-high tech and high-tech manufacturing sectors make to New Zealand’s economy?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: I am pleased to advise that the Minister for Economic Development released theHigh and Medium-High Technology Manufacturing Sectors Report today which outlines the substantial and growing contribution these two sectors make to the New Zealand economy. The medium-high tech sector exported goods worth NZ$2.8 billion in 2012. Exports by the high-tech sector grew from $139 million in 1991 to $1.4 billion last year. This sector has got a faster growth trajectory than the New Zealand wine industry. Within the Government’s Business Growth Agenda there are 58 specific initiatives to assist the high-tech manufacturing sector grow even larger so that it can continue to assist in providing higher incomes and more jobs for Kiwi families.Maggie Barry: What is the current state of the manufacturing sector particularly compared with 2008?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: Since the beginning of 2009 the manufacturing sector has grown by 9.2 percent. That is a significant turn-round from 2008 when manufacturing shrank by 12 percent in just 1 year. Since 2009 non-food manufacturing export volumes have grown by 14.6 percent. In 2008 by way of contrast they fell nearly 6 percent. Finally in June this year the BNZ - Business New Zealand Performance of Manufacturing Index was in solid expansionary mode at 54.7. This is the highest June result since 2004. It compares with 35.8 in 2008. So although individual firms are undoubtedly facing challenges the sector as a whole has made a lot of progress since the crisis of 2008.Maggie Barry: Has he received any reports of complaints about new investment in New Zealand manufacturing which is creating new jobs and helping families to get ahead?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: Well yes I have. I have seen a rather extraordinary press release criticising companies like Heinz McCain Foods and Call Active for shifting hundreds of jobs to New Zealand from Australia. Nothing seems to ever please the authors of this release. Having spent months complaining erroneously about a crisis inNew Zealand manufacturing they then criticise companies that want to move here and invest in manufacturing jobs. It seems their dislike of foreigners even extends to turning up their noses to companies that want to create jobs for Kiwi families. This mindless opposition to manufacturing moving here from Australia illustrates that this side of the House favours jobs and growth while the Labour Party and their mates in the Greens oppose every initiative to create jobs.