5. Question No. 5—FinanceHon AMY ADAMS (National—Selwyn) to the Minister of FinanceQuestion No. 5—Finance5. Hon AMY ADAMS (National—Selwyn) to the Minister of Finance: Does he stand by his statement that he would like less of a focus on celebrating economic growth that is driven by population increase"; if so will he be disappointed if GDP per capita growth figures released by Statistics New Zealand on Thursday are lower than 1.6 percent its average since 2012?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister of Finance): I stand by my full statement that the member is quoting from: "I favour more investment in New Zealand going towards the productive side of the economy and less of a focus on celebrating economic growth that is driven by population increase and people selling houses to each other which is what we saw for the last nine years." In answer to the second part of the question I will await the quarterly results before passing judgment.Hon Amy Adams: Has he also been given a hint on the upcoming GDP numbers as the Prime Minister said this morning that she had?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: No.Hon Amy Adams: Has he seen reports this morning that the New Zealand dollar gained after Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said she was "pretty pleased with the upcoming GDP numbers"?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: The New Zealand dollar has fluctuated throughout the morning as it does on most days. I've also seen the Prime Minister's statement that she was referencing the unaudited Government statements.Hon Amy Adams: Does he think it's acceptable for any core economic statistics to be indicated to the market ahead of their official release?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: There is an awful lot of speculation about economic statistics. We see new economic statistics listed every day and as with every previous Prime Minister and finance Minister we of course get material from Treasury on a regular basis before it's announced.Rt Hon Winston Peters: For the benefit of the primary questioner would he tell her the—SPEAKER: Order!Rt Hon Winston Peters: —difference between—SPEAKER: Order! I'm going to ask the Deputy Prime Minister to start that question again. We don't do things for the benefit of individual members in here.Rt Hon Winston Peters: I'm always trying to be helpful Mr Speaker.SPEAKER: Thank you.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Would the Minister of Finance point out the great difference there is between the Crown financial accounts and basic GDP figures?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: Absolutely. So the Crown financial accounts look back over the previous year and it will be an interesting occasion when they are released. What the GDP figures will show us is how things have been going in the quarter that finished at the end of June. I'm sure the member opposite will be very interested to hear that.Hon Amy Adams: Does the Minister consider that it's part of his job as the Minister of Finance to make sure that the Prime Minister knows the difference between GDP and core Crown accounts?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: The Prime Minister certainly knows the difference between those things as I do. But you know everybody makes mistakes including the member who put out a press release yesterday telling us that the Government's anti-growth policies are hurting business confidence and one that also said that New Zealand is now a very highly taxed economy yet we're 34th out of 35 in terms of tax wedge. So everyone makes mistakes Ms Adams.Hon Amy Adams: Is it the case that this sort of mistake by the Prime Minister on something as basic as knowing the difference between GDP numbers and the Crown's own accounts is one of the reasons that business confidence is now at a 10-year low?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: The Prime Minister is very clear on the difference between those two things. She is also extremely clear on the fact that what we are striving towards is an economy that actually delivers to New Zealanders higher wages and better living standards. I for one know that the Prime Minister is not satisfied with GDP growth that saw New Zealand described as having the worst homelessness in the world. We know we can do better on this side of the House and we will do better."