David Farrar: How about a special economic zone for NZ?

Radio NZ reports:

New Zealand First will campaign on establishing a Special Economic Zone at Marsden Point to “provide relief” from planning regulations and the RMA in the area. …

He explained the proposed party policy, saying a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) can have varied policies, but include tax breaks, wage subsidies, reduced regulation, and investment in physical, transport or communications infrastructure. …

Industries in that economic zone would not have to deal with local/ regional councils, DOC or other agencies, he said.

Instead, Peters said, planning rules and RMA consents would be “determined quickly by a government panel”.

“This expert panel would make decisions based on whether the changes will grow the economy and achieve the aims of the zone.”

Other “relief options” the party was considering were changes to the Overseas Investment Act to “make it easier for quality foreign investment in the zone to occur while at the same time protecting our national interest and ownership.”

So an SEZ would have lower taxes, reduced regulation, no local government restrictions, and easier foreign investment.

I propose two SEZs. One for the North Island and one for the South Island!

David Farrar runs Curia Market Research, a specialist opinion polling and research agency, and the popular Kiwiblog where this article was sourced. He previously worked in the Parliament for eight years, serving two National Party Prime Ministers and three Opposition Leaders