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The Government’s comprehensive Business Growth Agenda is delivering greater business investment, more jobs and higher wages for New Zealanders, Finance Minister Bill English and Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce say.

The two lead ministers today released the Business Growth Agenda – Future Direction 2014 report which outlines the significant progress the National Government has made in creating the conditions for businesses to invest for jobs and growth.

A week on and still no word from Labour's David Parker on how his self-proclaimed “big tool” will actually work, Associate Finance Minister Steven Joyce says.

“Mr Parker has still not answered the straightforward question of how much KiwiSaver contributions would have to go up for wage and salary earners in order to stop a 1 per cent rise in interest rates for everyone,” Mr Joyce says.

Labour's David Parker needs to front up on how much he would squeeze wage and salary earners with his KiwiSaver jack up plan, Associate Finance Minister Steven Joyce says.

Mr Parker couldn't answer a simple question today on how much KiwiSaver contributions would have to go up for wage and salary earners in order to stop a 1% rise in interest rates.

"Surely you must be able to answer that question.  If you can't, it's not a policy, it's not even an idea, it's just a David Parker thought bubble.

The Labour Party's attempts to talk down New Zealand's economic performance have hit a new low this weekend with David Parker making at least nine factually incorrect statements in one short interview, Associate Finance Minister Steven Joyce says.

The Government’s comprehensive Business Growth Agenda is helping New Zealand build a productive and competitive economy to deliver more jobs and higher growth for people around New Zealand, Finance Minister Bill English and Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce say.

The first ever snapshot of central government spending by region shows that taxpayers’ dollars are being evenly distributed across New Zealand.

The sixth Business Growth Agenda progress report, Building Capital Markets, which is being released today, outlines 50 initiatives to strengthen New Zealand’s capital markets, so they can support businesses to grow and create jobs, Finance Minister Bill English and Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce say.

The report also sets a goal of reducing the real interest rate premium on New Zealand debt, compared with the United States and Australia.

The latest Business Growth Agenda progress report, Building Natural Resources, sets out how New Zealand can build growth and jobs from sustainably using its natural resources, Finance Minister Bill English and Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce say.

Building Natural Resources sets out the 49 initiatives the Government is taking to improve the way we use and manage our resources. It encourages businesses to find ways to become more innovative to get the best results for the economy and the environment.

Finance Minister Bill English and Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce have today launched the first Business Growth Agenda progress report on Government actions to boost New Zealand exports.

The Building Export Markets report confirms the Government’s target to increase the contribution of exports to the economy from 30 per cent to 40 per cent of GDP by 2025.

Mr Speaker, I move that the Mixed Ownership Model Bill be now read a second time.

This Bill and debate, is about controlling our nation’s debt, strengthening New Zealand’s capital markets, and providing funding for new high-priority infrastructure projects.

No nation can afford to let debt get out of control.

Huge debt is at the core of why the United Kingdom, Ireland, Spain, Italy, and Greece are being forced to impose tough measures – we don’t want that for New Zealand.

The Government will focus on six key areas over the next three years to help companies grow and to build a more productive and competitive economy, Finance Minister Bill English and Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce say.

Building a more competitive economy is one of four main priorities the Prime Minister has outlined for the Government in this term.