|
Home > Our
Publications > New Zealand
Outlook > 2007 > December
Future outlook is good
NEW Zealanders are embracing the government's work to boost savings and improve the skills of our young people.
Finance Minister and Minister for Tertiary Education Michael Cullen
announced last month that the number of New Zealanders in KiwiSaver has
already passed a quarter of a million, standing at 261,000 as of 29
October.
In addition, the number of young people actively participating in
Modern Apprenticeships has reached 13,838. The programme looks set to
achieve its 14,000 target for 2008 before the end of this year.
"The government is delivering on our promises to New Zealanders," Michael Cullen said.
"At the last election, we fought to deliver KiwiSaver against an
opposition who had promised to scrap the scheme to pay for reckless tax
cuts.
"At this year's budget we announced major enhancements to the scheme to
make it easier for all families to save for their future. The National
Party voted against the enhancements and is still refusing to back
them.
"Now with over a quarter million KiwiSavers, it is clear that New
Zealanders are seizing the opportunity to save with the scheme growing
three times as fast as some had predicted. Still, the National Party
won't commit to KiwiSaver and they're now talking about cutting
superannuation rates.
"It is a similar story with Modern Apprenticeships. The government has
worked hard to restore the place of trades training in our economy
after the last National government scrapped apprenticeships programmes.
"At the last election we said we wanted to see 14,000 young people
gaining skills through active participation in Modern Apprenticeships
during 2008. We now look set to achieve that before the end of this
year.
"The government is delivering on policies that will better prepare New Zealand for the future". |