Here is an example of the sort of figures that the Government is dealing with as it seeks to get the economy back onto a path of long term growth.

Since 2004 more than half of the new jobs created in New Zealand have been in public administration, health and education. In other words, jobs that are paid for by the taxpayer. On the other hand, the number of jobs in major export earnings has fallen. Job growth in the public sector since 2004 has exceeded 20 percent, over four times the growth rate in other sectors. Sure we want more doctors and teachers and police, but do we need more managers, group managers, section managers, policy analysts, spin merchants etc?

While this has been happening employment in agriculture, forestry, fishing and manufacturing has fallen.

These trends cannot be allowed to continue. We have too many workers in public sector activities and not enough employment in the productive parts of the economy to support them.

That is why the Government is so focused on re-balancing the economy and re-gearing it to encourage productive investments and exports. The aim is 170,000 new jobs over the next four years.