Special economic zones worth exploring

Special economic zones are an idea worth considering says Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC) chair Chris Laidlaw.

The New Zealand Initiative has proposed that each region of New Zealand should be looked at as a separate entity when it comes to overseas investment regulations as a means of tailoring policy reform to particular regional needs and encouraging regional economic development.

"In principle the idea of special economic zones is very interesting and worthy of further consideration, even if it raises some potentially awkward questions" Mr Laidlaw said.

One of GWRC's main community outcomes is a strong economy supported by high quality infrastructure that retains and grows business and employment.  Mr Laidlaw said he was happy to consider new initiatives that support this outcome.

"We certainly need more flexibility in the way local government is funded and there is a variety of options that need to be explored.  The concept of special economic zones is one possible way to introduce more flexibility.  Although there are questions about how the system would operate, where boundary lines would be drawn, and how the environment would be safeguarded, the initiative "along with others" is worthy of further exploration," Mr Laidlaw said.

He congratulated the New Zealand Initiative for their policy work to improve the quality of local government in New Zealand.