SQ Transp 2048

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  • Human Rights, Environment Obligations, and Ethical Investment: Aotearoa New Zealand is Going Down the Wrong Path

     Dr Robert Howell

    1 Introduction and Summary

    A considerable portion of the world’s investments are unethical in that they have inadequate regard for the welfare of people and/or the planet. They invest in companies that abuse workers’ or other stakeholders rights.  Their activities destroy our environment.  Very few companies are fully fossil-free, or operate within ecological boundaries.  One of the reasons for this is that the term ethical investing is defined by such unvalidated concepts as ESG, or responsible.

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  • Should the Reserve Bank target unemployment as well as inflation? Will the new government abolish the dual mandate?

    Back in 1989 – near the end of the fourth Labour government – the inflation-busting Reserve Bank Act was passed. Labour has shifted well away from the Rogernomics of that decade, and in 2021 Grant Robertson added maximum sustainable employment to the bank’s mandate - with the support of coalition partner NZ First.

    Our Reserve Bank joined a powerful grouping of central banks that have dual targets, including the US Federal Reserve, the Reserve Bank of Australia, the Bank of Canada, the Bank of England and the European Central Bank.

    Going into the 2023 election, National and Act committed to a return to the 1989 objective. Will they take us out of the mainstream and into a straitjacket rather than a life-jacket?  And how does it square with their stated aim of getting people off the dole and back to work?

    Coverage can be found here

  • The next three years – the job ahead for Labour, Greens and Te Pāti Māori

    The Fabians had a session on Nov 14th reflecting on the elections. Our panel of Simon Wilson, Senior Writer at NZ Herald, Bridie Witton, Stuff Press Gallery Reporter and Ollie Neas, freelance writer used the election results as a springboard to target some of the key issues for Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori as they head into opposition.

    Coverage can be found here

  • Rob Campbell on Pae Ora Health Reforms

    Thank you for the opportunity to discuss the Pae Ora health reforms with you.

    Since I was sacked by the Health Minister I have taken time to reflect on the experience and to make a considered assessment of what I learned in the process. My intention tonight is to share that with you, making the assumption that we share common ground in wanting to have an effective, efficient, excellent and equitable public health service.

    If anyone does not want that, I don’t really have anything useful to share with you.

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Rob Campbell - Getting our health system working better - April 2023

Rob Campbell is the former chair of Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand. His recent sacking has sharpened his commentary on the need for change. He speaks to us about progress in transforming what has been a fragmented system in order to “create a more equitable, accessible, cohesive and people-centred system that will improve the health and wellbeing of all New Zealanders”. The new health system has been designed to enable a whole-of-country view to planning and delivering services, helping it to be efficient and consistent everywhere. A healthcare system that is nationally planned, regionally delivered and locally tailored and which will address things like surgical waiting lists. Check out their website for more information here. The government has set out six priorities for the new health system: · The health system will uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi · People and whānau will be supported to stay well and connected to their communities · High-quality specialist and emergency care will be equitable and accessible to all when it is needed · Digital services and technology will provide more care in people’s homes and communities · Our health workforce will be valued and well trained, ensuring we have enough skilled people to meet future needs Rob is a professional director with extensive union, public and private sector governance experience spanning over 40 years. He currently chairs Ara Ake Ltd, NZ Rural Land Company and he is Chancellor of AUT, and is the former chair of the Environmental Protection Authority. In 2017 he was awarded the NZ Shareholders Assoc Beacon Award and the Deloitte NZ Chair of the Year Award in 2017, and then in 2019, awarded the Companion of the NZ Order of Merit and made a Distinguished Alumni of VUW. The session was chaired by Professor Marie Bismark - medical practitioner, health lawyer, researcher and company director.