✨ Speech from the Throne
NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE, No. 193
12 DECEMBER 2008
Honourable Members of the House of Representatives. It is a privilege for me to exercise the prerogative of Her Majesty the Queen and open the 49th Parliament.
E nga mana, e nga reo, e nga rangatira ma, tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou katoa.
Just over four weeks ago New Zealanders elected a new Parliament.
The outcome of the election clearly demonstrated New Zealanders’ desire for a new government and, in the view of my Government, a desire for a fresh approach to our country’s challenges.
Within two weeks of that election, negotiations between political parties enabled the formation of a new National-led Government that commands the votes of 69 Members of this Parliament on confidence and supply.
Those confidence and supply agreements are held with the ACT Party, the Maori Party and the United-Future Party. These agreements will form the basis of constructive and mana-enhancing working relationships and will enable my Government to govern in an effective, stable and inclusive manner.
Beyond these agreements, my Government anticipates co-operating with other parties in Parliament on issues of mutual interest.
Honourable members. The driving goal of the new Government will be to grow the New Zealand economy in order to deliver greater prosperity, security and opportunities to all New Zealanders.
It will be going for growth because it believes in the power of economic growth to deliver higher incomes, better living conditions and, ultimately, a stronger society for New Zealanders.
My Government knows that only a strong economy will guarantee financial security for families, well paid jobs in New Zealand for our young people, and larger superannuation payments for our older people.
In pursuing this goal of economic growth my Government will be guided by the principle of individual freedom and a belief in the capacity and right of individuals to shape and improve their own lives.
My Government believes that building a stronger economy in the term of this Parliament will not be without considerable challenges.
These are extraordinarily difficult times for the country and the world.
The world is experiencing what is now being described as the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930s. Global credit flows have dried up, financial institutions have fallen over, sharemarkets have plunged and economies worldwide are falling into recession.
The New Zealand economy has been in recession this year and economic growth in 2009 is forecast to be low. Asset values are falling and unemployment is predicted to rise. The Government will run an operating deficit this year and is likely to do so for some years to come.
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NZ Gazette 2008, No 193
✨ LLM interpretation of page content
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Speech from the Throne at the State Opening of Parliament
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🏛️ Governance & Central Administration9 December 2008
Governor-General, Parliament, State Opening, Economic Growth, Government Formation