An Email from the Prime Minister

Hi Crosbie, pn248 Here in New Zealand, we have a long history of standing up for what's right on the world stage. We were the first country in the world where women won the right to vote, the first to introduce a cradle-to-grave social welfare system, and we led the world when we declared ourselves nuclear free. Now, we're leading the way with our approach to the economy and how we measure success. This year, our Government will present the world's first "wellbeing budget". This means we will work not just to balance our books, but also to reduce child poverty, raise living standards, and look after our environment. It's not only the right thing to do - it's a well-rounded economic approach. Experts like the OECD and the IMF have urged countries to look beyond a strong balance sheet and focus on other measures of success, like living standards and social capital, the strength of our communities, and the wellbeing of our people. And other countries are starting to take notice of this new way we are developing our policies. This week, I've been at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, where there's been a lot of interest in our more compassionate approach to the economy. It's been encouraging to meet with other world leaders and share our plans to focus on more than just dollars and cents, and put people at the centre of our work. I hope this wellbeing approach is a model other countries may look to in a world where there is a genuine need to look beyond growth to a more empathetic approach in the way we do politics. None of this changes our commitment to managing the economy responsibly, running a healthy surplus, spending within our means and sticking to the Budget Responsibility Rules. Trade has also been a focus of my time in Europe. Earlier this week, I met with British Prime Minister Theresa May to secure a post-Brexit agreement for our exporters, and to make sure New Zealand is a priority for a future UK trade deal. I also met with EU representatives to discuss the free trade agreement we're in the middle of negotiating with them. I'll keep you updated on all our progress as we work to build a fairer, more inclusive economy. In the meantime, if you're interested in seeing more from our meetings in Europe, check out our posts over on Facebook. Best wishes, Jacinda Ardern                                                    ------ See pn225 on the Social Progress Index that could help Government monitor progress towards its objectives. -- ACW