Creativity and crown action needed to restore lost jobs

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Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones says COVID-19 will fundamentally change the New Zealand economy, and plans need to be made not to ensure young Māori and Pacific workers aren’t left out of any recovery.

Mr Jones says with predictions of unemployment spiking to 12 per cent and above, that means more than 200,000 people looking for work.

Creative thinking will be required, and allowance must be made for the rights of young people, a large percentage of whom are Māori and Pasifika.

"New Zealand First is deeply concerned that in the recovery thinking we don't consign them to the scrap heap as was the case coming out of Rogernomics. That means we are going to have to take risks in a way economically that we have not done for a long long time," he says.

Mr Jones says the crown will end up becoming a big player in the New Zealand economy, and iwi may also be able to expand their stakes as other firms are no longer active or are unable to maintain profitability.

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