PRODUCTIVITY - MSC NewsWire

Manuka Honey Re-Invigorates Provinces

Therapeutic value restores hill country Cultivation of the manuka tree has become a priority on hillsides from Nelson to Waikato. The manuka tree, a member of the myrtle family, is the basis for the sharply growing industry in the production of therapeutic manuka honey. The health benefits of the manuka tree (pictured) were introduced to the rest of the world by Captain Cook who dubbed it the tea tree. The demand for manuka honey has created another cooperative opportunity in the form of share production between farmers and apiarists. In return for allocating blocks of land for the location of…

New Zealand's weak labour productivity

New Zealand has enjoyed good growth in average income since the global financial crisis. Labour participation is strong and our public finances are in relatively good shape. But one area holding the economy back is our persistently weak labour productivity, with the OECD estimating that New Zealand had the fourth lowest labour productivity growth of OECD countries between 1995 and 2014. Fortunately New Zealand is in a good position to address this area of persistent weakness. Achieving New Zealand’s productivity potential is the Productivity Commission’s commentary on New Zealand’s productivity performance. The report shows that New Zealand needs to shift…