John Key has announced a $152 million plan to create work, education and training opportunities for unemployed youth after the number out of work rose from 4000 last June to 17,000 this June.

Taskforce chairman Don Brash is confident New Zealand can close the gap with Australian levels of productivity and income by 2025.

John Whitehead says his speech calling for a shake-up in the public service should not be read as a call for wholesale job cuts.