Achievements by government rate well

On many measures - most notably the economy - Labour gets a pass mark since coming to power in 1999 and being re-elected in 2002.

Economic growth has been strong, unemployment has fallen markedly, and inflation has risen to be near the top of the Reserve Bank's 1-3 per cent range on average over the medium term.

Reflecting that, interest rates have been ramped up by the Reserve Bank to cool the economy, with the present official cash rate 6.75 per cent.

In non-economic measures Labour has also scored well.

The crime resolution rate is up, and industry training and tertiary graduate numbers have soared.

Two other measures - government spending and tax revenue - are viewed differently, depending on which side of the political divide you are on.

Both have risen substantially since 1999.


Growth (Gross Domestic Product)
1999: 0.5%
2002: 3.5%
2005: 4.2%
Annual rate, March years

Inflation
1999: 1.3%
2002: 2.7%
2004: 2.7%
Calendar year

Unemployment
1999: 6.8%
2002: 5.2%
2004: 3.9%
Calendar year

Maori unemployment rate
1999: 19 %
2002: 10.8 %
2005: 8.8 %
March quarter figures

Reserve Bank official cash rate
1999: 5%
2002: 5.75%
2004: 6.5%
At Dec 31

Crime resolution rate
1999 38.9%
2002 41.9%
2004 44.6%
Calendar year

Number of people discharged from elective and acute surgery
2000: 240,980
2002: 251,516
2004: 252,119
June year
Some of those discharged may not have had an operation, and data excludes some surgery such as that done at outpatients

Students getting tertiary qualification
1999: 56,212
2002: 90,210
2003: 103,748 (latest data available)
Calendar year

Industry trainees/apprentices
2000: 62,857
2002: 83,456
2004: 102,255
As at Dec 31

Core Crown spending
1999: $34 billion
2002: $38 billion
2005: $45.3 billion (forecast)
June year

Govt tax revenue
1999: $30.2 billion
2002: $36.2 billion
2005: $46 billion (forecast)
June year

The surplus
1999: $1.8 billion
2002: $2.4 billion
2005: $7.4 billion (forecast)
June year

Working age people getting income-tested benefits
2000: 365,272
2002: 343,264
2005: 291,958
March quarter figures

Average wage for individual before-tax, full-time earner:
2000: $36,186
2002: $38,572
2005: $42,920