Ian McKelvie: Back to work as we build on growth gains

Ian McKelvie, MP for Rangitikei.

We begin 2015 in good shape and I'm looking forward to another busy year as the Government focuses on locking in the many hard-won gains New Zealanders have made under National.

The economy is in its fifth year of expansion and economic growth is expected to average around 3 per cent over the next four years, better than Europe, the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan and Canada.

Employment is growing, with 72,000 more people employed than a year ago, and an additional 153,000 people are expected to be in work by mid-2019.

The average full-time wage is expected to rise by $8000 to around $64,000 by mid-2019. Unemployment, currently down to 5.4 per cent, is expected to fall to 4.5 per cent by 2018.

Interest rates are staying lower for longer, and household disposable income is increasing faster than inflation - rising 9 per cent in real terms over the past four years. It is forecast to increase another 9 per cent over the next four years.

Our positive performance and outlook in an unpredictable world led one international bank economist to call New Zealand "the rock star economy".

However, our goal isn't to be a rock star. It's to be rock solid. We want stable, sustainable growth to support New Zealanders and their families.

We'll continue to do this by spending taxpayers' money wisely and responsibly managing the country's finances and we'll continue to build a more competitive and productive economy because that's the best way to create more jobs and increase your wages.

We'll continue to work at delivering better public services. These include lifting educational achievement and upskilling our workforce, providing better and more convenient healthcare, getting more people off welfare and into work, supporting the vulnerable, and making our communities safer.

We'll also continue to support the rebuilding of Christchurch.

This is a remarkable country and there are many opportunities for us all.

After a refreshing break with family and friends, I'm looking forward to getting stuck in and continuing to build the brighter future our community and all New Zealanders deserve.

I'm also looking forward to this weekend's Savile Cup, which is being held at our farm. This is a great polo event and with 24 teams entered, it promises to be a fantastic weekend.