Better infrastructure and productivity needed

Gisborne-based Leaderbrand chief executive Richard Burke says while the country continues to just repair roads, it is failing to address the root cause of the problem, which is building resilient infrastructure. He claims this policy of repairing roads is not resolving the issue of having quality, nationwide infrastructure.

Burke adds that it's not only roads but also sorting out the problems with the Cook Strait ferries that affect Leaderbrand's operations.

"We are a business that needs to deliver every day, so we need infrastructure that can get us right across the country every day and especially in and out of Tairawhiti, which is a constant problem," he told Rural News. "Tairawhiti has many great attributes but for us to get the benefits of these and remain in business we require 100% access to our customers and we haven't had that for a long time."

Burke says not having reliable infrastructure challenges one's thinking about the business. He explains that his company does not operate on a cost plus basis, rather it is about getting the volume of product to buyers and consumers at the right time. He says passing on increased freight charges to the buyer is really hard to do.

Burke concedes that it's difficult to have discussions with government because its job is fundamentally to run the country. What he is looking for most is policies that will support productivity, of which he says infrastructure is one.

He believes there have been a number of policies in the past that haven't had this focus.

"I think as a country we have got really unproductive, so we've got to find a way to get our productive mojo back again. If we are not competitive we can't afford to live the lifestyle we are living as a country."

Burke says the Government has got to create policies that make it easier and cost effective to do business so we can get better productivity.