The month of October has started well. Recent figures issued from Statistics New Zealand at the start of this month confirm that our country continues to attract visitors from overseas. Operators are reporting steady, if not spectacular, growth.

To put all in perspective, Tourism is worth about $17.5 billion a year, with about $8 billion spent by international visitors. Most popular areas are the Bay of Plenty followed by Auckland, Otago and Wellington while the preferred accommodation for visitors to New Zealand appears to be Motels followed by Hotels.

Other positive news is that the number of non-farming businesses increased 4 percent in February 2006 compared with February 2005, following a 3 percent increase in the previous year as confirmed by Statistics New Zealand. In February 2006, there were 346,000 businesses in New Zealand.

Property and business services continues to be the industry with the largest number of businesses, representing 36 percent of all enterprises in New Zealand. This year's increase in business numbers resulted mainly from property and business services (up 5,900), followed by construction (up 2,300). These industries also contributed most to last year's growth. The majority of the new businesses in these industries were non-employing (83 percent in property and business services, and 52 percent in construction).

Ninety-six percent of non-farming businesses had fewer than 20 employees, but in total this group accounted for less than a third of all New Zealand employees. Ninety-seven percent of the annual growth in business numbers comes from businesses with fewer than 10 employees.

The political stage may be compared to a large theatre with many actors or players fighting each other and refusing to accept existing laws. An example of this is that three small parties are resisting repaying money unlawfully spent in the last election while Labour buckled under public pressure and agreed to pay back what it owes. The largest opposition party, National, already paid back the funds they owed.

To put the icing on the cake, this month the Government rushed through a Bill to retropectively allow what has been done illegally by the political parties. 

Based on that there is only one conclusion and comment to make; politics where-ever you go is all the same; there are, it appears, different rules for parties and for members of parliament!!

Speak to you again next month and when you wish to contribute to this Blogg, please send me an email.