Roger Partridge: Letter of support for nomination of Roger Kerr for royal honour

4 March 2011

Cabinet Appointments and Honours Committee
Parliament Office
Private Bag 1888B
Parliament Buildings
Wellington 6160

I am writing to support several colleagues and friends who feel strongly that Roger Kerr should be recognised with an honour for his enormous contribution to economic and public policy in New Zealand.

I have been a close colleague of Roger’s for four years as a result of my membership of the New Zealand Business Roundtable — and, since the middle of last year, as its Chairman. However, I have admired Roger’s persuasive, rigorous, intellectual and brave advocacy on economic policy and social policy issues for more than two decades.

As Executive Director, Roger has led a business organization that is unique in the world in that it is not focused on lobbying in relation to specific business sectoral issues. The key elements of its founding principles are a national interest perspective seeking to advance the interests of the New Zealand economy and society as a whole, a focus on high level issues, a long-term view, a non-partisan stance and a research and evidence-based approach. I believe Roger’s advocacy and Influence within this framework have been an enormous force for good in promoting the overall welfare of New Zealand. His work as Executive Director of the Business Roundtable has left a huge “footprint” on many of the country’s major reforms including:

Import liberalisation;
Market deregulation (financial markets, telecommunications, transport, energy etc);
The Reserve Bank Act;
SOE policy and privatisation;
Immigration policy;
Labour market reform;
The Fiscal Responsibility Act;
Producer Board reforms; and
Tax reform.

No one has done more than Roger over the last 20 years to persuade the business sector to support economic policies that will benefit the interests of the country as a whole.

I believe Roger deserves recognition as an outstanding economist and iconic New Zealander. He has had a phenomenal influence in advancing economic and social policy in New Zealand and increasing the standards of living and welfare of New Zealanders.

For these reasons, l believe he is strongly deserving of recognition by the Government by the award of an Honour.

Yours faithfully

Roger Partridge
Chairman
Bell Gully

Sir William Gallagher’s nomination of Roger Kerr for a royal honor

Mr Paul Baines – letter of support

Sir William Birch – letter of support

Sir Paul Callaghan – letter of support

Mr Nicholas Calavrias – letter of support

Sir Roderick Deane – letter of support

Hon Rodney Hide – letter of support

Dr Murray Horn – letter of support

Mr Stephen Jennings – letter of support