Mike Moore lashes bureaucrats

Press, 29 December 1988, Page 1

Mike Moore lashes bureaucrats

PA Wellington The Minister of External Relations and Trade, Mr Moore, has lashed out at bureacurats, accusing them of treating enterprising businessmen as “nuisances” and costing New Zealand jobs. Mr Moore made the comments yesterday after citing the example of an export awardwinning company which fell foul of the Ministry of Trans-

port over an imported $500,000 membrane press. The press was to arrive today and the company, Criterion Manufacturing, Ltd, had timed the machine’s arrival to have it installed and ready for use after the Christmas break. But when permission was asked to move the press from the wharves to the East Tamaki plant, Transport Ministry officials said the press was

200 mm over the specified size limit and would need a special permit which could not be processed in time. Mr Moore said he had eventually arranged a hasty permit with the Minister of Transport, Mr Jeffries, but the matter should not have arisen. “What burns my guts is that this is unnecessary,” he said. The incident was “a classic example of how bureaucrats

treat enterprising business people.” “It is silly rules, red tape and lack of an enterprise culture that is costing New Zealand the most jobs. “Instead of welcoming a business person with a problem as a customer to serve, there are too many conservative forces at work in central and local government that treat people with ideas as a threat.”