Roger Douglas questions "nine day fortnight"

"Hon Sir Roger Douglas: Will the Minister explain to the House and the public of New Zealand how paying people to do nothing 1 day in 10 will help grow the New Zealand economy? Hon BILL ENGLISH: The 9-day fortnight is a measure designed to cushion the effects of significant restructuring that may occur as a result of the downturn. It is not intended to be a growth measure. Along with the Restart package, which cushions the effects of redundancy for people who lose their jobs, it is part of the Governments programme of protecting people from the sharpest edges of the recession while we take longer-term measures to get us through this recession and grow the economy to replace the jobs that are currently being lost." - Parliament TV