17 March 2009: Over 140 of the Wellington region's key movers and shakers listened attentively as Minister of Finance Bill English shared the government's economic strategies for leading New Zealand through the recession and beyond, at the first Simpson Grierson 'Policy Maker Series' event for 2009.

Facing a capacity lunchtime crowd of business leaders from across the private and public sectors, Mr English reinforced previous messages that this Government will continue to show the economic leadership needed to provide direction, and support businesses and communities through difficult times. He also outlined the Government's economic objectives and the strategies they are currently putting in place to deliver on them.

Simpson Grierson Chairman, Rob Fisher, who earlier congratulated Mr English on an action-packed first 100 days in office, said "the firm is delighted to attract a speaker of the Deputy Prime Minister's calibre to our Policy Maker Series event, a point reinforced by the impressive turn-out here today".