9 June 2009: The Minister of Local Government and Minister for Regulation Reform, Hon Rodney Hide, addressed eighty of the city's key movers and shakers at the Simpson Grierson Insights Series in Auckland today.

'Guiding New Zealand out of recession and building an economy for the future' was the theme of Mr Hide's speech, which looked at why cutting red tape and regulations is fundamental to New Zealand's economic success and how streamlining Auckland Governance underpins the changes needed.

Interest in the breakfast event was extremely high, with some of Auckland's business leaders having to be turned away because of demand.  A lively Q & A session followed Mr Hide's speech, where the Minister took questions from the audience for around twenty minutes.

Simpson Grierson Chairman, Rob Fisher, commented, "The firm is delighted to host the Minister here in Auckland at a time when his work is of keen interest to a great many in our city – as indicated by the capacity crowd here today."

To view the Minister's speech in full, visit:

http://www.beehive.govt.nz/speech/guiding+nz+out+recession+and+building+economy+future