Jobs Data Shows Why Economic Growth MattersHon Nicola WillisMinister of FinanceToday's labour market statistics confirm what many New Zealanders already know from experience: the second quarter of this year was a tough one, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. They faced real uncertainty and rising costs, and a lot of them made the hard call to hold off on hiring or expanding. “For the New Zealanders who've been out there looking for work in that environment, we know it's been hard going. “But to keep our economy growing and creating new jobs, there’s much more to do. That's how you turn a tough quarter into a recovering economy."