The radical economic reforms of the fourth Labour Government 40 years ago, known as Rogernomics, had a devastating impact on rural communities, including Wairarapa. The dollar was floated, agricultural subsidies removed, GST introduced, forests sold and state-owned
enterprises corporatised. The Post editor Tracy Watkins will discuss the reforms with Wairarapa leaders
Liz Mellish (Te Ātiawa, Taranaki, Ngāti Ruanui) and Bob Francis, who lived through the turmoil, and three politicians —
Richard Prebble, Marilyn Waring and Rick Barker — who were in Parliament at the time.