Taking on more debt to make a good investment isn't a problem

A leading economist's directing that at a resolute Finance Minister who's
refusing to budge on an election promise to lower debt by 2021.

BNZ's Head of Research Stephen Toplis says the debt limit of 20 percent is
all but arbitrary.

He says we're going to miss that target anyway - but
we're in a strong financial position regardless.

Toplis says if we need to take on more debt to invest in quality projects,
that's not bad.

He says the focus is too much on the number, and not why debt's increasing or
decreasing.