Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Former Australian Prime Minister John Howard says if New Zealand wants to catch up with Australia's rate of economic growth, it needs to set a goal of increasing productivity and continue to increase its trading ability.

Until this year Australia has experienced 17 years of continuous economic growth, while New Zealand has fallen behind its trans-Tasman neighbour.

Mr Howard says Australia's resources, the size of its economy and its migration programmes have contributed to the economic boom.

He told Nine to Noon that having goals of lifting productivity and living standards provide an incentive and are almost more important than achieving them.