Is New Zealand’s The Best Little Economy In The World?

Written By: - Date published: 7:23 am, January 26th, 2021 - 53 comments
Categories: business, economy, Economy, grant robertson, jacinda ardern, uncategorized - Tags:

This little video doing the Youtube rounds claims that New Zealand is the best-managed country in the world. And currently has one of the best economies.

Move aside Sweden. New Zealand is a safe, stable, consistent, peaceful place to live with your family, the easiest place in the world to set up a business,  currently one of the best-recovered economically from the 2020 downturn, and has managed all of this on a pretty small resource base and massive distance from markets. It’s a confidence-inspiring place that the world wants to come to and currently admires more than it has in a while.

The 17 minute video asks:

  • What are the primary drivers of New Zealand’s economic prosperity?
  • How has the nation made these factors work?
  • What are the challenges the nation will face?

Disclaimer: the video contain advertorial for a financial services company. I don’t have anything to disclose.

It’s absolutely reasonable for us all to question government policy, and to demand more of what we want. I sure do.

But there’s also another voice analysing the relative strengths of Australia and New Zealand, and holds the balance currently strongly in New Zealand’s favour. If you’re in Unity Books or other bookstores with half a brain, you’ll see this set of essays by Laura Tingle illustrating why it’s time for Australia to acknowledge the many things New Zealand does better than Australia.

For a country that could have gone through a far, far deeper crisis just last year than it actually did, stepping back and appreciating the views of foreigners who look at us with fresh eyes is frankly encouraging.

The video analysis certainly doesn’t hold back on some of the challenges, notably housing.

Nor does it discourage critics from analysing and where required shouting about what ought to be done better.

But there are few countries like us, and we are being told we are in world-standard good shape.

53 comments on “Is New Zealand’s The Best Little Economy In The World? ”

  1. Nic the NZer 1

    First graph here shows the size of discretionary stimulus during 2020. New Zealand ranked first here (relative to size) explains a lot of this economic outcome.

    http://bilbo.economicoutlook.net/blog/?p=46654

  2. Sabine 2

    ask the poor if the economy is good, if it is for them, than chances are it is, if the economy is not good for them, or worse even does not include them at all we can accept that the economy is as always very good for a few someones and shitty for a whole lot of people.

    Also does rent and house prices factor in the math that is used to call the economy good?

  3. Stuart Munro 3

    I'm afraid it smacks of the same groundless optimism that typifies financial reporting, and that was a driving irritation for Blomkvist, not to mention panegyrics that Enron generated prior to its collapse. Of course, if one is looking for new, inexperienced small investor customers, a breezy optimism is better for business than the cold scepticism objective analysis requires.

    Useful to rebut the incessant unfounded attacks of the Right, but tending to confirm economists in their errors instead of monitoring and correcting the operating assumptions that are not borne out in reality.

  4. Tricledrown 4

    The NZ economy is getting by at the present but inflation is running at nearly 4% if you include house prices which were removed from the CPI in 2003 as part of the coalition deal with Winston Peter's.

    We haven't yet endured the full effects of the world economic slow down with shipping costs and availability that will surely increase inflation and decrease economic output.

    Housing needs a brave govt to step up and spend real money not a larger bandaid than Nationals very small bandaid.Labour needs to get brave ie like MJS and the Social Credit govt of 1935 and print QE whatever , Invest $30 billion plus to fix the housing crisis it won't happen overnight but its fixing the very expensive longterm downstream consequences of longterm poverty.The housing crisis has been exasperated by printing money and giving it to property speculators unintentionally as the banks did need a capital injection but any further printing QE needs to go directly to where its needed the already well off NZers don't need food on the table or a roof over their heads a free doctor's visit.The increase in poverty needs addressing pronto kids not going to school living out of cars going hungry needs fixing now.

    Just because we are doing better than most doesn't mean we can't do a lot better.

    Fixing the housing crisis which has got seriously worse under the Winston first/Labour coalition should not be a problem for a Labour govt that doesn't have Winston the handbrake to contend with. In the recent flooding of hawkes bay and the Canterbury earthquakes temporary porticom type housing was able to be put in place within a few weeks why can't we do this now?

    There is no reason QE is what's kept our economy afloat so long as it is directed at fixing productivity and not funneled into speculative investment it will work as it did in 1935 onwards.

    • Tiger Mountain 4.1

      Well put Tricledrown. We certainly do have one of the “best little housing crises”!

      Full housing could be restored, with incremental price drops over time, as state rental numbers increased–if there was the political will by the Labour Caucus, but there is not at this stage. National certainly show no signs of deserting the 36 year long Parliamentary neo liberal Consensus either.

      In Northland iwi members particularly are just getting on with Papakainga projects, the He Korowai Trust has made little villages of recycled houses, like the old style pensioner flat precincts, for people the state agencies won’t touch, and a mid North project plonks portacoms for homeless on rural sections (usually of relatives) with already connected services, residents are required to pay a small amount regularly and can even purchase after several years. It can be done even with meagre resources, on a local scale.

      It really is time for entry and occupation by homeless of selected empty buildings and homes, to publicly put the heat on NZ Labour.

    • "Just because we are doing better than most doesn't mean we can't do a lot better."

      I think you will find, that little statement would refer to just about anything done on this planet at any time, Pandemic or not.

  5. Gosman 5

    None of the policies promoted by the government really gets to the heart of the economic problems the country faces. 8000 additional State houses is really not going to make a blind bit of difference to the housing supply problem.

    • Ad 5.1

      It will house 8,000 families who are on the Kainga Ora waiting list. That will make quite a bit of difference to those 8,000 families.

      And no, it will not add to the problem of supplying houses for sale into the private home owner market, because that's a different problem.

    • Stuart Munro 5.2

      8000 housed is a non-trivial step in our population – and a significant step up from previous housing efforts. It won't quit them of the responsibility, but it will look a lot less like the truancy of National's Clayton's response.

      • Gosman 5.2.1

        It is trivial and it is not just I who thinks this

        "The most effective way to lower house prices is to increase supply. 100,000 Kiwibuild homes would have done that. Eight thousand new state homes will improve the living standards of our more vulnerable families, but won't make the slightest difference to house prices."

        https://www.newsroom.co.nz/the-brutal-truth-there-are-votes-to-be-won-in-a-broken-housing-market

        • Sabine 5.2.1.1

          so it does not matter what gets done or what not, what matters is what gets votes?

          that is the epitome of empty meaningless politics and the beige suits responsible for the 'doing nothing much' and if that is what you support – winning the contests only, who cares about governing (cause you can not then govern – lest you lose the vote of those that profit from high house prices and homelessness ) then we may as well just go back to a feudal society where the landowners owned everyone else.

          Whom would you be Gosman? Landowner or owned?

          • Gosman 5.2.1.1.1

            I would want to allow people to build houses or apartments without too many restrictions and costs imposed by other parties.

            • Sabine 5.2.1.1.1.1

              like turkey? were after every earthquake many people are dead or injured?

              no real regulations for the hight of the building, the concrete, the steal used, and every time the earth shakes you just pray that its the other house that falls down?

              what restrictions and costs would you remove? building permits? certain types of building materials? OSH?

              What? And, do you want to be Landlord of such a building? Do you want to be the tenant of such a building? Would you want to build next to these 'not too many restrictions and costs imposed by' buildings?

              Like the Favelas? Or the Manila slums? Or any of the African Shanty towns? they are all 'houses and apartments' builds without too many restrictions and costs imposed by other parties? _ btw, who are these 'other' parties?

              • Gosman

                Building restrictions are far more than just safety regulations. There are huge amounts of rules in place which serve little purpose such as minimum size restrictions.

                • McFlock

                  You don't see what minimum dwelling/room sizes have to do with stopping prospective slumlords? Seriously?

                  • Gosman

                    Many people are very keen to purchase and live in Tiny houses. Why do you want to stop these people doing what they want? It is both less impactful on the environment and will allow more people to live on the same amount of land.

                    • McFlock

                      Did you not understand the question, or did you not wish to answer it?

                    • Gosman

                      I understood your question. You want to stop landlords forcing people in to houses that are too small for them however I have pointed out by doing that you deny people the right to choose to live in a Tiny house. Why do you want to make it difficult for people to choose a style of living that would help resolve the housing crisis?

                    • McFlock

                      So you do actually see what minimum sizes have to do with stopping prospective slumlords, but you feel that slums are an acceptable price to pay for some people to get a fingertip into the property market.

                      Do you see what minimum dwelling sizes might have to do with overcrowding?

                    • Gosman

                      We have overcrowding already with minimum size restrictions in place. Families are living in garages in houses that they share with other family members.

                    • McFlock

                      Is the cause of this that the rooms are too big so there is a shortage of structures on the available land, or just a shortage of suitable structures actually being used as dwellings rather than airB&B or vacant investment properties?

            • woodart 5.2.1.1.1.2

              I cant still remember prebble on parliament steps, burning useless(he claimed ) building laws, not long before he, as an actoid ,voted in favour of national derugulating building laws. result? billions wasted in fixing poorly designed and built leaky houses, a direct link to our current unaffordable housing crisis.

        • Stuart Munro 5.2.1.2

          It is not trivial because it means a substantial but likely achievable increase in building capacity. We certainly want 100 000 or more – but short of buying prefabs from China, we're not presently up to building them – just another of those capacity losses we got as part of the Rogergnomic gross incompetence package.

    • Macro 5.3

      None of the policies promoted by the government really gets to the heart of the economic problems the country faces.

      And what, in your opinion, is the heart of the economic problems the country faces?

      • Gosman 5.3.1

        Capacity constraints in infrastructure and housing and low productivity growth.

        • RedBaronCV 5.3.1.1

          Ah yes – capacity constraints on housing and infrastructure and low productivity growth = Nats unrestrained low quality immigration programme where taxpayers will be footing the bill for years yet.

          • Gosman 5.3.1.1.1

            Most migrants move to a couple of locations the housing and infrastructure constraints are nationwide.

  6. Castro 6

    Is that you, Jong Kee?

  7. Janet Yellen has been confirmed as the first ever female US treasury secretary in a Senate vote.

    At her confirmation hearing on 19 January, Ms Yellen urged Congress to approve trillions more in pandemic relief and economic stimulus, saying that lawmakers should "act big" without worrying about national debt.

    In response, Republican senators warned the former Federal Reserve head this was not the time for "a laundry list" of liberal reforms.

    Ms Yellen disagreed, highlighting the fact that many families whose incomes have fallen were not reached by jobless programmes. She argued that plans to raise taxes must be seen in the context of financing bigger investments necessary to make the US economy competitive.

    "The focus now is not on tax increases. It is on programmes to help us get through the pandemic," she stressed.

    Come on Grunt – Where's my $2000 stimulus cheque?

    • Ad 7.1

      Instead of a cheque, most through direct employer subsidies simply got to keep their job – I know which I'd prefer.

      • The Al1en 7.1.1

        Yeah, that was great to maybe keep 80% of our wages for 3 months, now that's all goneski, where's my stimulus money?

      • Sabine 7.1.2

        Never mind all those that have lost their jobs, will lose their jobs as Covid is still here and will not be gone for a while, and all those that have nothing to change too easily jobwise – also thanks to Covid. They have the very generous Pre – Covid benefit rates to look forward too, and surely that is economic stimulation enough and no increase or extra payments are needed to make up for any shortfalls, not even for Christmas.

        But some got to keep their jobs – and that is all that matters. Right? The one that get to keep their stuff, buy their houses, drive the electric car, right?

        • Ad 7.1.2.1

          The full set of measures the government has undertaken so far are here:

          https://www.treasury.govt.nz/information-and-services/new-zealand-economy/covid-19-economic-response/measures

          There's a further $14 billion unallocated in case there's a further lockdown.

          The last economic update on how this set of policies has been effective is from December last year:

          https://www.treasury.govt.nz/system/files/2020-12/weu-18dec20.pdf

          I sure ain't going to knock anyone who is unemployed; it would be devastating if it happened to me. And there's always some different set of policies somewhere else to compare our government's response to. And yes we sure are in a crisis.

          But this government has done the biggest set of interventions into the economy than anyone else per capita. So far we are holding up better than anyone else other than maybe Australia.

          • Sabine 7.1.2.1.1

            and non of that has anything to do witht he fact that increases for benefits which would be an economic stimulus were outright rejected by the PM for god knows how long.

            non of that has to do with the fact that many of the jobs that have been lost will be lost and we have nary a realistic discussion about whom is actually carrying the brunt of the unemployment and how to deal with that specific set of needs.

            non of that has anything to do with OZ or Europe or anything really, as we are in a very different position than landlocked Europe with its thousands of kms of borders, or the US and the UK who let the pandemic gallop out of control on purpose it seems.

            All it has to do with is that our beneficiaries that already did not make it before covid are now even further screwed, and that includes every houshold that has lost an income with nothing to replace it.

            The economy is as good as is the ability of the poorest of us to pay rent, and bugger it Ad, a great many only pay rent because the Tax payer via Winz picks up the tap under the guise of the Accom Benefit, Hardship Benefit or others. So Yeah, nah, nah, our economy is not good. It is however excellent for people who are cashed up, asseted up, and can take that low low credit line up and buy some more assets to fleece the poor a bit more. After all these house prices need to go up, right? .

            The 14 Billion for a future lockdown should be spend right now on people who had fuck all all year long last year, got fuck all from Santa, and have exactly that to look forward to, Fuck all.

            Or are we to bail out jobs again for businesses who may or may not even survive a second lockdown or worse even, don’t need it, abuse it, and then hand out dividends to the share holder.

            • Nic the NZer 7.1.2.1.1.1

              So the point of maintaining employment is to keep as many people as feasible in employment and receiving their wage/salary and contact with an employer (rather than the lesser benefit payment).

              This is significantly preferable to the US situation where the cheques are not yet in the mail and many have already lost their jobs.

              Looking ahead the resulting employment continuity will have a significant positive impact on their future career prospects. It will also have a measurably better social and mental health outcomes for them and their families over a similar benefit income.

              So if I was considering the allocation of more funds I would be looking for ways to maintain or increase employment with those and only look at benefit rates in terms of fairness secondarily.

              In summary I think the governments economic priorities were pretty sound.

    • McFlock 7.2

      aka one hundred Tubmans. Jackson's being replaced. Again.

      • The Al1en 7.2.1

        Can't wait to see the yankee nazis getting a fist full of her dollars in their wage packets.

        Q. Will they do overtime for a few dollars more?

    • Adrian Thornton 7.3

      Perfect fit for Biden's administration….welcome back Obama's Wall St swamp monsters…but hey it's a woman (monster).

      "The incoming US Treasury secretary, Janet Yellen, has been paid at least $7m (£5.1m) for speaking engagements at government-regulated banks, consultancies and hedge funds over the past two years, according to newly disclosed documents.

      The former Federal Reserve chair disclosed a list of more than 50 paid speaking events for financial firms that included $67,500 from Goldman Sachs, $54,000 from an event at Barclays and $292,500 from a single speech for hedge fund Citadel."

      https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/jan/01/janet-yellen-speaking-fees-us-treasury-secretary

      As head of the Fed…

      Janet Yellen To Jobless African-Americans: You're On Your Own

      “It is indicative of the Fed’s continued emphasis on inflation even in the face of nonexistent inflation,” Haedtler said. “They are myopically focused on one portion of their dual mandate while ignoring another. If the Fed is saying that the economy is on enough of a positive trajectory to raise rates, they are saying they are OK with 9.5 percent black unemployment.”

      https://www.populardemocracy.org/news-and-publications/janet-yellen-jobless-african-americans-youre-your-own

      • The Al1en 7.3.1

        You should complain to someone and get her sacked.

        https://www.bloombergquint.com/global-economics/yellen-at-treasury-ticks-enough-boxes-for-left-leaning-democrats

        “Democrats on the party’s left, who could make trouble for Biden appointments, have been pushing back against some contenders seen as having too-close ties with the financial world. Yellen doesn’t fall into that category, judging by the rapid approval she got from one of the leading progressives on Monday.”

        “Janet Yellen would be an outstanding choice for Treasury Secretary,” Senator Elizabeth Warren said on Twitter Monday. “She is smart, tough, and principled. As one of the most successful Fed Chairs ever, she has stood up to Wall Street banks.”

        lol

        • Adrian Thornton 7.3.1.1

          It's funny (not funny ha ha) how these days people in power can do and say one thing…and we can even easily search their history to confirm those things, but if the media you trust tells you something that doesn't align with those facts, many people, your good self included, will just yep, sounds good to me…very strange and quite disconcerting must say.

  8. sumsuch 8

    Can you imagine how much better a social-democratic economy would be?

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    The first big test of the new Government’s approach to Treaty matters is likely to be seen in the return of the Resource Management Act. RMA Minister Chris Bishop has confirmed that he intends to introduce legislation to repeal Labour’s recently passed Natural and Built Environments Act and its ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • The Song of Saqua: Volume III
    Time to revisit something I haven’t covered in a while: the D&D campaign, with Saqua the aquatic half-vampire. Last seen in July: https://phuulishfellow.wordpress.com/2023/07/27/the-song-of-saqua-volume-ii/ The delay is understandable, once one realises that the interim saw our DM come down with a life-threatening medical situation. They have since survived to make ...
    2 days ago
  • Chris Bishop: Smokin’
    Yes. Correct. It was an election result. And now we are the elected government. ...
    My ThinksBy boonman
    3 days ago
  • 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #48
    A chronological listing of news and opinion articles posted on the Skeptical Science  Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Nov 26, 2023 thru Dec 2, 2023. Story of the Week CO2 readings from Mauna Loa show failure to combat climate change Daily atmospheric carbon dioxide data from Hawaiian volcano more ...
    3 days ago
  • Affirmative Action.
    Affirmative Action was a key theme at this election, although I don’t recall anyone using those particular words during the campaign.They’re positive words, and the way the topic was talked about was anything but. It certainly wasn’t a campaign of saying that Affirmative Action was a good thing, but that, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • 100 days of something
    It was at the end of the Foxton straights, at the end of 1978, at 100km/h, that someone tried to grab me from behind on my Yamaha.They seemed to be yanking my backpack. My first thought was outrage. My second was: but how? Where have they come from? And my ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Look who’s stepped up to champion Winston
    There’s no news to be gleaned from the government’s official website today  – it contains nothing more than the message about the site being under maintenance. The time this maintenance job is taking and the costs being incurred have us musing on the government’s commitment to an assault on inflation. ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • What's The Story?
    Don’t you sometimes wish they’d just tell the truth? No matter how abhorrent or ugly, just straight up tell us the truth?C’mon guys, what you’re doing is bad enough anyway, pretending you’re not is only adding insult to injury.Instead of all this bollocks about the Smokefree changes being to do ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • The longest of weeks
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.Friday Under New Management Week in review, quiz style1. Which of these best describes Aotearoa?a. Progressive nation, proud of its egalitarian spirit and belief in a fair go b. Best little country on the planet c. ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • Suggested sessions of EGU24 to submit abstracts to
    Like earlier this year, members from our team will be involved with next year's General Assembly of the European Geosciences Union (EGU). The conference will take place on premise in Vienna as well as online from April 14 to 19, 2024. The session catalog has been available since November 1 ...
    5 days ago
  • Under New Management
    1. Which of these best describes Aotearoa?a. Progressive nation, proud of its egalitarian spirit and belief in a fair go b. Best little country on the planet c. Under New Management 2. Which of these best describes the 100 days of action announced this week by the new government?a. Petulantb. Simplistic and wrongheaded c. ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago
  • While we wait patiently, our new Minister of Education is up and going with a 100-day action plan
    Sorry to say, the government’s official website is still out of action. When Point of Order paid its daily visit, the message was the same as it has been for the past week: Site under maintenance Beehive.govt.nz is currently under maintenance. We will be back shortly. Thank you for your ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • DAVID FARRAR: Hysterical bullshit
    Radio NZ reports: Te Pāti Māori’s co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer has accused the new government of “deliberate .. systemic genocide” over its policies to roll back the smokefree policy and the Māori Health Authority. The left love hysterical language. If you oppose racial quotas in laws, you are a racist. And now if you sack ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #48 2023
    Open access notables From this week's government/NGO section, longitudinal data is gold and Leisorowitz, Maibachi et al. continue to mine ore from the US public with Climate Change in the American Mind: Politics & Policy, Fall 2023: Drawing on a representative sample of the U.S. adult population, the authors describe how registered ...
    5 days ago
  • ELE LUDEMANN: It wasn’t just $55 million
    Ele Ludemann writes –  Winston Peters reckons media outlets were bribed by the $55 million Public Interest Journalism Fund. He is not the first to make such an accusation. Last year, the Platform outlined conditions media signed up to in return for funds from the PJIF: . . . ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 1-December-2023
    Wow, it’s December already, and it’s a Friday. So here are few things that caught our attention recently. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt covered the new government’s coalition agreements and what they mean for transport. On Tuesday Matt looked at AT’s plans for fare increases ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    5 days ago
  • Shane MacGowan Is Gone.
    Late 1996, The Dogs Bollix, Tamaki Makaurau.I’m at the front of the bar yelling my order to the bartender, jostling with other thirsty punters on a Friday night, keen to piss their wages up against a wall letting loose. The black stuff, long luscious pints of creamy goodness. Back down ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to Dec 1
    Nicola Willis, Chris Bishop and other National, ACT and NZ First MPs applaud the signing of the coalition agreements, which included the reversal of anti-smoking measures while accelerating tax cuts for landlords. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • 2023 More Reading: November (+ Writing Update)
    Completed reads for November: A Modern Utopia, by H.G. Wells The Vampire (poem), by Heinrich August Ossenfelder The Corpus Hermeticum The Corpus Hermeticum is Mead’s translation. Now, this is indeed a very quiet month for reading. But there is a reason for that… You see, ...
    6 days ago
  • Forward to 2017
    The coalition party agreements are mainly about returning to 2017 when National lost power. They show commonalities but also some serious divergencies.The two coalition agreements – one National and ACT, the other National and New Zealand First – are more than policy documents. They also describe the processes of the ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    6 days ago
  • Questions a nine year old might ask the new Prime Minister
    First QuestionYou’re going to crack down on people ram-raiding dairies, because you say hard-working dairy owners shouldn’t have to worry about getting ram-raided.But once the chemist shops have pseudoephedrine in them again, they're going to get ram-raided all the time. Do chemists not work as hard as dairy owners?Second QuestionYou ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • Questions a nine year old might ask the new Prime Minister
    First QuestionYou’re going to crack down on people ram-raiding dairies, because you say hard-working dairy owners shouldn’t have to worry about getting ram-raided.But once the chemist shops have pseudoephedrine in them again, they're going to get ram-raided all the time. Do chemists not work as hard as dairy owners?Second QuestionYou ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • Finally
    Henry Kissinger is finally dead. Good fucking riddance. While Americans loved him, he was a war criminal, responsible for most of the atrocities of the final quarter of the twentieth century. Cambodia. Bangladesh. Chile. East Timor. All Kissinger. Because of these crimes, Americans revere him as a "statesman" (which says ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • Government in a hurry – Luxon lists 49 priorities in 100-day plan while Peters pledges to strength...
    Buzz from the Beehive Yes, ministers in the new government are delivering speeches and releasing press statements. But the message on the government’s official website was the same as it has been for the past several days, when Point of Order went looking for news from the Beehive that had ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • DAVID FARRAR: Luxon is absolutely right
    David Farrar writes  –  1 News reports: Christopher Luxon says he was told by some Kiwis on the campaign trail they “didn’t know” the difference between Waka Kotahi, Te Pūkenga and Te Whatu Ora. Speaking to Breakfast, the incoming prime minister said having English first on government agencies will “make sure” ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Top 10 at 10 am for Thursday, Nov 30
    There are fears that mooted changes to building consent liability could end up driving the building industry into an uninsured hole. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Here’s my pick of the top 10 news and analysis links elsewhere as of 10 am on Thursday, November 30, including:The new Government’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on how climate change threatens cricket‘s future
    Well that didn’t last long, did it? Mere days after taking on what he called the “awesome responsibility” of being Prime Minister, M Christopher Luxon has started blaming everyone else, and complaining that he has inherited “economic vandalism on an unprecedented scale” – which is how most of us are ...
    6 days ago
  • We need to talk about Tory.
    The first I knew of the news about Tory Whanau was when a tweet came up in my feed.The sort of tweet that makes you question humanity, or at least why you bother with Twitter. Which is increasingly a cesspit of vile inhabitants who lurk spreading negativity, hate, and every ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago
  • Dangling Transport Solutions
    Cable Cars, Gondolas, Ropeways and Aerial Trams are all names for essentially the same technology and the world’s biggest maker of them are here to sell them as an public transport solution. Stuff reports: Austrian cable car company Doppelmayr has launched its case for adding aerial cable cars to New ...
    6 days ago
  • November AMA
    Hi,It’s been awhile since I’ve done an Ask-Me-Anything on here, so today’s the day. Ask anything you like in the comments section, and I’ll be checking in today and tomorrow to answer.Leave a commentNext week I’ll be giving away a bunch of these Mister Organ blu-rays for readers in New ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • National’s early moves adding to cost of living pressure
    The cost of living grind continues, and the economic and inflation honeymoon is over before it began. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: PM Christopher Luxon unveiled his 100 day plan yesterday with an avowed focus of reducing cost-of-living pressures, but his Government’s initial moves and promises are actually elevating ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • Backwards to the future
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has confirmed that it will be back to the future on planning legislation. This will be just one of a number of moves which will see the new government go backwards as it repeals and cost-cuts its way into power. They will completely repeal one ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days ago
  • New initiatives in science and technology could point the way ahead for Luxon government
    As the new government settles into the Beehive, expectations are high that it can sort out some  of  the  economic issues  confronting  New Zealand. It may take time for some new  ministers to get to grips with the range of their portfolio work and responsibilities before they can launch the  changes that  ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    7 days ago
  • Treaty pledge to secure funding is contentious – but is Peters being pursued by a lynch mob after ...
    TV3 political editor Jenna Lynch was among the corps of political reporters who bridled, when Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters told them what he thinks of them (which is not much). She was unabashed about letting her audience know she had bridled. More usefully, she drew attention to something which ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    7 days ago
  • How long does this last?
    I have a clear memory of every election since 1969 in this plucky little nation of ours. I swear I cannot recall a single one where the question being asked repeatedly in the first week of the new government was: how long do you reckon they’ll last? And that includes all ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    7 days ago
  • National’s giveaway politics
    We already know that national plans to boost smoking rates to collect more tobacco tax so they can give huge tax-cuts to mega-landlords. But this morning that policy got even more obscene - because it turns out that the tax cut is retrospective: Residential landlords will be able to ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    7 days ago
  • CHRIS TROTTER: Who’s driving the right-wing bus?
    Who’s At The Wheel? The electorate’s message, as aggregated in the polling booths on 14 October, turned out to be a conservative political agenda stronger than anything New Zealand has seen in five decades. In 1975, Bill Rowling was run over by just one bus, with Rob Muldoon at the wheel. In 2023, ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 week ago
  • GRAHAM ADAMS:  Media knives flashing for Luxon’s government
    The fear and loathing among legacy journalists is astonishing Graham Adams writes – No one is going to die wondering how some of the nation’s most influential journalists personally view the new National-led government. It has become abundantly clear within a few days of the coalition agreements ...
    Point of OrderBy gadams1000
    1 week ago
  • Top 10 news links for Wednesday, Nov 29
    TL;DR: Here’s my pick of top 10 news links elsewhere for Wednesday November 29, including:The early return of interest deductibility for landlords could see rebates paid on previous taxes and the cost increase to $3 billion from National’s initial estimate of $2.1 billion, CTU Economist Craig Renney estimated here last ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Smokefree Fallout and a High Profile Resignation.
    The day after being sworn in the new cabinet met yesterday, to enjoy their honeymoon phase. You remember, that period after a new government takes power where the country, and the media, are optimistic about them, because they haven’t had a chance to stuff anything about yet.Sadly the nuptials complete ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • As Cabinet revs up, building plans go on hold
    Wellington Council hoardings proclaim its preparations for population growth, but around the country councils are putting things on hold in the absence of clear funding pathways for infrastructure, and despite exploding migrant numbers. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Cabinet meets in earnest today to consider the new Government’s 100-day ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • National takes over infrastructure
    Though New Zealand First may have had ambitions to run the infrastructure portfolios, National would seem to have ended up firmly in control of them.  POLITIK has obtained a private memo to members of Infrastructure NZ yesterday, which shows that the peak organisation for infrastructure sees  National MPs Chris ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 week ago
  • At a glance – Evidence for global warming
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    1 week ago
  • Who’s Driving The Right-Wing Bus?
    Who’s At The Wheel? The electorate’s message, as aggregated in the polling booths on 14 October, turned out to be a conservative political agenda stronger than anything New Zealand has seen in five decades. In 1975, Bill Rowling was run over by just one bus, with Rob Muldoon at the wheel. In ...
    1 week ago

  • PISA results show urgent need to teach the basics
    With 2022 PISA results showing a decline in achievement, Education Minister Erica Stanford is confident that the Coalition Government’s 100-day plan for education will improve outcomes for Kiwi kids.  The 2022 PISA results show a significant decline in the performance of 15-year-old students in maths compared to 2018 and confirms ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    16 hours ago
  • Collins leaves for Pacific defence meeting
    Defence Minister Judith Collins today departed for New Caledonia to attend the 8th annual South Pacific Defence Ministers’ meeting (SPDMM). “This meeting is an excellent opportunity to meet face-to-face with my Pacific counterparts to discuss regional security matters and to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to the Pacific,” Judith Collins says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Working for Families gets cost of living boost
    Putting more money in the pockets of hard-working families is a priority of this Coalition Government, starting with an increase to Working for Families, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says. “We are starting our 100-day plan with a laser focus on bringing down the cost of living, because that is what ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Lake Onslow pumped hydro scheme scrapped
    The Government has axed the $16 billion Lake Onslow pumped hydro scheme championed by the previous government, Energy Minister Simeon Brown says. “This hugely wasteful project was pouring money down the drain at a time when we need to be reining in spending and focussing on rebuilding the economy and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • NZ welcomes further pause in fighting in Gaza
    New Zealand welcomes the further one-day extension of the pause in fighting, which will allow the delivery of more urgently-needed humanitarian aid into Gaza and the release of more hostages, Foreign Minister Winston Peters said. “The human cost of the conflict is horrific, and New Zealand wants to see the violence ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Condolences on passing of Henry Kissinger
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters today expressed on behalf of the New Zealand Government his condolences to the family of former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, who has passed away at the age of 100 at his home in Connecticut. “While opinions on his legacy are varied, Secretary Kissinger was ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Backing our kids to learn the basics
    Every child deserves a world-leading education, and the Coalition Government is making that a priority as part of its 100-day plan. Education Minister Erica Stanford says that will start with banning cellphone use at school and ensuring all primary students spend one hour on reading, writing, and maths each day. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • US Business Summit Speech – Regional stability through trade
    I would like to begin by echoing the Prime Minister’s thanks to the organisers of this Summit, Fran O’Sullivan and the Auckland Business Chamber.  I want to also acknowledge the many leading exporters, sector representatives, diplomats, and other leaders we have joining us in the room. In particular, I would like ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Keynote Address to the United States Business Summit, Auckland
    Good morning. Thank you, Rosemary, for your warm introduction, and to Fran and Simon for this opportunity to make some brief comments about New Zealand’s relationship with the United States.  This is also a chance to acknowledge my colleague, Minister for Trade Todd McClay, Ambassador Tom Udall, Secretary of Foreign ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • India New Zealand Business Council Speech, India as a Strategic Priority
    Good morning, tēnā koutou and namaskar. Many thanks, Michael, for your warm welcome. I would like to acknowledge the work of the India New Zealand Business Council in facilitating today’s event and for the Council’s broader work in supporting a coordinated approach for lifting New Zealand-India relations. I want to also ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Coalition Government unveils 100-day plan
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has laid out the Coalition Government’s plan for its first 100 days from today. “The last few years have been incredibly tough for so many New Zealanders. People have put their trust in National, ACT and NZ First to steer them towards a better, more prosperous ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • New Zealand welcomes European Parliament vote on the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement
    A significant milestone in ratifying the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was reached last night, with 524 of the 705 member European Parliament voting in favour to approve the agreement. “I’m delighted to hear of the successful vote to approve the NZ-EU FTA in the European Parliament overnight. This is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Further humanitarian support for Gaza, the West Bank and Israel
    The Government is contributing a further $5 million to support the response to urgent humanitarian needs in Gaza, the West Bank and Israel, bringing New Zealand’s total contribution to the humanitarian response so far to $10 million. “New Zealand is deeply saddened by the loss of civilian life and the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

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