2012-05-24 15:04:07
Finance minister Bill English's 'zero budget' includes a total of $26.5 million in total net new spending over the next four years and will post a surplus in 2014/15.
2012-05-24 14:53:10 // Vincent Heeringa
// The Idealog Blog
| 2 comments
Bill English screwed the fiscal wallet to the floor today, while Auckland mayor Len Brown yesterday went for a spend-a-thon. Could this be our very own Franco-German divide?
2012-05-24 14:19:25 // Idealog
The taxman is getting another $78.4 million over the next four years to help deal with the hidden economy, debt collection, and following up on unfiled returns.
2012-05-24 14:00:01 // Idealog
The government plans to establish a new Future Investment Fund with the proceeds from SOE asset sales, which is expected to amount to $5-7 billion.
2012-05-17 15:27:48 // Dita de Boni
// The Idealog Blog
As a country trying to find common ground between globalisation and Not In My Back Yard (NIMBY) parochialism, the issues around land ownership—particularly farming—are getting a tad muddy. Dita De Boni investigates.
2012-05-14 15:03:37 // Josh Martin
Auckland’s links to China were reinforced on Saturday with the signing of a statement of co-operation between the Beijing Investment Promotion Board (BIPB) and Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED).
2012-05-03 16:06:23 // Richard Liew
// The Idealog Blog
| 1 comment
The one group that can help fix our housing mess is the one group that is consistently overlooked in these discussions.
2012-05-03 11:22:37
Legislation is underway to reform the Dairy Industry Restructuring Act (DIRA) that would open the doors for Fonterra to enable trading among farmers – a proposal that's divided stakeholders and raised the ugly head of the issue that is foreign ownership.
2012-04-26 14:04:32 // Idealog
The government has revealed plans to amend the Public Finance Act to rein in spending decisions by ministers, including a spending cap, and reporting on fiscal policy successes and failures.
2012-04-26 10:59:02 // Idealog
Small businesses say things are looking up and expect to lift investment and hire more staff in the coming year, according to the new Business Micro Scope report.
2012-04-19 13:45:34 // Ian Proudfoot
// The Idealog Blog
A decade after being given the virtual ‘last rites’ as an industry, our primary producers are still delivering results. Among other things, says Ian Proudfoot, it’s time we realised our protein advantage and our acumen as a solution and knowledge driven sector.
2012-04-16 10:21:56 // Esther Goh
Export earnings are set to take a backseat to domestic demand in driving growth, according to ASB chief economist Nick Tuffley.
2012-03-26 23:30:38 // Esther Goh
// The Idealog Blog
Exports make up about a third of our economy and they’re continuing to grow that slice of the pie. We’re moving up the value chain slowly, says NZTE chief executive Peter Chrisp – but overall, the picture is static, and that’s a huge concern.
2012-03-26 23:28:57 // Esther Goh
// The Idealog Blog
| 1 comment
As a small country, New Zealand can’t do everything, let alone do everything well. It’s time to zero in on a few key sectors and throw our weight behind them, says MSI chief executive Murray Bain.
2012-03-15 13:55:54 // Idealog
Manufacturing activity enjoyed a sizeable lift in activity for February, according to the latest BNZ - BusinessNZ Performance of Manufacturing Index, reaching a high not seen since April 2010.
2012-03-15 10:14:19 // Pattrick Smellie
// Idealog #38: workshop
| 2 comments
One of the most annoying false arguments we have in New Zealand is about where economic growth should come from.
2012-03-13 09:44:24 // Idealog
// The Idealog Blog
| 2 comments
Want to predict how a country will fare in the 21st century? Don't look to its mineral riches. Instead, check out how its teenagers score on tests.
2012-03-01 08:33:18 // Idealog
The economic outlook is flat but a slow recovery is all part and parcel of getting our household and government finances in order, according to the NZIER.
2012-02-20 10:02:27 // Idealog
Reserve Bank governor Alan Bollard reckons New Zealand may not be doing so badly after all – he blames inconsistent measurements for the persistent income gap between New Zealand and Australia.
2012-02-17 10:14:37 // Esther Goh
It's all doom and gloom this week at Treasury, which has trimmed back its growth forecast for the next couple of years.
2012-02-15 12:52:55 // Esther Goh
Cuts to the public sector saw Wellington's GDP slow to 0.8 percent in 2011, lagging behind national growth of 1.6 percent.
2012-02-14 14:19:52 // Siobhan Leathley
// The Idealog Blog
| 1 comment
Despite the global recession, New Zealand’s five major banks all reported an increase in core earnings – from $2.3 to $2.8 billion – last year.
2012-02-07 11:08:31 // Siobhan Leathley
// The Idealog Blog
The new year has brought with it a fresh surge in optimism, the latest BNZ confidence survey suggests.
2012-02-03 09:49:28 // Esther Goh
| 1 comment
Exports are the key to building national wealth, the Ministry of Economic Development has told incoming minister Steven Joyce.
2012-02-03 08:30:31 // Esther Goh
The government has plenty of opportunities to deepen New Zealand's capital markets and fix IP laws to stimulate innovation, a briefing to the incoming commerce minister reads.
2012-01-26 10:10:39 // Idealog
The official cash rate is staying at 2.5 percent, with Reserve Bank Governor Alan Bollard citing a "fragile" global economy in retaining the status quo.
2012-01-17 10:35:43 // Idealog
Food prices inched up 0.2 percent in December, with higher produce prices outpacing a drop in soft drinks and fruit juice.
2012-01-13 10:24:06 // Siobhan Leathley
// The Idealog Blog
As the Ports of Auckland standoff drags on, the Productivity Commission is recommending partial privatisation of council air and sea port assets.
2012-01-12 09:51:38 // Idealog
Employment confidence has sunk to its lowest levels since June 2009, according to the latest Westpac McDermott Miller Employment Confidence index.
2012-01-10 13:31:35 // Siobhan Leathley
Increasing demand for houses in Auckland isn't making up for the dwindling number of building consents approved.
2011-12-14 10:08:13 // Esther Goh
Fonterra has boosted its pre-Christmas boost forecast payout for farmers, which would result in nearly $300 million extra flowing into Kiwi coffers.
2011-12-12 13:07:30 // Siobhan Leathley
A new economic plan to expand and diversify the city of Wellington has been approved by the mayor and members of the city council.
2011-12-05 11:00:23 // Esther Goh
// The Idealog Blog
| 1 comment
It pays to be small these days – small countries are going to be the drivers of the new global economy, says Kiwi expat and economist David Skilling.
2011-11-25 10:15:33 // Idealog
| 2 comments
Labour has staked its election campaign upon a promise to retain SOEs in New Zealand – but are asset sales the devil in disguise as Goff paints them out to be?
2011-11-25 09:42:01 // Idealog
New Zealand’s trade deficit was smaller than expected in October as exports were buoyed by more shippings of crude oil and meat.
2011-11-08 14:46:25 // David Tripe
// The Idealog Blog
In the short run, the New Zealand economy is likely to deteriorate, and another credit rating downgrade can't be ruled out.
2011-10-03 10:58:47 // Idealog
The downgrading of New Zealand's credit rating today is a reflection of global concerns about foreign debt, says the government.
2011-09-30 12:02:32 // Idealog
| 2 comments
We can't blame our size or lack of minerals for the growing income gap between New Zealand and Australia, according to the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research.
2011-09-26 17:19:10 // Idealog
New Zealand needs a few lessons in competitiveness, if you put stock in the World Economic Forum's opinion, and November will see delegates from more than 40 countries descend on Auckland to build alliances, explore new models and envision what's next in economic development.
2011-09-26 11:41:37 // Idealog
The trade balance dipped to a $641 million deficit last month, but recorded a surplus of $1.1 billion (2.3 percent of exports) for the year to date, according to Statistics New Zealand.
2011-09-26 10:19:43 // Idealog
In light of a deteriorating global economy, World Trade Organization economists are revising their 2011 trade forecast to 5.8 percent, down from an earlier conservative estimate of 6.5 percent.
2011-09-22 14:31:41 // Idealog
Economic activity as measured by gross domestic product was up just 0.1 percent in the June 2011 quarter, after a more-than-healthy 0.9 percent increase in the previous three months.
2011-09-21 11:35:42 // Idealog
| 1 comment
Farm gate prices have boosted sheepmeat producers to levels not seen for nearly a decade and a recently-released industry report suggests farmers can expect to continue to enjoy high prices and favourable offshore market conditions in the year ahead.
2011-09-20 13:40:30 // Esther Goh
| 1 comment
It's a tall order, making Auckland's the 'world's most liveable city' by 2040, but we'll never know if we don't try. Mayor Len Brown today launched the draft Auckland Plan, accompanied by plans for the region’s economic development, the city centre and the waterfront, which outline initiatives for urban design and business growth to secure its future as a "globally competitive city".
2011-09-19 12:34:32 // Esther Goh
Economists are revising their outlooks upwards – despite the ongoing global uncertainty – driven in part by the Canterbury rebuild. Meanwhile, the service sector has been buoyed thanks to plenty of new business.
2011-09-19 11:46:12 // Idealog
Most optimistic about the year ahead are Kiwis in the 18-29 age bracket, who foresee better economic times ahead at home and globally, according to the latest Westpac McDermott Miller Consumer Confidence Index.
2011-09-16 11:20:24 // Idealog
The healthcare and social assistance sector was the biggest winner in 2010 while financial and insurance services recorded the biggest income fall, but overall Kiwi businesses saw the first decrease in total industry income in more than 10 years.
2011-09-15 09:59:16 // Idealog
No surprises there: Reserve Bank Governor Alan Bollard has opted to leave the official cash rate unchanged, saying the economy has performed "relatively well" amidst global turmoil.
2011-09-14 14:33:50 // Matt Nolan
// Idealog #35: workshop
In a situation reminiscent of the 70s, the world economy has been battered by myriad oil price shocks in recent years. Can anything be done to make things better?
2011-09-12 12:14:53 // Idealog
Wholesale trade sales were up again in the June quarter for the seventh consecutive time, Statistics New Zealand said today.
2011-09-08 17:44:25 // Willy Leferink
// The Idealog Blog
New Zealanders have a tendency to catastrophise, writes Willy Leferink, but farmers aren’t dumb – it's not in their interests to abuse what their resources.
2011-09-08 10:27:49 // Esther Goh
New Zealand has been named the 25th most competitive economy out of 142 countries, conceding two places from last year's ranking after being leapfrogged by Israel and Malaysia.
2011-09-05 11:52:25 // Idealog
The economic recovery is picking up pace despite ongoing global jitters, as evidenced by a host of recent confidence surveys.
2011-09-01 13:21:05 // Idealog
Dairy's golden run lifted New Zealand's terms of trade to a 37-year high in the June quarter, and while Statistics New Zealand believes dairy prices have peaked, returns should remain high for years yet.
2011-08-25 13:02:56 // Idealog
In the latest indicator of economic recovery, the retail sector is strengthening, with sales up nearly 2 percent in the June quarter and price rises across a number of industries.
2011-08-25 10:52:48 // Anthony Byett
// Idealog #35: workshop
We’re not buying more flowers or CDs for our loved ones but we are getting round to visiting the dentist and optometrist.
2011-08-24 10:40:31 // Idealog
Inflation expectations are easing, if the Reserve Bank's latest quarterly survey of expectations is anything to go by, with respondents tipping a 2.94 percent rate for one year out.
2011-08-18 11:30:26 // Esther Goh
| 7 comments
An early All Blacks bow-out from the Rugby World Cup could negatively impact domestic spending, the Reserve Bank says.
2011-08-17 11:10:16 // Idealog
Prices for NZ-made goods and services as measured by Statistics New Zealand rose 1.4 per cent in the last quarter, reflecting higher prices for refined petroleum products such as petrol and diesel.
2011-08-12 08:57:28 // Idealog
Kiwis have renewed confidence in the economy and are showing more willingness to open their wallets despite offshore turbulence, a survey has found.
2011-08-09 11:23:27 // Idealog
Electronic transactions increased slightly last month but the value of total transactions was flat, with fuel spending tumbling for a third month.
2011-08-09 10:26:41 // Idealog
Confirming what most already knew, the OECD says economic activity is slowing in most member countries as well as major-non member economies.
2011-08-08 10:33:45 // Esther Goh
New Zealand's banking system is in a solid position despite the global economic turmoil, but the road to recovery will be a long one, experts say.
2011-08-04 12:16:47 // Idealog
Unemployment is holding steady, with both the labour force size and number of hours worked climbing in the last quarter.
2011-08-03 10:11:55 // Idealog
| 1 comment
New Zealand companies need to start winning more government contracts in order to boost the economy by millions – but a focus on price above all else is negatively affecting results.
2011-08-01 09:55:43 // Idealog
Kiwi consumers are still feeling pessimistic about spending, and our Aussie counterparts are even more gloomy, where consumer confidence is at its lowest point since June 2009.
2011-07-28 09:47:33 // Idealog
The Reserve Bank is holding the official cash rate at 2.5 percent, as was widely predicted, but its governor Alan Bollard says the climbing dollar is dragging down the economy.
2011-07-28 09:12:06 // Esther Goh
// The Idealog Blog
Our publisher Vincent Heeringa chats to Wammo about inflation, interest rates and the wacky, wacky things happening to our economy. Scintillating stuff.
2011-07-26 14:36:22 // Esther Goh
// The Idealog Blog
Those feeling the pinch probably didn't need to be told that inflation reached a new high recently. So just what drove that inflationary peak 21 years ago, and how do conditions now compare to the situation then?
2011-07-18 08:20:28 // Esther Goh
// The Idealog Blog
We Idealogues are fond of Sir Paul Callaghan; he loves our country and has plenty of thoughts on how we can make it an even better place. And more importantly, he's not afraid to share them.
2011-07-14 14:30:10 // Idealog
There would be plenty of reasons for the manufacturing sector to slow down, but it’s holding up nicely, according to the latest PMI stats.
2011-07-14 14:07:44 // Idealog
Buoyed largely by the manufacturing sector, GDP rose 0.8 per cent in the March 2011 quarter, Statistics New Zealand announced today. This follows a 0.5 percent increase in economic activity in the December 2010 quarter.
2011-07-13 16:51:10 // Esther Goh
The Productivity Commission is calling for public submissions as it launches an inquiry into the international freight transport sector.
2011-07-12 09:00:00 // Idealog
While the Christchurch rebuild effort has seen demand for engineering, property and architecture experts soar, job-seekers with accountancy and contact centre skills have pretty good prospects too, according to recruiting company Hays.
2011-07-11 17:02:22 // Idealog
Kiwis indulged in a bit of retail therapy last month, according to figures from Statistics New Zealand, but one place we weren't opening our wallets was at the pump.
2011-07-11 09:18:42 // Jacqueline Rowarth
// The Idealog Blog
| 2 comments
Farmers occupy a strange position, writes Jacqueline Rowarth: recognised for their key role in the economy, yet blamed for rising food prices and environmental impacts.
2011-07-08 11:21:35 // Vanessa Ellingham
A second round of business optimism stats this week show that Kiwi business confidence is on the rise. The Grant Thornton International Business Report was released yesterday, with New Zealand up 8 percentage points to 52 percent percent this quarter in the optimism percentage balance ranking. This comes after the national NZIER survey was released earlier this week showing a similar trend.
2011-07-07 10:05:49 // Vincent Heeringa
// The Idealog Blog
| 9 comments
As milk powder prices peak, the TradeMe founder finds a new trick: dairying in Brazil. Que?
2011-07-05 11:11:01 // Idealog
Figures show a marked recovery in the Canterbury economy but modest growth elsewhere, according to the NZIER's Quarterly Survey of Business Opinion released this morning.
2011-06-30 15:26:17 // Idealog
The latest National Bank Business Outlook report shows nearly half of surveyed businesses have high hopes for the coming year, with rural regions leading the charge.
2010-06-22 11:45:40 // Jason Smith
// The Idealog Blog
| 1 comment
All our eggs (and milk, meat and timber) are in one basket. Let’s mix it up a little
2010-06-21 15:22:59 // Jason Smith
// Idealog #27: workshop
| 1 comment
All our eggs (and milk, meat and timber) are in one basket. Let’s mix it up a little.
2010-05-18 11:06:13 // Vincent Heeringa
// Idealog #27: celsias
Environmental activist, lawyer and famous son, Robert Kennedy Jr says the best argument for environmental protection is neither moral nor scientific—it’s economic.
2010-04-28 10:02:10 // Chris Tobias
// Idealog #27: celsias
| 1 comment
We’re on the brink of transition, says Phillip Mills, with opportunities aplenty in the cleantech field, so he and a diverse range of industry heads plan to lift our economy with a fresh set of rules. By Chris Tobias.
2010-03-04 14:10:33 // Vincent Heeringa
// Idealog #26: features
| 3 comments
Catch those upstart Aussies by 2025. That’s the aim of John Key and his young Turks. Dream on, John. Government inaction and the biggest recession in 70 years are conspiring to bring us level with the home of Borat by 2025. Vincent Heeringa reckons we need a better plan to avoid becoming New Zealistan.
2010-02-23 22:44:00 // Vincent Heeringa
// The Idealog Blog
| 1 comment
A new report by IBM and the Univerity of Auckland into the state of Kiwi innovation reveals two surprising facts, and one dismally old one
2010-02-09 23:31:00 // Vincent Heeringa
// The Idealog Blog
| 1 comment
After so many hints that a major overhaul of the Kiwi economy was to come, Prime Minister John Key's speech today records a blow for mediocrity.
2009-07-31 11:40:36 // Vincent Heeringa
// The Idealog Blog
| 1 comment
Don Brash’ Productivity Commission is doomed for a simple reason: The Don. He's too divisive and wonkish to lead New Zild into the great productivity debate.
2009-07-03 08:44:52 // Matt Cooney
// Idealog #22: interact
Innovation isn’t just a commercial buzzword. It can transform our schools, hospitals, public spaces, transport, workplaces and our leisure time. And now New Zealand has its own organisation dedicated to encouraging new thinking to transform Kiwi society.
2009-05-26 16:04:03 // Simon Young
// Idealog TV
| 2 comments
Tim Chang, Principal of Norwest Venture Partners in Silicon Valley, sees New Zealand as a source of unique and refreshing ideas, born out of our distance from easy capital. Being a VC from Silicon Valley, you'd expect him to advise Kiwi businesses to chase American money, but you may be surprised at his answer.
2009-05-21 23:39:44 // Vincent Heeringa
// The Idealog Blog
| 26 comments
How did 100 talented entrepreneurs pick an idea only Murray Hewitt would think is cool?
2008-10-17 14:39:51 // Vincent Heeringa
// Idealog #17: features
| 8 comments
Labour swept to power in 1999 promising to transform New Zealand into a world-class, knowledge-led economy. Instead, they reverted to ‘Old Labour’ habits of taxing, regulating and centralising. Vincent Heeringa weighs up Labour’s promises against its achievements and wonders what’s next
2008-10-14 14:51:39 // Vincent Heeringa
// Idealog #17: now
Each year 70,000 New Zealanders leave our shores, says David Skilling—and in December he’ll join the exodus
2007-11-06 12:03:40 // David MacGregor
// Idealog #12: workshop
Does mass collaboration herald the rise of a new literati, or just more monkeys with typewriters? Two books take polar views
2007-08-23 23:00:00 // David MacGregor
// Idealog #11: features
| 3 comments
Many New Zealanders find they learn most about their country by living somewhere else for a while. Steven Carden is no exception: after three years in New York with McKinsey & Co, he returned to Godzone with some new ideas about our past, our future and our place on the planet. But unlike most New Zealanders, Carden has put his thoughts into a book: New Zealand Unleashed, subtitled ‘The country, its future and the people who will get it there’. David MacGregor meets the man behind the message
