Insights
Health and safety on the rocks
Air New Zealand’s new whisky rule mandates a single ice cube, reflecting bureaucratic caution. Meanwhile, Qantas’ (of all companies) has a more respectful approach.
Month: October 2025
Newsroom
Will Europe realise in time that it’s under Russian attack?
Germany’s intelligence chiefs revealed on October 13, 2025, that Russia is waging a hybrid war against Germany, employing sabotage, disinformation, and exploiting domestic extremism to destabilise Europe.
Quadrant
The Sisyphean Task of Welfare Reform
Louise Upston, New Zealand’s welfare minister, faces challenges in reforming a welfare system that fosters dependency, complicated by economic downturns and structural changes.
Insights
Labour’s Future Fund: Wrong tool for a real problem
Labour’s proposal for a sovereign wealth fund misdiagnoses New Zealand’s investment issues, focusing on government intervention rather than improving the investment climate and attracting private capital.
The Australian
When sacred cows become too holy to slaughter
New Zealand’s ACC faces a crisis due to policy missteps, leading to worsening rehabilitation, a massive deficit, and increased long-term dependency among injured individuals.
Insights
Why did the chicken cross the road? A Nobel attempt
László Krasznahorkai, recently awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature, is known for his apocalyptic fiction and intricate style. His writing inspires reflections on existential themes and narrative purpose.
Newsroom
EU can’t muddle through another monetary crisis
France’s political instability threatens its economic viability, with rising debt, market concerns, and diminished confidence in governance. The eurozone’s underlying flaws complicate Europe’s financial future, risking deeper crises.
The Australian
NZ’s answer to infrastructure crisis hiding in plain sight
New Zealand’s government faces a fiscal crisis with rising debt, infrastructure deficits, and limited options for funding. Asset recycling, as successfully implemented in Australia, could provide a viable solution.