Year: 2025

New Zealand’s Finance Minister announced a budget cut for the Reserve Bank, but it masks leadership issues. The appointment of a capable governor is crucial for the institution’s future.

Treasury Secretary Iain Rennie’s speech emphasised sustainable government finances, advocating for debt management, rigorous analysis and targeted crisis responses to ensure New Zealand’s economic resilience.

Donald Trump’s disruptive policies, while intended to harm, have paradoxically strengthened European resolve for free trade and defence, fostering greater unity and responsibility.

The U.S. trade tariffs under President Trump are economically harmful, causing higher prices and reduced prosperity. Other nations should enhance trade ties, avoiding a retaliatory trade war.

Minister Brooke van Velden’s policies aim to reduce excessive workplace safety regulations in New Zealand, focusing on practical risks while maintaining necessary protections, promoting a more sensible approach to safety management.

My foreword to Prabani Wood’s report on primary healthcare emphasizes continuity of care and robust GP-patient relationships to improve health outcomes and reduce costs while addressing systemic barriers.

In Germany, Chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz’s electoral victory has led to significant political missteps. His concessions to the SPD and Greens undermine his party’s previous fiscal principles, causing voter disillusionment.

Germany’s political and economic decline reflects a culmination of systemic issues, ineffective leadership from Merkel to Scholz, and challenges facing the new coalition under Merz, demanding urgent reform.