Insights
Talking in code
Seemingly disjointed political conversations may actually be strategic signaling among leaders, as demonstrated in the Interislander ferries saga.
New Zealand
The Australian
‘Drowning electorally’: Christopher Luxon’s premiership under pressure
The latest poll indicates Prime Minister Luxon faces a potential hung parliament, struggling with a low favourability rating and communication missteps, amid waning public support.
The Australian
What happens when good governance becomes the enemy
New Zealand’s proposed ‘Regulatory Standards Bill’ aims for transparency in governance, yet faces backlash from critics mischaracterising it as anti-Māori and threatening democracy, despite its focus on clarity and fairness.
The Australian
Work harder not smarter – how NZ economy has been left behind
The New Zealand Initiative is exploring Dutch success to understand productivity disparities, emphasising foreign investment’s role while highlighting New Zealand’s regulatory challenges that limit growth and competitiveness.
Quadrant
The Comparative Advantage
The New Zealand Initiative’s upcoming delegation to the Netherlands aims to enhance understanding of global best practices in policy and governance, emphasizing the value of comparative learning beyond English-speaking nations.
The Australian
Our fearful mindset may be AI’s greatest hurdle
A breakfast event in New Zealand’s parliament unveiled a report highlighting digitalisation’s potential to boost the economy. However, cultural skepticism towards AI threatens effective adoption and progress.
Insights
The Green Budget fantasy
The Green Budget presents an unrealistic vision for New Zealand, lacking practical implementation strategies and based on flawed economic assumptions.
The New Zealand Herald
The missing piece in New Zealand’s growth puzzle
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon emphasises economic growth as a priority, yet New Zealand faces sluggish performance. Reducing government size would enhance reforms and productivity, fostering prosperity.
The Australian
Beware the landslide: Ardern’s lesson for victorious Albanese
The Australian election results of 2025 mirror New Zealand’s 2020 Labour victory and subsequent fall, cautioning Albanese’s Labor against overreach, emphasizing voter concerns over ambitious agendas.
The Australian
Money isn’t the RBNZ’s greatest problem: leadership is
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.