Articles
Premium
392 articles found for Weekly commentary
Premium
Analysis
The shifting occupational makeup of the New Zealand workforce
Person doing analysis
Analysis
The shifting occupational makeup of the New Zealand workforce
Here we examine how the occupational makeup of the workforce has changed between the 2018 and 2023 Census.
Thu 28 Aug 2025Rob Heyes🕓 5 min
Media release
Slow economic recovery starts for most regions
Port of Tauranga from the sky
Media release
Slow economic recovery starts for most regions
New Zealand’s economic turnaround continues, slowly but surely, although different parts of the economy are moving at vastly different paces, according to Infometrics’ latest monitoring of regional economies
Thu 21 Aug 2025Nick Brunsdon🕓 3 min
Premium
Analysis
Examining the road ahead for RUC changes
Car on road with Mount Cook in the background
Analysis
Examining the road ahead for RUC changes
Last week the government announced the next steps for replacing petrol tax with electronic road user charges (RUCs). These changes have been signalled in the past, including as part of the governments’ 2025Q2 action plan in April.
Thu 14 Aug 2025Matthew Allman🕓 4 min
Premium
Analysis
The housing market and renovations: understanding regional variations
Analysis
The housing market and renovations: understanding regional variations
Mortgage rates, income growth, and house sales activity: the three underlying influences on residential alterations and additions (A&A) activity – more commonly known as renovations.
Thu 7 Aug 2025Gareth Kiernan🕓 4 min
Premium
Analysis
Rates rebate expansion – what will it mean for your community?
Local council rates bill 2023
Analysis
Rates rebate expansion – what will it mean for your community?
Cost of living pressures are affecting all corners of society, and Budget 2025 included an expansion to the Rates Rebate Scheme for SuperGold cardholders. This article dives into the rates rebate boost, and looks at how many people might benefit in each part of the country.
Thu 31 Jul 2025Nick Brunsdon🕓 4 min
Analysis
What should an AI Skills Strategy look like?
Webpage of ChatGPT
Analysis
What should an AI Skills Strategy look like?
The Government recently released its AI Strategy. Toi Mai CEO, Dr Claire Robinson, followed up by calling for an AI Skills Strategy. Here we look at what an AI Skills Strategy should look like.
Thu 24 Jul 2025Rob Heyes🕓 4 min
Premium
Analysis
Subdued housing market suggests residential construction confidence is overblown
Construction worker
Analysis
Subdued housing market suggests residential construction confidence is overblown
After hovering at close to zero throughout the first half of last year, expectations for residential construction activity from ANZ’s Business Outlook strengthened from July 2024 – as did many other indicators in the survey of business sentiment.
Thu 3 Jul 2025Gareth Kiernan🕓 4 min
Analysis
Examining homelessness trends across New Zealand
Homeless, Penner, Poverty
Analysis
Examining homelessness trends across New Zealand
Homelessness is a clear challenge for some people in New Zealand. Although homelessness numbers are small, on a relative basis, housing outcomes for nearly 112,000 people are still far too precarious to be ignored.
Fri 27 Jun 2025Brad Olsen🕓 7 min
Premium
Analysis
A higher bar for pay equity
Wallet with Euro Currency Notes and Plant
Analysis
A higher bar for pay equity
On 6 May 2025, Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden announced the Government was amending the Equal Pay Act, including discontinuing current pay equity claims and raising the bar for future claims to be successful. Here we look at the number of workers whose pay equity claims were discontinued and the types of occupations affected.
Wed 18 Jun 2025Rob Heyes🕓 4 min
Premium
Analysis
RBNZ tariff scenarios provide clarity on effects of the trade war
A person holding a crystal ball in their hand
Analysis
RBNZ tariff scenarios provide clarity on effects of the trade war
Late last month the Reserve Bank released its latest Monetary Policy Statement, which included forecast scenarios based on different ways the ongoing trade war could evolve and effect the New Zealand economy.
Thu 12 Jun 2025Matthew Allman🕓 4 min