The Standard

Economy

Posts on the economy, work, business, income, and labour

Categories under Economy

Privatisation and Plunder

Written By: - Date published: 4:36 pm, December 9th, 2025 - 3 comments

Privatisation and Plunder is essential reading for those who want to work for a society where prosperity for all is the aim.

“National is Getting NZ Back on Track”?

Written By: - Date published: 2:21 pm, December 8th, 2025 - 13 comments

That’s the headline of the pamphlet in the letterbox. But from their own measures is that true?

Why the next election will not be easy for Labour

Written By: - Date published: 12:12 pm, December 7th, 2025 - 27 comments

This may be a one term National Government. But electoral law reform, the state of Labour’s coalition partners, a possible economic upturn and a change in National’s leader threaten this.

From In and Down to Outward-In: The Big Picture matters

Written By: - Date published: 11:19 am, December 7th, 2025 - 2 comments

The world is entering a generation of challenges not seen since the late 1930s. New Zealand is better placed than most states to weather this challenge if it prepares now.

Is National planning to welch on Paris Climate obligations?

Written By: - Date published: 11:50 am, December 4th, 2025 - 12 comments

It appears to be more and more inevitable that National will welch on the country’s Paris Accord obligations.

Wealth taxation as national self-interest

Written By: - Date published: 6:05 am, November 26th, 2025 - 12 comments

Is it only the uber wealthy and politicians that don’t want a wealth tax? Guyon Espiner talks with ex trader, now people’s economist Gary Stevenson.

Stand with Pike – preserve Health and Safety at Work

Written By: - Date published: 10:46 am, November 19th, 2025 - 17 comments

On the 15th anniversary of the Pike River disaster Anna Osborne and Sonya Rockhouse will today be speaking to Brook van Velden about the need to preserve and strengthen safety at work laws.

76% of Kiwis rate National Coalition poor to neutral

Written By: - Date published: 10:49 am, November 17th, 2025 - 5 comments

Government hits a NEW low today after hitting a previous record low in February 2025

Why Is National Allowing Trans Tasman Resources to Destroy our Common Good?

Written By: - Date published: 10:52 am, November 15th, 2025 - 20 comments

This government is deliberately enabling private seabed mining in Taranaki to prevent New Zealand’s largest future renewable electricity supply.

The cult of reasonableness

Written By: - Date published: 8:08 am, November 11th, 2025 - 36 comments

Labour’s capital gains tax isn’t the end of the debate — it’s the beginning of a reckoning. The left’s real problem isn’t its policy. It’s the cult of reasonableness that’s made conviction sound impolite.

Mamdani

Written By: - Date published: 9:28 am, November 5th, 2025 - 21 comments

The New York City mayoral election results are expected later this afternoon NZT.

Tend Health re-brands as Aratataki – A “Charity” – And Lobbied Simeon Brown

Written By: - Date published: 12:15 pm, November 2nd, 2025 - 90 comments

Cecilia Robinson and Chris Luxon

Ryan Bridges fawns over Tend’s Telehealth corporate model which is subsidised by taxpayers, rewards private equity investors, and costs about $80 per consult

This Fonterra Failure is a New Zealand Failure

Written By: - Date published: 8:54 am, October 31st, 2025 - 49 comments

The vast majority of Fonterra shareholders have agreed to sell all its consumer brands to Lactalis, and it’s an economic crime against New Zealand.

CGT – The Empire strikes back

Written By: - Date published: 10:06 am, October 30th, 2025 - 140 comments

The usual voices have publicly attacked Labour’s proposed Capital Gains Tax using arguments that do not stack up.

Tax: the debate must continue

Written By: - Date published: 10:35 am, October 28th, 2025 - 46 comments

Today’s leak of Labour’s tax policy is unsurprising. The later Robertson and long-term Parker views are lost. And this position is at odds with much of the thinking in the Labour Party.

Is that it?

Written By: - Date published: 8:13 am, October 28th, 2025 - 151 comments

Labour’s Capital Gains Tax has been released in less than an optimal manner. And the policy is more modest than some would have liked.

Labour Day: the working class and civil emergencies

Written By: - Date published: 6:06 am, October 27th, 2025 - 17 comments

On this Labour Day, a massive shout out to all the workers in Southland, Otago and other areas affected by the storms last week. Paid and volunteer, obvious and those in the background doing support for the frontline workers.

More RONS!

Written By: - Date published: 9:40 am, October 25th, 2025 - 23 comments

National has announced it will be spending nearly three times as much on Roads of National Significance as it campaigned on and has justified dubious investment decisions by changing how benefits are calculated.

Stuff’s Lloyd Burr infers striking workers are puppets

Written By: - Date published: 2:05 pm, October 24th, 2025 - 11 comments

Burr unironically asks: “Politics or pay – what’s really behind the mega strike?” without understanding all action is political, and that unions are made up of individual workers who vote

National’s $62 billion budget hole

Written By: - Date published: 1:19 pm, October 21st, 2025 - 14 comments

National’s road plans are fraught with risks, with one of these projects will suck up $1 in every $10 of capital spending over 20 years. Plus: NZIER analysis has been called into question

Labour’s Future Fund is full of promise

Written By: - Date published: 1:09 pm, October 21st, 2025 - 6 comments

Labour’s first cornerstone policy is a solid start

Labour’s Sub-Therapeutic Dose for Economic Sickness

Written By: - Date published: 6:41 pm, October 20th, 2025 - 53 comments

Why is Labour proposing $200 million for a growth fund when New Zealand First got $3 billion?

Judith Collins’ Open Letter Is Dirty Politics

Written By: - Date published: 1:35 pm, October 19th, 2025 - 15 comments

The senior National Party Cabinet Minister has penned an “Open letter to the people of New Zealand” on the New Zealand Government’s official website

Simeon Brown threatens doctors as mega strike looms

Written By: - Date published: 10:37 am, October 19th, 2025 - 5 comments

An exodus of professionals are leaving – with Kiwi citizens fleeing at levels we haven’t seen in 24 years. These incl. community GPs, doctors & nurses – and Simeon is going after those that remain

Hayek’s Acolytes and History’s Judgement

Written By: - Date published: 1:02 pm, October 18th, 2025 - 44 comments

While we should acknowledge Jim Bolger’s life of service to New Zealand we should also recognise the critical and continuing damage done to New Zealand by his government.

Fiscal Choices: Scandinavia or America?

Written By: - Date published: 10:02 pm, October 14th, 2025 - 88 comments

Brian Easton says we cannot attain a sustainable Scandinavian-type quality of life while keeping the existing tax system in place

New Zealand’s latest tourism promo just dropped

Written By: - Date published: 10:41 am, October 13th, 2025 - 3 comments

“The Government of New Zild has made a new tourism ad and it’s surprisingly honest and informative!”

Simeon Brown Cagey On Privatisation Meeting with Serco

Written By: - Date published: 11:07 am, October 1st, 2025 - 4 comments

Shane Reti and Simeon Brown

The British multinational meeting was first reported by ODT. Plus: Physician Associates spell more danger for the health of our health system

Luxon’s bad faith stunt

Written By: - Date published: 8:56 am, October 1st, 2025 - 29 comments

Christopher Luxon recently wrote to Chris Hipkins seeking a bipartisan approach to gas drilling but then immediately turned this into a farce by leaking the letter to the Herald.

Kiwis are now dying in corridors & carparks

Written By: - Date published: 11:02 am, September 23rd, 2025 - 37 comments

Christchurch joins Nelson ED to sound the alarm as Code Red rages across NZ departments

National announces reversal of School Building Project cuts

Written By: - Date published: 9:42 am, September 23rd, 2025 - 7 comments

In the hope that it can address the Construction Industry crisis National has announced a partial reversal of cuts made to school building project made earlier in its term.