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Jobs are down 27k this year - but hours are down even more

07/08/2025

NZ's recession thus far has claimed 27k jobs over the past year. This flatters to deceive, because hours have shrunk so much. Check out Chief Economist Shamubeel Eaqub's latest download from the August job numbers that have just come out.

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Jobs are down 27k this year - but hours are down...

Published 07/08/2025

NZ's recession thus far has claimed 27k jobs over the past year. This flatters to deceive, because hours have shrunk so much. Check out Chief Economist Shamubeel Eaqub's latest download from the August job numbers that have just come out.

read more

Hardship withdrawals are rising - and telling us something important

Published 01/08/2025

More Kiwis are doing it tough. In the year to June 2025, over 53,000 people made KiwiSaver hardship withdrawals - up from around 18,000 five years ago.

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What's driving inflation this time?

Published 21/07/2025

The cost of living's climbing again, but not for the same reasons. Shamubeel unpacks what’s driving the latest inflation, why it feels different, and what it means for your money.

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Why changing KiwiSaver for farmers is a bad idea

Published 11/06/2025

A new proposal out today to allowing farmers to use their KiwiSaver funds to buy their first farm. While it might seem like the existing first home withdrawal, this change is problematic, for a number of reasons.

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Budget 2025: Changes ahead for KiwiSaver

Published 22/05/2025

KiwiSaver is getting a shake-up - including higher contribution rates, reduced government incentives, and expanded access for younger members. Shamubeel explains what’s changing and how to prepare.

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Job losses find a floor, but recovery yet to begin

Published 07/05/2025

Latest employment data shows signs of stabilisation, it’s good to see a floor forming in job losses. But it’s not all plain sailing: the share of Kiwis in work has returned to pre-pandemic levels.

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OCR cut is a good start, but NZ must do more

Published 09/04/2025

The Reserve Bank has cut the OCR to 3.5%, but more action is needed. With the risks to the global economy rising, NZ must act decisively to protect jobs, growth, and stability.

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Liberation Day - What the latest US tariffs mean for NZ

Published 03/04/2025

USA ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs have been announced - which may or may not be changed or reversed as negotiating chips. Shamubeel Eaqub's back-of-the-envelope calculations show that this adds up to a 26.5% increase in US import costs. But what does...

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Navigating uncertainty - what market volatility means for you

Published 06/03/2025

Equity markets are finally reflecting increased political and policy uncertainty from a Trump government in the US. Kiwis will likely see this reflected in their KiwiSaver balances, but while volatility can be unsettling, focusing on long-term savings is key.

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