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Business is tough - so why are more businesses opening?

01/09/2025

Despite a tough recession with many business closures and shrinking job numbers, New Zealand still saw more businesses start than shut in the past year. What does this unusual growth mean?

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Recent updates

The cost of bread and milk

Published 12/09/2025

A quick run to the shop for milk and bread has gotten expensive fast. It feels symptomatic of the everyday costs that are making so many Kiwis feel worse off.

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Business is tough - so why are more businesses opening?

Published 01/09/2025

Despite a tough recession with many business closures and shrinking job numbers, New Zealand still saw more businesses start than shut in the past year. What does this unusual growth mean?

read more

The economic benefits of KiwiSaver in 2100

Published 27/08/2025

New Zealand’s ageing population and rising inequality raise big questions about the future of KiwiSaver - can it build resilience, fairness, and financial security for generations to come? This article explores international lessons and shows how starting earlier, contributing more,...

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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.

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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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