Rebuilding the government, Racism claims miss the point, economists clash on immigration
What's in your National Business Review print edition this week.
What's in your National Business Review print edition this week.
In today's NBR Print Edition: Inland Revenue’s high-profile $2 billion ICT business transformation project is only the most visible point of an extremely large, changing iceberg of how government is done in New Zealand. Rob Hosking talks to some of the people who are not so much driving the changes as surfing the shift in public attitudes causing the changes.
The Court of Appeal has reversed a lower court decision that could have affected insurers’ decisions to protect businesses against criminal conduct. Suncorp brand Vero appealed a High Court ruling that it should cover losses Marac Finance, now a division of Heartland Bank, suffered after an employee secretly extended credit to a client. Calida Smylie reports.
Fresh details have emerged about a controversial share sale in a Canadian food giant by its New Zealand-based heiress, reports David Williams.
Like MediaWorks, Maori Television has recently copped criticism from many quarters, writes Nick Grant – but how justified is it?
Finalising the Trans Pacific Partnership may come down to the wire this month but the question of what to do with China if the deal passes is already being discussed, writes Nathan Smith. The expansive trade deal involves over 40% of the world’s GDP .
A war of words has broken out between high-profile economist Shamubeel Eaqub and former Reserve Bank official Michael Reddell over immigration figures. Mr Eaqub and Mr Reddell agree that a lack of supply is a major contributor to pushing Auckland house prices so high. But Mr Eaqub argues that immigration policy hasn’t been a particularly important contributor while Mr Reddell argues it has been. Jenny Ruth reports.
Labour’s housing spokesman Phil Twyford tried to trigger public debate on foreign non-resident ownership of Auckland property. Michael Coote argues his attempt was hijacked by racism vigilantes because he pointed to Chinese-named buyers as likely suspects. Over in Australia an intelligent debate is being held about how China-sourced funds are driving Australians out of their own residential property market. "It’s high time we had that kind of discussion in New Zealand."
Recent truck movements show a declining direction for freight transport, discovers Nevil Gibson is his Margin Call column. Is a five-year "Tiwai put" hanging over the KiwiRail network?
Fonterra’s Chinese investment is cause for concern, says Shoeshine.
Dairy prices hit a new low – will they go lower still? Jason Walls reports.
All this and more in today's National Business Review. Out now.