Will Australians travel differently?
With a two-way Trans-Tasman bubble set to kick off after more than a year of border closures, my mind has turned towards thinking how travel patterns may have evolved in the intervening time.
Blog
Interview: finding and retaining staff in the regions
I recently spoke to Kerre McIvor on Newstalk ZB at length about how employers can solve the challenge of finding and retaining staff. COVID-19 has left some employers exposed, particularly in regions and industries that had relied on a steady stream of itinerant labour from abroad.
The arts and culture sector in Dunedin
Benje Patterson was commissioned to estimate the economic and social outcomes of Dunedin’s arts and culture sector. The report outlined the benefits to local residents’ quality of life, as well as the reputation and attractiveness of Dunedin to its visitors.
Business closures spike, but startups remain high
There were 10,827 businesses removed from the Companies Register in September, well up on the lockdown low of 839 in April. Nevertheless, don't get too concerned just yet. Offsetting these closures have been surprising levels of business startups, which rose sharply in the September quarter.
Strategies for a new normal
A return to a business-as-usual environment is not necessarily an aspiration shared by all. A fantastic outcome for New Zealand and its regions would be if we can use COVID-19 as a reset to think about how we can do things better.
How much did lockdown hurt the average wage earner?
The average lockdown wage haircut was much smaller than the fall in mortgage expenses because of lower interest rates. Consequently, in net terms, an existing homeowner earning an average income was actually better off.
Trade surplus still offsets lost visitor spend
New Zealand’s export performance has been an enduring good news story. Incredibly, the expansion to the trade surplus during 2020 has more than offset the reduction of foreign visitor spending to date.
Where have rents risen and fallen?
A tight housing market has continued to put pressure on renters in many parts of the country at a time when incomes are squeezed. But the geographical distribution of rent increases has been uneven.
The regional impact of COVID-19: measurement practicalities
I was fortunate to speak at Economic Development New Zealand's national conference. I shared my experiences of assessing how COVID-19 is affecting local economies and what economic development professionals can do to help understand what is happening in their local area.
Cook Islands travel bubble: ‘soft aid’ from kiwi sunseekers
A potential New Zealand-Cook Islands travel bubble is a perpetual mirage on the horizon for kiwi travellers. The bubble would not just be a boon for kiwi sunseekers, but it could also be a $200m+ form of ‘soft aid’ that is a saviour of the Cook Islands economy.
Where were the school holiday spending hotspots?
The school holidays are behind us. Parents may be sighing with relief their dear children are no longer running riot, but many of our visitor destinations are back on tenterhooks as they wait to see whether the initial sugar rush of domestic travel can be sustained.
Trade surplus growth exceeds lost visitor spending
GOOD NEWS STORY: New Zealand’s trade surplus is sitting at record levels. What’s more, the expansion to the trade surplus has more than offset reduced international visitor spending.