News of New Zealanders via Global Media

Rogernomics Resurfaces

Rogernomics Resurfaces

He engineered some of the most radical and controversial reforms in New Zealand history, where efficiency clashed with social affect, and Roger Douglas is still a believer, giving his tuppence worth on the English health system in…

Georgie Girl

Georgie Girl

“Quintessentially NZ story” highlight of Sydney Film Fest. Annie Goldson’s “Georgie Girl” follows the edgy life of Georgina Beyer – the world’s first transsexual MP – from her days as a sex-worker and drug user,…

God Defend Your Freeland

God Defend Your Freeland

“This is your country and you have the power to change it and uphold all that is good and right. I am saddened to know that many do not vote and still complain about America…” Although…

Sirs and Dames or Sheilas and Cobbers?

Sirs and Dames or Sheilas and Cobbers?

Four NZers received our country’s highest award via the Queen’s jubilee year honours list. Those admitted to the Order of New Zealand were; ex-Governor General Dame Catherine Tizard, Auckland anthropologist and Maori leader Sir Hugh Kawharu, former…

We’re All Royalists Here?

We’re All Royalists Here?

Miss representation? Put that portrait of the Queen back on the lounge wall: “All New Zealanders are royalists, not like the Aussies,” proclaims the Dame (Kiri te Kanawa). Perhaps this is not surprising coming from someone…

Give Me Your Skilled, Your Entrepreneurial

Give Me Your Skilled, Your Entrepreneurial

Immigration issues are foremost in a feature interview with Helen Clark in The Bulletin. Clark contributes to the discussion about immigrants’ contribution to growth, or lack thereof, and muses on NZ’s wider place in the world….

For the People

For the People

Don’t cry for me Argentina. The BBC looks at the progress of KiwiBank: ” New Zealand, more often famed for its sheep population than its financial sector, is attempting to shake-up its banking system with a…

Off the Sheep’s Back?

Off the Sheep’s Back?

The BBC looks at the changing iconic status and importance of the sheep to the New Zealand economy. Sheep numbers have fallen from 70 million to 40 million in the last two decades and farmers are…

Middle Line Management

Middle Line Management

NZ Reserve Bank governor Don Brash, has stepped down after 14 years in the top job as central banker to make a new career for himself as a politician. Widely regarded as the architect of New…

Under the Radar

Under the Radar

A governmental mission to Australia led by PM Helen Clark aims to repair the damage done to already slack perception of NZ business (“yokels”) across the ditch by events such as the Ansett collapse and the…

Z-files: Conspiracy Theory

Z-files: Conspiracy Theory

“Pretty unlikely”, is the way Helen Clark responds to allegations that her predecessor David Lange received death threats (“liquidate him”) from former US vice-pres Dan Quayle over his government’s anti-nuclear stance.  

“Come Together”

“Come Together”

Wearing a traditional Maori cloak of native bird feathers, the Queen calls on New Zealanders to work together to resolve lingering differences between indigenous Maori and the Government. Elizabeth II was on her 10th tour of…

Progressive Governance

Progressive Governance

Prime Minister Helen Clark joins leaders of “third way” governments from five continents at a Progressive Governance Conference in Stockholm. “The post-September 11 environment requires not just a military response but much broader international cooperation”, says Helen Clark. “If…

The B-list of Baaad Has an Axis to Grind

The B-list of Baaad Has an Axis to Grind

International relations satire: bitter after being snubbed for membership in the “Axis of Evil”, peer-conscious nations rush to gain triumvirate status in what becomes a game of geopolitical chairs: “Spain, Scotland and New Zealand established the…

“Names Will Never Hurt Me?”

“Names Will Never Hurt Me?”

Deputy PM Jim Anderton tells the Australian Government to stop its “insults”, after Aussie Defence Minister Robert Hill dubs New Zealand  “Tasmania”. “For God’s sake”, Anderton says,”we’re the closest neighbours to each other, so we need to…

Wading into a Globalisation Debate

Wading into a Globalisation Debate

Prospect (“Britain’s intelligent conversation”) hosts a debate between prominent LSE economist NZer Robert Wade and Martin Wolf over whether global inequality and poverty are actually getting worse. Wade: “At the heart of our disagreement, I think, is…

Lessons From the Kiwi Experience

Lessons From the Kiwi Experience

The Scotsman praises “small, proud” New Zealand – “the more the government intervenes in industry the less enterprise and boldness there is. By rolling back the frontiers of the state New Zealand has discovered enormous energy and…

Asian Free Trade Zone

Asian Free Trade Zone

Japan is keen to envelop New Zealand and Australia into its vision for an Asian free-trade zone in both trade and investment, and beyond into technology, education and tourism.  

World First

World First

Associate finance minister Trevor Mallard is the first person to conduct a euro cash transaction, exchanging NZ dollars for new euro notes at Wellington’s airport.  

Hemorrhaging Talent

Hemorrhaging Talent

A disturbing survey of New Zealand’s graduating medical students reveals four out of five plan to depart overseas within two years. The survey makes clear the importance of addressing issues like student loans and remuneration to…

Green Party Turns Red

Green Party Turns Red

The Green Party briefly turns red after the party swallows a report posing as part of a campaign to ban the substance Dihydrogen Monoxide (DHMO). Convinced it was genuine the party responds enthusiastically requesting more information to…

NZ Among Ten Most Competitive

NZ Among Ten Most Competitive

New Zealand ranks amongst the ten most competitive countries in the world, according to a survey conducted by the World Economic Forum (WEF). New Zealand perches at #10 on the index, which the WEF argues is…

The Person is Political

The Person is Political

Voters across the political spectrum have convinced Georgina Beyers not to quit politics after she said she was stepping down. “The fact that a transsexual, a former sex worker and a Labour candidate could win the historically…

Kiwi Bashing is No Joke

Kiwi Bashing is No Joke

Air New Zealand’s role in the financial difficulties of Ansett Australia has created heated comment in the Australian media. “In recent days it has not been difficult to come by jokes and derisive comments about New Zealanders….

September 11

September 11

New Zealanders and Australians unite in New York City to share their grief at the loss of antipodean lives on September 11th. Kiwi Alan Beaven, a leading environmental lawyer based in California, was on the hijacked plane that…

ANZUS Shmanzus

ANZUS Shmanzus

“The Chinese are not coming, the Russians are not coming, the Indonesians are not even coming. Time has moved on.” Helen Clark doesn’t miss ANZUS – and doesn’t think she will any time soon.  

Corporate Drain

Corporate Drain

“Forget the brain drain – the Kiwis who leave usually come back; the real problem we face is the corporation drain, the breaking up or moving offshore of our top corporations,” says Mike Pratt, dean of…

All the Money in the World

All the Money in the World

New Zealander Graeme Wheeler has been appointed Treasurer of the World Bank and in the process takes responsibility for a portfolio worth hundreds of millions.  

NZ ‘No Subsidies’ Model for Europe?

NZ ‘No Subsidies’ Model for Europe?

“New Zealand is one of a handful of countries which have embarked on free trade for agriculture and some say it should be used as a model for changes in Europe.”

Wading In

Wading In

Robert Wade, Professor at the London School of Economics, gave NZ a “developing” status at the Knowledge Wave Conference. “The comparative position of New Zealand today is more serious than many think,” Dr Wade said, adding that…

The Pacific Petri Dish

The Pacific Petri Dish

The Australian takes an editorial swipe at the Triple Bottom Line approach advocated at New Zealand’s Knowledge Wave Conference. Paul Kelly believes “New Zealand today raises loud alarm bells for an Australian.”  

CNN on PM

CNN on PM

With a focus on Clark’s style of governance and personal history, CNN attempt to get behind the professional life of the New Zealand Prime Minister.  

GE Free?

GE Free?

Against anxiety that it will affect our clean, green image, New Zealand’s Royal Commission on Genetic Engineering suggests cautious introduction of GM. In reaction, Kiwi artists raising their voice include Dave Dobbyn and Bic Runga wearing their…

WTO Tangle

WTO Tangle

“It’s a little puzzling that the major trade remedy for an organization that promotes liberalized trade is to restrict trade,” says Mike Moore, referring to the problems in enforcing WTO rulings. Will the next round of…

Once More Around the Track

Once More Around the Track

Driving-man New Zealander Scott Dixon turns twenty-one, old enough to have a drink to celebrate being the youngest-ever winner in major open-wheel racing.  

Click Go the Sheilas

Click Go the Sheilas

Kiwi shearer Kylie Hamilton, “not really a very hefty bird,” but “with a good chassis under her” matches the men in her gang sheep for sheep – one of the first women in enter this very…

Get Up Stand Up – Kiwi Cultural Laboratory

Get Up Stand Up – Kiwi Cultural Laboratory

New Zealand doesn’t get the attention it deserves as a “kind of cultural laboratory for issues such as the rights of indigenous inhabitants or the equality of women”.

Dealing to the Queen

Dealing to the Queen

It’s only a matter of time before New Zealand becomes a republic says PM Helen Clark, stressing that it’s still not a high priority.  

Financial Future Rosy

Financial Future Rosy

Finance Minister Michael Cullen optimistic about New Zealand’s economic future despite the global slowdown.  

Writing With a Cause

Writing With a Cause

Working for international NGOs appeals to journalists as “an honorable route forward”, including former New Zealand reporter Brendan Parry, now working for Amnesty International, where there is “a huge amount of recognition if you do good work”….

On the Up

On the Up

A low dollar, good tourism revenues and buoyant international prices for our primary commodities are leading New Zealand towards an unexpectedly strong export-lead recovery, including a $95million current account surplus. Also, “It was a boomer,” says UBS Warburg…

Nearly There

Nearly There

“In principle, we are just about there. I want it and everyone wants it,” says former NZ-PM, WTO head Mike Moore, confirming his work on bringing China into the WTO has nearly reached its conclusion. …

Private Worries

Private Worries

New Zealand’s privacy laws touted as an example for Australia to follow in protecting the rights of its citizens and mesh better with EU legislation.  

Compensation Won

Compensation Won

International interest raised by Waitangi Tribunal ruling on compensation for Moriori descendents of survivors of the 1835 Chathams massacre.  

Boyish Blair

Boyish Blair

Ex-Labourite, New Zealander Bryan Gould comments on the man who runs Britain: “When I see him on television now, he still seems very young to me – just as he was in 1983, refreshingly boyish, wet…

Don’t Bank on British Security

Don’t Bank on British Security

NZ is light years ahead of Britain for banking security. “I don’t want to sound like a homesick Antipodean”, writes Charlotte Denny, “but ever since I arrived here 10 years ago, the true awfulness of the British…

In The Black

In The Black

The New Zealand trade surplus for April comes in at $391 million.  

The Ghost of Rob

The Ghost of Rob

“A late but not widely lamented New Zealand prime minister once introduced strict currency controls. When asked if the fixed rate was not out of line with market reality, he responded that the value of the…

Top Dollars Man

Top Dollars Man

The Australian Treasury head-hunted Ken Henry from Canterbury University in 1984: now he’s the head of the outfit.  

Sharing the Wealth

Sharing the Wealth

Former New Zealand PM now WTO head Mike Moore writes on spreading the gains of free trade to the world’s least-developed countries. Also, Moore warns against bully-boy tactics.  

Law Lord Retires

Law Lord Retires

Lord Cooke of Thorndon, the man whose decisions changed the face of race relations in New Zealand, retires from the Privy Council. “Lord Cooke’s achievement in being appointed as a law lord on his retirement as…

Election Aid

Election Aid

New Zealand will provide personnel, technical and funding assistance to ensure Fiji’s up-coming elections run properly.  

Global Warning

Global Warning

Kiwi LSE economist Robert Wade, tracks the winners and losers in the big-stakes game of globalisation and stirs debate with new thinking: “Growing inequality is analogous to global warming. Its effects are diffuse and long-term ……

Hand of Friendship

Hand of Friendship

Helen Clark and Jiang Zemin: “old friends”.

Dollar Getting Burgered

Dollar Getting Burgered

The Economist’s Big Mac index indicates the New Zealand dollar is 40-50% under fair value. Burgernomics in more detail.

Free Economy

Free Economy

New Zealand has the third freest economy in the world, after Hong Kong and Singapore, according to Economic Freedom in the World 2001 Annual Report.