The fact is currently on fire is worrying not just because it's a fire and you want fires to be put out, but also because of where it's happening.
Ruapehu/central North island's been taking a hammering lately.
It's mills, factories, forestry and tourism.
Hundreds of jobs gone in mill closures. We've had alpine lifts debacle. The mountain's been battling. All this after Covid.
Now, summer bookings are at risk with a decent chunk of the park now a raging fire.
Businesses can only take so much before something breaks.
As it has for many since the heady days of free government money during the pandemic.
Today we're reporting 115% increase in insolvencies since 2022.
The problem is not just inflation eating in consumer spending and confidence, but also the sequence of shocks. It's been one thing after another.
Those on the edge get pushed off.
The economy, generally, has had inflation, recession, the weather events, tariffs. Worst conditions in 30 years or more.
What it tells us is that these shocks can come any time, any place, not necessarily with six or seven good years between them.
What's next? The AI bubble bursting? Another war? An oil shock? Another fire ripping through a tourist hot-spot?
Take your pick. But don't expect it won't come tomorrow.
Ryan Bridge is a New Zealand broadcaster who has worked on many current affairs television and radio shows. He currently hosts Newstalk ZB's Early Edition - where this article was sourced.
3 comments:
In 2023, the election of Prime Minister Christopher Luxon marked a significant shift in New Zealand's approach to foreign investment and real estate policy. The government's strategies aim to stimulate the economy by encouraging foreign capital while addressing the domestic housing market challenges.
Since then Fonterra gave up on NZ manufacturing, vital for earning export dollars and providing Kiwi Battlers with high paying jobs.
ALDI and LIDL supermarkets, credited with making Aussie family grocery bills $10,000 a year cheaper than Kiwi families grocery bills, refused to participate in Willis' waste of time and money supermarket study.
on Aug 14, 2025 Newsroom reported New Zealand is riding its highest wave of company liquidations in more than a decade, with thousands of businesses folding and countless livelihoods caught in the crossfire. Many more are holding on, but just. In the first half of this year alone, 1270 businesses have shut their doors.
Yet there have been no reports of significant foreign investment or high paying, export dollar earning, highly productive; foreign firms setting up in NZ.
But bizarrely the Aussie banks, Aussie supermarkets, and Aussie insurance companies continue to make record profits from Kiwi Battlers.
Profits they move to Australia for our much wealthier Australian cousins to enjoy!.
Is this really what you entered politics to achieve Mr Luxon?
It's all good there is a long rahui on it now so nothing can happen to it for a while.
Anonymous. 7.30 another reason to leave this plug hole circling country.
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