Mike's Minute: NZ is better than we think

A friend of ours opened a new business last week.

It was a soft opening and will be full steam ahead by the school holidays.

So far he is going gangbusters. There's a lot of local support and it looks like a good news story.

Oliver Hartwich: For richer or poorer - Kiwis really need to get out more

In New Zealand’s public policy circles these days, you cannot escape the buzz about Ireland. Whether in the corridors of power, at business gatherings, or even casual coffee catch-ups, Ireland is the talk of the town.

That may seem strange. It is not St Patrick’s Day, and the Rugby World Cup has not kicked off yet. But the reason is a recent business delegation visit to the Emerald Isle – a trip our organisation, The New Zealand Initiative, organised.