You are invited to join an important public workshop hosted by the School of Government, Victoria University: Are there biophysical limits to growth?If so, how should public policy respond?” Economic growth has become culturally, politically and institutionally engrained at a global scale. … [Read more...]
We’re importing coal as we lay off miners on the West Coast
I sat with two friends last week discussing issues about our economy and South Island politics in general. One said “why doesn’t the Government ban coal usage by a certain date, and, until that date continues to mine in New Zealand”. I hadn’t realised that we were importing coal. But here are some … [Read more...]
Will we experience the end of Malls?
In Newsroom this week was this article: Mall owner Washington Prime Group has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, saying the "COVID-19 pandemic proved insurmountable." Our thought bubble, via Axios' Aja Whitaker-Moore: Malls have been on the decline for years due to consumer demand … [Read more...]
Here’s a wonderful example of the greed of banks
The six-month mortgage holiday and the $6000 in extra baggage... I received this email this week. It focused on the greed exhibited by the banks of our country: I'm reminded of the Tuesday club stories you did on banks last year. While everyone is focused on blaming govt with who wins/loses in … [Read more...]
Garry Writes 11 May 2021
I’m not sure what game the Government is playing right now in its attitude towards Public Servants and their pay. Remember the talk of “a team of 5 million” during Covid 19 last year. Well, it was only possible to make a great fist of this incredible challenge because of the nurses, Doctors, health … [Read more...]
It’s time to expect much more from our Economic Development Agency
In the article below Stuff’s Dileepa Fonseka has written a really good summary of how the Cities will be the growth drivers of our economy. As somebody who has been totally committed to this important area for decades I agree with his writing. However, one part of the article worried me. He … [Read more...]
We need to watch the big Four accounting firms:
I have recommended to Tuesday Club readers the book “Bean Counters” by Richard Brooks. Here’s a link to how you can purchase a copy. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bean-Counters-Triumph-Accountants-Capitalism/dp/1786490285. Or buy yours at Scorpio, where I bought my copy. Everybody who has the slightest … [Read more...]
Shamubeel Eaqub:
I really enjoy Shamubeel’ s thinking. So, it was interesting to read this article this week in Stuff from Shamubeel Eaqub commenting on the pros and cons of lockdowns. He stated: Level 2 restrictions did not have a big impact on the economy, but level 3 reduced economic activity by around 30 per … [Read more...]
This is a brilliant analogy of how we are careless about saving cents and causing millions of costs:
In this article Eric Crampton tells the tale of the faulty O-ring which caused the explosion of one of the Space rockets and the death of all the astronauts inside. It was a simple, in fact cheap, fitting which failed and destroyed everything everybody had been working on. In this article … [Read more...]
Mainfreight sends a message to Local Government about long term planning:
One of my late mates, who I really miss, is Neil Graham one of the two founders of Mainfreight. Neil, whenever he met somebody and when asked what he did, always replied that he was a truck driver. He was a guy who started working for himself when he was 17, and never worked for anybody else. Not … [Read more...]