FINANCE: Over the last nine years, almost coinciding with the term of the fifth Labour Government, certain themes have re-occurred in this column like the spectre of French teams at World Rugby Cups. These include widespread dissatisfaction with monetary policy, problems related to a wildly fluctuating currency, New Zealanders’ love affair with housing investment, a dearth of saving, and the abject failure of the stock exchange to attract new listings. Over this period, New Zealand... more>

ECONOMY: Economists are a funny lot. When things are going swimmingly they preach doom. But because their job entails forecasting, they also tend to point out, in the words of Australian songster Paul Kelly "the darkest hour is right before the dawn". BNZ economist Tony Alexander says in his Weekly Overview that it’s old news the economy is weak and probably in recession. Actually, because Statistics NZ’s GDP data lags by a full quarter, it’s possible to be through a... more>

POLITICS: On Friday night another poll showed National holding more than 50 percent of the party vote and leading Labour by more than 20 points. Three previous surveys during the last three weeks, taken by different polling organisations, delivered very similar results. They all put National above 50 percent, they all showed the gap at more than 20 points. Contrary to the Government’s comments, public opinion isn’t volatile. It’s about a solid as it gets, and the... more>

There were three big stories in Parliament last week. One was real, the other two weren’t. The real one was the signing of the biggest Treaty settlement in history, the $400 million-plus "Treelords" agreement. Hundreds of central North Island Maori came to Parliament for the signing ceremony, and then crowded into the public galleries to see MPs unanimously vote to pass the first reading of a bill that will enact it. The settlement hands over 176,000 hectares of Crown-owned forest... more>

POLITICS: National doesn’t plan to announce detailed policies until the run-up to the election but it isn’t shy about promising to fix problems. And when it wins, which seems very likely unless there’s a remarkable turn around in the polls, voters are going to expect a lot from the new government. John Key and his team could face a crisis of expectation. "The difference is that we will take action. They’ve been sitting around for nine years waiting for reviews,"... more>

BUSINESS: It seemed like a worse week than it actually was. Each day this week the NZSX-50 gross index fell and it sank to its lowest level in 28 months. However, the percentage fall for the week was only just over 3 percent. A number of stocks hit multi-year lows with Fletcher Building notable. The No 3 stock, which has given investors a magnificent run from late 2001, leaping 6-1/2 times in value, but it has now halved from a May peak. The NXSX-50’s fall since a peak in October... more>

Bachelorette - Isolation Loops (Electroplate) The record breaking success of Fat Freddy’s Drop, the rapid growth of their distributor Rhythm Method and the MySpace-inspired, international breakthrough of recent UK Kiwi tourists The Ruby Suns is further evidence that New Zealand’s independent music scene is in absolutely brilliant health. Indeed, there are many more highly promising acts that could potentially follow in the footsteps of Ryan McPhun and friends by securing... more>

"We love zee kiwis, thank you New Zealand and thank you Taranaki," announced Philippe Cohen Solal of Gotan Project after their lavish performance on the first night of WOMAD. The New Plymouth crowd was left awestruck by the three-piece, who strutted round the stage in white suits, accompanied by a white grand piano and stunning visuals. They delivered a resplendent tango version of Michael Jackson’s Billy Jean, throwing in a Celtic lilt, causing my friend nearby to remark: "I feel like... more>

If New Zealand has an Apocalypse Now - a movie like Francis Ford Coppola’s Vietnam War epic filmed in a hostile, remote location, which ends up in catastrophic disaster - it would have to be Vincent Ward’s River Queen. Much was promised by the Greytown-born director’s fifth film - his first to be shot back home since his 1988 sophomore effort The Navigator - but Ward was forced to peer into his own heart of darkness after everything that could go wrong went wrong.... more>

Years in the making and months in the planning, the Kiwi event of the year took place last month. Ellie van Baaren was one of the 2500 shivering people who turned out for the inauguration of our own piece of London. it’s often hard to get a moment’s peace in London. The constant scream of sirens, the neverending rush hour, the rumbling undercurrent of the tangled conversations between 7 million people – there seems to be no escape. But if you were anywhere near Hyde Park Corner on... more>