BlackRock gives foreign investment a bad name in NZ

BlackRock gives foreign investment a bad name in NZ
BlackRock executives jetted in to trumpet a fairytale climate change fund before the 2023 election. (Image: NZME)
Pattrick Smellie
New Zealand’s brief and unhappy relationship with the multi-trillion-dollar US-based BlackRock investment empire sends three awful signals, one of which matters far more than the others.The first signal stems from BlackRock’s decision to stop funding local rooftop solar company SolarZero, which it turns out had a great business model as long as interest rates remained low.SolarZero turned out to be a bottomless pit of cash demands. The decision to quit after pouring nearly $260 million into the business looks commercially rational.B...

More Opinion

The 20% question
Opinion

David Chaplin: The 20% question

KiwiSavers' average per member is better than nothing, but probably not enough.

Polarisation: from talkback to the trading desk
Opinion

Dileepa Fonseka: Polarisation: from talkback to the trading desk

Political polarisation is becoming more of a worry for NZ investors.

Dileepa Fonseka 15 Sep 2025
The All’s, the In’s, the outs and AI …
Opinion

Simon Robertson: The All’s, the In’s, the outs and AI …

Discussing the future of the West and humanity is bone-chilling.

Simon Robertson 13 Sep 2025
Search and rescue: Google given a lifeline
Opinion

Peter Griffin: Search and rescue: Google given a lifeline

The digital economy deserves more than ceremonial change.

Peter Griffin 10 Sep 2025