When the chips are down, NZ needs mates

When the chips are down, NZ needs mates
The QAUD leaders including US President Joe Biden meet over the weekend. (Image: Getty)
Peter Griffin
It should be abundantly clear to all of us by now that the world is shifting into separate camps clustered around the two big superpowers – the United States and China.This polarising force will mould geopolitics for decades to come and make our strategy of maintaining affable independence increasingly difficult.It sees our friends around the world grouping into new alliances. Last week I wrote about how the AUKUS security deal between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States will involve those countries sharing cutting edge ar...

More Opinion

My top BusinessDesk columns from 2025
Opinion

Simon Robertson: My top BusinessDesk columns from 2025

Our Saturday columnist has worked with some of the world's biggest investment firms.

Simon Robertson 10 Jan 2026
My top BusinessDesk columns from 2025
Opinion

Rachael Judge: My top BusinessDesk columns from 2025

Our columnist is a partner in Simpson Grierson’s employment law group. 

Rachael Judge 09 Jan 2026
My top BusinessDesk columns from 2025
Opinion

Pattrick Smellie: My top BusinessDesk columns from 2025

Pattrick Smellie co-founded BusinessDesk in 2008. 

Pattrick Smellie 08 Jan 2026
Clifford Bay: The one that got away again
Opinion

Pattrick Smellie: Clifford Bay: The one that got away again

Benefits of an alternative port for rail ferries justify a top-level rethink.

Pattrick Smellie 08 Jan 2026