An old job for the ‘new’ Treasury?

An old job for the ‘new’ Treasury?
The ghosts of Treasury secretaries past will be watching as Grant Robertson delivers next Thursday's budget. (Image: NZME)
Pattrick Smellie
For the last decade – really since the global financial crisis – New Zealand has ridden a wave of global economic growth.That growth was fuelled primarily by the most extended period of the lowest interest rates in history and when it looked as if covid-19 could plunge the world into recession, governments everywhere discovered they could make money out of thin air.In those wild days just before the level 4 lockdown in March 2020, I well remember bumping into a senior Treasury official in a sandwich shop on Lambton Quay.With the sli...

More Policy

Government to set up single science funding body
Policy

Government to set up single science funding body

Research Funding NZ will replace at least three existing funding bodies.

Staff reporters 14 Oct 2025
Reserve Bank to ease mortgage loan-to-value ratios
Economy

Reserve Bank to ease mortgage loan-to-value ratios

The bank is relaxing LVR settings from the start of December.

Rebecca Howard 14 Oct 2025
LNG imports: Watts open-minded on scale
Policy

LNG imports: Watts open-minded on scale

Energy sector analysts fear a "small, cheap" option will push up the LNG price NZ pays.

Pattrick Smellie 09 Oct 2025
Adrian Orr launches new company as restraint of trade lifts
Economy

Adrian Orr launches new company as restraint of trade lifts

It’s been six months since his exit from the central bank.

Denise McNabb 07 Oct 2025