Business of Government: Social investment edition

Business of Government: Social investment edition
Social investment could be NZ's political lightbulb moment if both major parties could agree on what it is. (Image: Getty)
Jem Traylen
A contest of ideas?Last week, finance minister Nicola Willis, who also holds the social investment portfolio, announced the relaunch of the agency responsible for taking the work in that area forward from where former prime minister Bill English left it in 2017.The Social Investment Agency was previously established by the Key-English government, but in the interim, Labour rebranded it as the Social Wellbeing Agency (SWA), indicating a broader shift in its mandate from investment to well-being.For both governments, the key concept behind the ag...

More Policy

MoT to gauge market interest in toll road concessions
Policy

MoT to gauge market interest in toll road concessions

Investment bank Citi will assist the ministry. Transurban has already signalled interest.

Oliver Lewis 03 Jul 2025
Govt announces first three 'regional deal' contenders
Policy

Govt announces first three 'regional deal' contenders

Ministers want regions to consider 'asset recycling', among other funding tools.

Oliver Lewis 02 Jul 2025
‘Bluewater backbone’: Lyttelton, Auckland ports plan $1b+ of upgrades
Policy

‘Bluewater backbone’: Lyttelton, Auckland ports plan $1b+ of upgrades

Two of the biggest NZ ports are raising prices as they plan major investments.

Oliver Lewis 02 Jul 2025
'There are some firms in NZ I won’t touch'
Policy

'There are some firms in NZ I won’t touch'

Adam Feeley on the reluctance to call out poor performers in NZ infrastructure sector.

Oliver Lewis 30 Jun 2025