Business of Government: Paying monkeys, the price of diplomacy and more

Only in Business of Government do Peters, Trump, Xi and Orr rub shoulders. (Image: BusinessDesk)

Wed, 20 Aug 2025

The cost of monkeysThe latest reset of public sector board fees once again raises the question of whether the taxpayer gets value for money, just as shareholders ask the same of company board fees.The argument at its most simple is “pay peanuts and get monkeys”, though the more cynical might add “pay a fortune and get better-paid monkeys”. Still, there is no doubt that the right people, with effective governance, can drive better performance – whether measured in profit or public service.The NZ Herald recently repo...

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