The business community provided an upbeat reception, with rave reviews for Finance Minister Bill English and a widespread sense of renewal following the emergence from the struggles of the Global Financial Crisis and the Christchurch earthquakes. Digital technology featured strongly, and one article in the 2013 report even called for the introduction of the government chief technology officer. Divisive issues …
Read More »Reports
2013 – China Business
The NZ Herald’s report China Business 2013 profiles many of the New Zealand and Chinese companies featured during the Prime Minister’s official visit to China.
Read More »2012 – Mood of the Boardroom
The 2012 report saw widespread praise for John Key’s “rightward turn” following the 2011 election, with a sense that the Prime Minister was beginning to govern in the interests of the country rather than the polls. Mixed-ownership models and asset sales featured prominently, while the age-old issues of infrastructure deficits and skills shortages reared their heads once more.
Read More »2011 – Mood of the Boardroom
After the tough economic conditions of the Global Financial Crisis, the consensus among the business community was that the John Key-led government had performed well in trying times. This approval was reflected in 98 per cent of respondents supporting Key remaining at the helm after the election that year. The economic pain of the GFC was compounded by the Christchurch …
Read More »2010 – Mood of the Boardroom
Emerging from recession, CEOs called for ambitious economic policies, such as cuts to the corporate tax rate, mining of conservation land, and the partial privatisation of state assets. Politically, the Cabinet rated strongly, but the push for fiscal tightening to get the Government’s books under control remained, particularly with respect to schemes considered to be ‘middle class welfare’.
Read More »2009 – Mood of the Boardroom
A restless business community responded to the 2009 survey with calls for aggressive policy to increase productivity as the country attempted to pull itself out of recession. New Prime Minister John Key rated favourably, but tensions remained between the business community and government regarding public spending and debt levels. Issues such as Public Private Partnerships, the continued movement towards Supercity …
Read More »2008 – Mood of the Boardroom
This report provides a snapshot into the early response of CEOs as the economy fell into recession in 2008, what would come to be known as the Global Financial Crisis. Meanwhile, it was election year and John Key enjoyed some 90 per cent of the business community’s support as preferred Prime Minister – but interestingly, the CEOs rated him relatively …
Read More »2007 – Mood of the Boardroom
New Zealand’s CEOs recorded some positivity towards the tax cuts provided in the year past, however just four per cent of respondents predicted the Labour Government would be reelected the following year. A lack of consultation around KiwiSaver policy to compel employers to match employee contributions irked many, while the issues of previous years (such as inflation and skills shortages) …
Read More »2006 – Mood of the Boardroom
In the aftermath of the 2005 election, the business community expressed admiration for Prime Minister Helen Clark’s political abilities, but skepticism about Finance Minister Michael Cullen’s plans for economic transformation. A broad range of commercial issues arose in the comments of those surveyed, including the impact of the removal of Telecom’s broadband monopoly, the ramifications of considerable inflation levels, the …
Read More »2005 – Mood of the Boardroom
The Mood of the Boardroom 2005 tackled a range of business issues pertinent to the election of that year. The emergence of John Key was noticeable, with much support for the National Party’s new finance spokesperson in comparison to then-Minister of Finance Michael Cullen. In particular, the business community expressed strong support for asset sales and lamented New Zealand’s shortage …
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