Last month we had the opportunity to attend the New Zealand Economic Forum. Hosted annually by Waikato Management School, the forum brings together economists, business leaders, and public-sector decision-makers in what one speaker dubbed New Zealand’s “Davos with jandals.”

This year’s theme was “Big Choices for a Small Nation”. Conversations ranged from long-term structural questions to immediate pressures, including retirement income, demographic change, and the balance between economic openness and national resilience.

What we heard

• Productivity remains New Zealand’s central challenge
• Policy certainty holds economic value in its own right as businesses require stability of policy settings to make long-term investment decisions
• Demographic and labour-market pressures are intensifying
• Geopolitical pressure is becoming more visible. Supply chain resilience, trade exposure, and security considerations are increasingly part of the economic conversation.