New Zealand is an increasingly multicultural society. Here we look at the different ways that ethnic communities contribute to our economy.

New Zealand’s rarest stamp, the upside-down Lake Taupō, has changed hands again, but its modest long-term return highlights how investment performance can vary widely. As our Chart of the Month shows, some assets have delivered far stronger growth over the same period, even after accounting for inflation.

Energy is fundamental to economic growth and living standards. Here we look at how well New Zealand’s energy sector has been able to balance security, equity and sustainability, and the challenges it will face balancing them in the future.

The 2024 Infometrics Creativity Index shows a further unbeaten trend for the top spot, although the prominence of job opportunities in the creative sector has declined slightly in 2024 for some areas.

A few cold days in recent months prompted a question around what the usual temperature of a New Zealand home actually was, and if there was any data to use to answer this question. In short, how warm is the average home? Turns out the answer is 21.4°C.

The recovery in international student enrolments is well underway. Here we unpack the uneven recovery to date and assess the likelihood of the Government’s target being met.

Concerns about the economy, and household confidence, remain strong at present. Despite falling interest rates, a number of households costs are rising at an accelerating rate, and higher unemployment is worrying all.

Recent announcement about end of the Census have stirred more questions that we thought would pop up about this topic. Although some have raised concerns about the changes, it’s important to recognise that things have already changed.

The new Insights Hub is a centralised space that contains articles, webinars, short videos (Econ Talks), and reports prepared by Infometrics economists. Much of this content is publicly available but there is a premium tier as well, giving subscribers access to exclusive content.

The Government recently released its AI Strategy. Toi Mai CEO, Dr Claire Robinson, followed up by calling for an AI Skills Strategy. Here we look at what an AI Skills Strategy should look like.