Independent Analysis and Reportage
New Zealand is almost completely dependent on four things for its survival in the contemporary world. Imported wheat, rice, and refined fuel. And ships.
Earlier today, the New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said his cabinet would not decide on whether to formally recognise Palestine as a state for some weeks. Luxon’s announcement drew criticism from advocacy groups labelling his position as weak. For more on this issue, see; New Zealand PM Luxon Labelled as Weak and Cowardly After ... <a title="UPDATED – Recognition of Palestine as a State – Advocacy Group Urges New Zealand Government to Listen to large Majority of Citizens" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/09/15/recognition-of-palestine-as-a-state-advocacy-group-urges-new-zealand-government-to-listen-to-large-majority-of-citizens/" aria-label="Read more about UPDATED – Recognition of Palestine as a State – Advocacy Group Urges New Zealand Government to Listen to large Majority of Citizens">Read more</a>
Analysis by Keith Rankin. The most important measure of the favourability or otherwise of the international economic environment is called a country’s ‘Terms of Trade’. This label essentially means ‘barter price’, reflecting that international trade is essentially one country’s barter with the rest of the world. (Digression. We note that such ‘barter’ is rarely the ... <a title="Keith Rankin Analysis – New Zealand’s highly favourable Terms of Trade" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/08/04/keith-rankin-analysis-new-zealands-highly-favourable-terms-of-trade/" aria-label="Read more about Keith Rankin Analysis – New Zealand’s highly favourable Terms of Trade">Read more</a>
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jane Kelsey, Emeritus Professor of Law, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Getty Images When the Trump administration arbitrarily imposed 15% tariffs on New Zealand exports on August 1, up from a previously announced 10%, no one should have been surprised. “Reciprocal” tariffs, based on the difference ... <a title="NZ is looking for a deal over Trump’s new tariffs – that could come with a high political price" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/08/04/nz-is-looking-for-a-deal-over-trumps-new-tariffs-that-could-come-with-a-high-political-price-262497/" aria-label="Read more about NZ is looking for a deal over Trump’s new tariffs – that could come with a high political price">Read more</a>
Analysis by Keith Rankin. The ‘see-saw’ chart above shows the accumulated ‘excess benefits’ that Aotearoa New Zealand, and a few other countries, have enjoyed from international trade over the last 40 years. These are benefits arising from ‘unbalanced trade’ which are in addition to the regular benefits – arising from efficient specialisation – of ‘balanced’ ... <a title="Keith Rankin Chart Analysis – International Trade over time: gifts with strings" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/05/08/keith-rankin-chart-analysis-international-trade-over-time-gifts-with-strings/" aria-label="Read more about Keith Rankin Chart Analysis – International Trade over time: gifts with strings">Read more</a>
Analysis by Geoffrey Miller – This analysis was first published by Democracy Project. Don’t put it all at risk. That’s likely to be the take-home message for New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in his meetings with Li Qiang, the Chinese Premier. Li’s visit to Wellington this week is the highest-ranking visit by a ... <a title="Geffrey Miller Analysis – China’s message to New Zealand – don’t put it all at risk" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/06/14/geffrey-miller-analysis-chinas-message-to-new-zealand-dont-put-it-all-at-risk/" aria-label="Read more about Geffrey Miller Analysis – China’s message to New Zealand – don’t put it all at risk">Read more</a>
Analysis and Opinion by Tim Beal. This article was first published on Pearls and Irritations (ref. https://johnmenadue.com/new-zealand-nearly-sanctions-the-united-nations/ ) The Bank of New Zealand blocks a donation to UNRWA, then thinks again. Like many people I have been horrified by Israel’s genocidal war against the Palestinians. I have made modest donations to UNICEF, partly to help ... <a title="Tim Beal Analysis – BNZ and Palestine – New Zealand nearly sanctions the United Nations" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/04/11/tim-beal-analysis-bnz-and-palestine-new-zealand-nearly-sanctions-the-united-nations/" aria-label="Read more about Tim Beal Analysis – BNZ and Palestine – New Zealand nearly sanctions the United Nations">Read more</a>
Analysis by Keith Rankin. Recessions in the last Ten Years: New Zealand and Japan Tomorrow we will see the latest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) data for New Zealand. It’s worth looking today, however, at what the situation is before that data release (with its revisions as well as new data). And in context by comparing ... <a title="Keith Rankin Analysis – New Zealand in Recession" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/03/20/keith-rankin-analysis-new-zealand-in-recession/" aria-label="Read more about Keith Rankin Analysis – New Zealand in Recession">Read more</a>
Analysis by Geoffrey Miller – Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz) Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. It is more than ... <a title="China Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/03/18/china-foreign-minister-wang-yis-perfectly-timed-aukus-themed-visit-to-new-zealand/" aria-label="Read more about China Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand">Read more</a>
Analysis by Geoffrey Miller – Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz) New Zealand’s international relations are under new management. And Winston Peters, the new foreign minister, is already setting a change agenda. As expected, this includes a more pro-US positioning when it comes to the Pacific – where Peters will be picking up where he left off. Peters sought ... <a title="Geoffrey Miller’s Analysis – New Zealand’s foreign policy resets on AUKUS, Gaza and Ukraine" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/12/04/geoffrey-millers-analysis-new-zealands-foreign-policy-resets-on-aukus-gaza-and-ukraine/" aria-label="Read more about Geoffrey Miller’s Analysis – New Zealand’s foreign policy resets on AUKUS, Gaza and Ukraine">Read more</a>
Analysis by Geoffrey Miller. A sign of things to come. That might be the best way to interpret New Zealand trade minister Damien O’Connor’s recent foray into the Middle East. O’Connor stopped off in Riyadh and Abu Dhabi on a brief, yet important trip that comes as New Zealand prepares for its October 14 election. The biggest ... <a title="Geoffrey Miller Analysis: New Zealand changes tack in the Gulf" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/09/06/geoffrey-miller-analysis-new-zealand-changes-tack-in-the-gulf/" aria-label="Read more about Geoffrey Miller Analysis: New Zealand changes tack in the Gulf">Read more</a>
Political scientist Dr Paul G. Buchanan and Selwyn Manning present a two-part episode to analyse what to make of the New Zealand-People's Republic of China bilateral leadership meetings. And also, Paul and Selwyn analyse the shifts inside Russia in the weeks after the destabilisation caused by Wagner Commander Yevgeny Prigozhin's pronouncements and challenge to Russia's military heads.