West Exec – the Intelligence Factory
Part II of the WestExec papers: the intelligence community’s job wasn’t to inform policy. It was to satisfy the policy maker.
Business
PM Reacts to Smiths City Closure
Smiths City was founded in Christchurch in 1918 and is a long-standing name in New Zealand retail, selling home appliances and furniture. The company has been under increasing financial pressure, with sales continuing to fall despite store closures and downsizing measures.
The US Rediscovers a Trading Partner
The US must follow through on initiatives despite changes in domestic politics, while Indonesia must skillfully navigate the complexities of the geopolitical landscape – especially regarding a shifting US-China dynamic.
Why ‘Eating the Rich’ Undermines Everyone’s Prosperity
Wealth accumulates where people create value, meaning great fortunes reflect service, not selfishness. That’s why taxing fortunes undermines prosperity.
PM Says Amazon Will Invest $7.5 Billion in New Zealand
The development is expected to create around 1000 jobs and add $11 billion to the country’s GDP.
Science Should Not Tamper With Nature
Understandably, Crichton’s novel “Prey” ends on an ominous note: “They didn’t understand what they were doing. I’m afraid that will be on the tombstone of the human race.”
Labour and Te Pāti Māori’s Supermarket Plan
Will history repeat the Kaikohe KFC collapse?
Willis and the Express Lane Myth
Rail freight could slash those costs, but decades of neglect combined with the duopoly’s trucking dominance has left rail on life support.
Fund the User, Not the Provider
The great author/philosopher Eric Hoffer once said, “Every great cause begins as a movement, then becomes a business, and eventually degenerates into a racket.”
John Barnett: The Entrepreneur, Visionary and Patriot
On one level, Barnett – the son of British Jews who migrated before the second world war and settled in Auckland – can be seen as the classic show business entrepreneur. But perhaps more important than that, he was also a patriot who believed in telling New Zealand stories to New Zealanders.
Do I Really Need to Know My Lawyer’s Pronouns?
If you really must put something after your name then make it useful.
Finally, a Crack at the Grocery Duopoly: Willis’s Plan to Bring Down Prices
Bottom line: Kiwis deserve a fair go at the supermarket. If this plan lives up to the hype and actually slashes prices, it’ll be a win for everyone except the current duopoly.
Now Middle England Is Becoming Poor
If Gen X are losing the habit of spending significant money on things, and Gen Z is not adopting the habit at all, how will the economy grow?