Economy
One Million Kiwis Now Get ACC Payments — Double What It Was a Generation Ago
In 2000, half a million New Zealanders received ACC income support. Today it's 1.1 million — and that's before adjusting for inflation. Here's what two decades of injury data reveals about how we work and live.
Someone Opened a Business in New Zealand Every 10 Minutes Last Year
While Contact Energy reported record profits and tourists flooded back in, 914,266 new businesses launched across NZ in 2025 — the lowest number in five years. Here's what that drop really means.
New Zealand's Peak Earning Years Are Paying $100k Less Than They Used To
While Contact Energy posts record profits, data reveals that Kiwis aged 45-49 — traditionally the highest earners — saw their total taxable income drop by $100 million in a year. The generation that should be at its financial peak is sliding backwards.
Why Are Wages Growing Fastest in the Industry We All Thought Was Dying?
While Contact Energy posts record profits and tourism rebounds, the real wage story is hiding in plain sight: information and telecommunications workers are earning more than ever — but inflation tells a darker truth.
Business Deaths Just Hit an All-Time High — 836,000 in a Single Year
While tourists pour back in and energy companies report record profits, New Zealand businesses are closing at the fastest rate ever recorded. In 2025, more than 836,000 businesses died — up 56,000 from last year.
62,000 Kiwis Are Earning Income That Doesn't Fit Any Official Category
A mystery income stream affecting 62,000 New Zealanders has collapsed by 61% since 2019. The taxable earnings that don't fit Stats NZ's classifications tell a story about gig work, side hustles, and what we've lost in five years.
Self-Employment Hit a Four-Year High — Then Collapsed by 100,000 in One Year
While Parliament debates employment law changes, the data shows something dramatic already happened: New Zealand lost nearly 100,000 self-employed workers between 2023 and 2024 — the sharpest drop since records began.