In the 1980s, New Zealand handed over its public assets in what was sold as reform but played out more like a fire sale. Rogernomics and Ruthanasia weren’t just policy shifts - they were economic shock therapy dressed as fiscal responsibility. We weren’t just broke - we were told we couldn’t be trusted. The crisis ended. The heist didn’t.

By 1999, we weren’t rebuilding - we were adjusting. The reforms of the 80s and 90s left a legacy we quietly accepted: high power prices, sold assets, and silent resignation. Even as governments bought back broken pieces, nobody dared question the model. “The Long Silence” is the story of how we were burgled, cleaned up, and convinced ourselves it was normal.

In 2025, we’re not reforming - we’re relapsing. Public assets are up for sale again, this time dressed in the language of "recycling" and "unlocking capital." From Kiwibank to KiwiRail, we’re watching the last few levers of public control get price tags. This isn’t fiscal responsibility. It’s déjà vu with a PowerPoint deck.

Imagine 1984 as renovation, not demolition. Keep core utilities public. Bank dividends in a sovereign fund. Treat rail, energy, telecoms and Kiwibank as national levers. By 2025 we would have lower household stress, stronger regions, better infrastructure and a deeper industrial base. This is not nostalgia. It is the practical model many successful countries chose. Here is how NZ would look if we had.

As Europe eyes up New Zealand with serious investment potential — in clean energy, infrastructure and more — we keep tripping over our own shoelaces. Why? Because our political system encourages each new government to undo the last one’s work out of spite or ego. This isn’t just inefficient; it’s reckless.

The cost isn’t just in dollars. It’s in trust, in reputation, and in the slow erosion of our collective future.

Te Pāti Māori, once the living symbol of kaupapa Māori politics and tino rangatiratanga, now faces accusations of centralisation and disconnection from its grassroots. With Toitū Te Tiriti severing ties, the party must choose between humility and pride, accountability and control. This moment matters not just for Māori but for the future of democracy in Aotearoa.

Carl Bates, National’s Whanganui MP, is under inquiry for failing to declare around 25 properties. In Political Showcase Aotearoa, we ask: is this an oversight or simply proof that New Zealand’s politics and economy are glued to property speculation?