Photo by RJ Baculo  on Unsplash Wicked problems demand better questions and bold conversations Inequality is what policy-makers call a wicked problem . There’s no single cause, no simple fix, and no point at which inequality can be declared “solved”. It’s shaped by decades of choices about housing, tax, wages, welfare — and about whose voices carry the most weight in our economy. As the year draws to a close, it can be tempting to look for neat summaries or pithy soundbites.

New Zealanders care deeply about fairness. We’re a country built on the belief that everyone should have a real chance to build a good life — supported by strong public health, decent education, affordable homes, and a social safety net we can trust. And yet the gap between those ideals and people’s lived reality is widening. Right now, families struggling with rising rents, rising food costs, and rising mortgage stress are also dealing with under-funded services. The health

New data: A $1m gap between rich and poor opens up in a decade PLUS: The first data in 20 years on who receives inheritances The IDEA Charitable Trust, September 26, 2025. Read in app Summary: In absolute dollar terms, the disparity between the richest and poorest fifths of households has risen significantly in the last ten years, new data shows The house-price boom, meanwhile, has raised the wealth share of the middle classes compared to the 1%, although this effect may be t

It is clear the we need: a significant reduction in income and wealth inequality. It got significantly worse in the late 1980's and early 1990's, through the actions of the then Labour and National Governments. and it is now growing again. To do this we need to increase the income and wealth of the poor and decrease the income and wealth of the very rich. The consequences of significant income and wealth inequality are bad--worsening social ills, causing a breakdown in the

On the 1st of April, the minimum wage in Aotearoa went from $23.15 per hour to $23.50 per hour. Work that out; based on a 40 hour week,...

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea - image T. Sharp It's nearly Christmas and, as anybody working in the health or welfare sector...

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Opinion: Peter Malcolm Photo by Kelly Sikkema  on Unsplash Congratulations to Labour for finally raising the issue of our tax system...

While New Zealanders celebrate the incredible efforts of our Olympic athletes this week, the new Spirit Level at 15  report (2023) shows...

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By Tulia Thompson Photo by Alexandra Gorn on Unsplash The other night, I got up at 2 a.m because I couldn’t sleep. It was unseasonably...

...not to mention bring back the 90-day trial, reverse new sick leave entitlements, freeze minimum wage increases, and give businesses...

A resource from Better Taxes for a Better Future - Fair Tax Coalition with facts about tax and ideas on how to have 'that' tax...

TAX IS BORING. MUST WE TALK ABOUT TAX? I get it. For some, tax is a subject that causes a dull pain in the pocket region. For others,...