Liam Dann, Business Editor at Large for New Zealand’s Herald, works as a writer, columnist, radio commentator and as a presenter and producer of videos and podcasts.
I'm Liam Dann, Business Editor at Large for New Zealand’s Herald. I've been a journalist since the mid-1990’s and for more than twenty years I've been a financial journalist. Business is something I fell into after returning from my OE, having spent some time working in the financial sector in London. I loved the freedom financial journalists have to go deep into the complexity of the forces that influence our lives. Over those years I've covered, agriculture, aviation, technology, stock markets and economics. I led the Business Herald through the global financial crisis as its editor from 2007 to 2015. In that role I was privileged to travel to China, Europe, the UK and US and other far-flung spots on economic and business research and study trips. Since shifting to my 'at-large' role in 2015, I have been freed up to work as a writer, columnist, radio commentator and, more recently, as presenter and producer of videos and podcasts. The media has changed radically, but one thing that hasn't is my focus on telling New Zealand's economic story. With the help of some very smart contacts in the world of finance and economics, my aim is always to tell that story in a way that brings it to life and makes it relevant to a wide and diverse audience.
GDP falls 0.2%: 'Effectively a recession that's lasted two years' - economist
On an annual basis, GDP fell 0.2% over 12 months to June 2024.
Current account: New Zealand’s spending deficit with the world widens by $269m
The current account deficit kept growing in the June quarter
Inside Economics: Is GDP hype overrated?
OPINION: GDP took a hold in the popular imagination that it retains to this day.
Rolling maul of recession as economy again contracts
An economist expects the economy shrank.
Liam Dann: Immigration turns from boom to bust - again
OPINION: Longer-term strategy is needed to smooth population - and economic - growth.
How the fall of the Berlin Wall shaped the life of influential NZ think-tank boss
Economist Oliver Hartwich leads the NZ Initiative, a key independent think tank in NZ.
Soaring chocolate and olive oil prices push annual food price inflation up
Selected price index data shows overall inflation pressure continues to ease.
Inside Economics: Do we really need to spend more on infrastructure?
OPINION: And Liam Dann looks at the economic policy debate ahead of the US election.
Leaving home: Records tumble for Kiwi departures
The latest data shows the overall net migration rate falling from high levels.
10 lessons top economists learnt from the Covid years
Liam Dann asks leading economists what they learned from the pandemic.
Liam Dann: Business failures have hit levels not seen since the economy was booming. What gives?
OPINION: The number of business failures is accelerating, yet confidence is rising.
Suzanne Paul on escaping poverty: ‘I made up my mind...I’m not having this life’
TV star and infomercial icon on why she is happy to let money motivate her
Petrol savings on the way as global oil price slumps to lowest this year
Brent crude fell 5% overnight to its lowest level since December
Inside Economics: When will house prices start rising... and by how much?
OPINION: After the rate cut, what now for house prices? And what is geoeconomics?
Market Watch: The ‘September effect’, heading into Wall Street’s ‘crash zone’
Mike Taylor looks at the risks of a market crash as we head into the northern autumn.
Liam Dann: The economy sucks – why is business confidence so high?
OPINION: Business optimism has surged, despite the recession and rising unemployment.
Business confidence soars to highest in a decade – ANZ
ANZ chief economist: 'Things are looking up, albeit from a pretty dark place.'
Darren Shand on what he learned from 20 years as All Blacks manager
What can businesses learn from the world of high-performance sports?
Inside Economics: Goodbye inflation, hello deflation (already?)
OPINION: And what does 'soft landing' actually mean? Liam Dann asks.
Liam Dann: Tax cut victory for Nicola Willis and reminder NZ is still a wealthy place
OPINION: A ratings agency endorses NZ's fiscal management and highlights household debt.
Hannah McQueen: Why earning good money won’t make you rich
Liam Dann talks to Hannah McQueen, founder of financial strategy firm EnableMe.
Regions take an economic hit as the 'crunch' bites
Infometrics data shows unemployment rising in smaller centres.
Inside Economics: Where to now for rates? Market odds v RBNZ forecasts
OPINION: Liam Dann on post-OCR cut fallout and a preview of big US Fed shindig in Wyoming.
Big tick for economy as Fitch affirms NZ's AA+ credit rating
Rating agency notes delayed surplus and rising debt but backs fiscal plan.
Liam Dann: As the curtain falls on Covid economics ... a new dawn for Luxon and Willis?
A rare window of normal economic service looms, we need to embrace that while it lasts.
'I'm not going to sit here and preach on avocado on toast, but...': Bayleys boss on real estate tips
'Sometimes we have to say, what are the sacrifices?'
Food price data: Cost of eating out spikes but fruit, vegetables and meat still falling
New Selected Price Index offers insight into how inflation is tracking.
'Darkest before the dawn': Reserve Bank cuts OCR, banks slash rates
It's one of the most hotly anticipated interest rate calls this year.
Liam Dann: Rate cut signals victory in inflation war
Despite debate about grim May forecasts, the RBNZ looks to have landed in the right place.
Will the RBNZ cut the OCR today? Meet the experts who actually make the call
Liam Dann looks at the RBNZ's big call today plus the grim fallout from inflation fight.
Kiwi citizens still departing at historically high levels, net migration gain eases
More than half the departing NZ citizens left for Australia.
Liam Dann: The real price we pay for inflation is becoming clear
OPINION: Youth unemployment stats offer a grim reminder of inflation toll.
'We need to be accountable back to NZers': Supermarket boss Chris Quin on cost of living crunch
And how losing both his parents at 21 affected his outlook on life.
Jobs data offers ‘no smoking gun’ for interest rate cuts next week
Unemployment rose but offered no surprises for the Reserve Bank.
Unemployment rose to 4.6% in the June quarter. Will that prompt a rate cut?
More people were jobless as winter arrived, but public sector wages rose 6.9% in a year.
Inside Economics: Rate cut next week? Economists call for Reserve Bank to move now
Our debt mountain keeps growing, and why even the global rout may not get us rate cuts.
Liam Dann: 7 tips for beating market meltdown anxiety
OPINION: Don't let the global market rout stress you out. Markets will win in the end.
Market Watch: The Kamala effect and what investors should expect from the next US President
Political drama is shaking up the US investment outlook.
Will higher unemployment bring interest rates down faster?
Stats NZ releases labour market data for the second quarter on Wednesday.
How much!? The big ugly number that Kiwis owe the world
Liam Dann takes a deep dive into how much total gross debt Kiwis owe.
Liam Dann: What’s going to happen to interest rates from here?
OPINION: When the first cut comes matters less than where the mortgage rates will land.
Jack Tame talks his relationship with money - and how becoming a step-father has changed it
Tame talks to Liam Dann about broadcasting and Christchurch's obsession with schools
If wages have kept up with inflation, what are we complaining about?
OPINION: Why cheering for higher unemployment just feels wrong.
Business confidence rises with a ‘can’t get any worse vibe to it’
"The evidence is mounting that the inflation dragon is on its last legs."
Auckland economy rebounded well from pandemic – new report
New research shows Auckland's economy isn't quite as grim as it seems.
Liam Dann: Why I hope Tindall’s The Warehouse takeover is a winner this time
OPINION: Consumers are crying out for a third supermarket chain.
Rich-lister Dame Wendy Pye on how being sacked changed her life
'I just decided that no bastard would ever walk me off the place again.'
‘The worst will soon be past’: ANZ survey shows consumer confidence bounce
Inflation expectations continue to fall and there is some optimism about the future.
Inside Economics: What’s really happening with rental prices?
Are we poorer since before Covid landed? Liam Dann on rents, inflation, and mining.
Liam Dann: Green shoots - remember them? What the GFC taught us about economic recoveries
OPINION: Interest rate falls are great news but the real economy will take longer to turn.
Hospitality crisis: Desperate plea from another Auckland dining institution
A new Covid-style campaign is being launched to try to save the struggling sector.
David Seymour talks economics, philosophy and the key to solving poverty
ACT leader (and acting PM) talks about the underlying philosophy that drives him
Inflation fall puts October rate cut on the cards - ASB
As the inflation rate drops close to the target range, calls for early cuts are growing.
Inside Economics: SPQR and what data says about hospitality crisis; Markets make sense of Trump shooting
Opinion: SPQR disaster a taste of hospo's woes; How will Trump shooting shake up markets?
Cost-of-living crisis over? Inflation stable in June quarter, annual rate down to 3.3%
Hopes were high for a decent fall in the official CPI inflation rate.
Liam Dann: Are we winning the inflation battle? Verdict due this week with CPI data out
Consumer Price Index data should confirm whether November rate cut hopes are on the mark.
Liam Dann: Economic optimism has broken out... should we be worried?
OPINION: There's light at the end of the tunnel, what if it's a train?
Annual food prices drop for first time in six years - fruit and veges lead the way
Good news for the inflation fight as food prices continue to ease, Stats NZ figures show.
Novelist Emily Perkins on why ‘we’re always drawn to stories about the unhappy rich’
Lioness author talks to Liam Dann about money art and the economics of writing.
Liam Dann: Reserve Bank’s tone on rate cuts softens as downturn deepens
The OCR stays on hold but the RBNZ statement hints at an earlier start for rate cuts.
Reserve Bank keeps OCR on hold but expectations rise for earlier cut
The Reserve Bank has kept the cash rate on hold for the eighth consecutive meeting.
Packing their bags: Kiwis depart in record numbers, Aussie appeal on the rise
Latest data shows record migrant departures even as the net migration gain stays high
Inside Economics: Why is the RBNZ so negative - and is the divide in rate-cut forecasts credible?
Also today: is the divide in rate-cut forecasts credible? Why is the RBNZ so negative?
OCR preview: No mercy – why RBNZ won't rush to soften its stance
Economists expect a hawkish RBNZ update, despite growing expectations of early cuts.
Liam Dann: Stats say Kiwis are getting wealthier - the reality is more complex
OPINION: We worry a lot about living costs but wealth creation is the bigger picture.
'Big plans': Rod Duke on why Briscoes is thriving while other retailers struggle
Briscoes owner tells Liam Dann why he's confident of surviving the economic downturn.
More hope for early rate cut as ASB economists change forecast
Gloomy economy has lifted expectations for November rate cut.
'Big plans': Rod Duke on why Briscoes is thriving while other retailers struggle
Briscoes owner tells Liam Dann what drives him to succeed... and how he spends his money.
Market Watch: Investors wary of political turmoil as tech boom rolls on
Europe and Britain are already feeling an economic rebound despite political dramas.
Inside Economics: Could synthetic milk sink the dairy industry?
Could fake milk ruin our economy, and what should we make of the latest tech 'hype cycle'?
Gloomy business survey sparks rate cut hopes
Latest Quarterly Survey of Business Opinion shows a downbeat outlook across all sectors.
‘We didn’t have any food in the house’: NZ's highest paid female exec on childhood trials
ASB chief Vittoria Shortt talks to Liam Dann about her banking journey.
Liam Dann: Don't let this tough economic cycle dim our national pride
Opinion: We're not Switzerland or Ireland and we shouldn't try to be, says Liam Dann.
‘More challenges than anticipated’: NZ outlook downgraded by international group
BMI, the research unit of Fitch Solutions, says economy faces strong headwinds.
‘The medicine is working’: ANZ business outlook shows good progress in inflation fight
ANZ Business Outlook shows confidence down but lower price and cost expectations.
Inside Economics: Inflation, shocking cost of building houses, the Temu effect
Opinion: Deciphering Boffinese inflation-speak, and is Temu killing our economy?
Liam Dann: How will NZ drive economic growth in the next decade? Why mining won’t cut it
OPINION: The next wave of global economic growth will involve electricity, Liam Dann says.
Liam Dann: Recession or not, economic downturn will get worse before it gets better
Key parts of the economy are crashing while population growth flatters the headlines.