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.

Liam Dann: The upside to this painfully slow economic recovery
OPINION: This recovery is making us sweat, but that might be a good thing in the long run.

Stronger-than-expected GDP signals no rate cut in July
The Reserve Bank had forecast 0.4% gross domestic product growth for the first quarter.

How cancer taught Icehouse CEO what's important when building a business
Icehouse CEO Olivia Blaylock on building business resilience in tough times.

What to expect from today's GDP data?
Economists expect the recovery continued during the first quarter of the year.

Liam Dann: 'Brick wall' – why tomorrow’s GDP data won’t tell the real story
ANALYSIS: Is the economy getting better or worse? It should be a simple question.

Meat and dairy continue to drive food price inflation, Stats NZ data shows
Food prices continue to rise but the rent increases are now the lowest in a decade.

How worried should we be about economic fallout from the Israel-Iran conflict?
Markets have been rattled by the Israel-Iran conflict, but remain relatively calm.

Liam Dann: We need to fix the human-shaped hole in our economy
OPINION: The flow of humans across our border is one of the big variables in our economy.

‘I’m going to end tall poppy syndrome by just saying it doesn’t exist’ - Chris Parker
The comedian talks to Liam Dann about money and life.

Inside Economics: GDP growth forecasts brighten ... and will Chinese deflation send cheap EVs our way?
ANALYSIS: Liam Dann takes a deeper dive into the week's economic news.

Migration gain falls to an 11-year (non-Covid) low
Net migration has dipped to its lowest level since January 2014 (excluding the Covid era).

‘Things are going to get less predictable’ - ANZ geopolitical expert
Cameron Mitchell on the trade war risk and how to live with uncertainty.

Liam Dann: Cheer up, Kiwis - and go shopping
OPINION: Uncertainty about employment is making people scared to spend on themselves.

From sausages to CEO: 2degrees boss Mark Callander’s unique career path
Liam Dann talks about money and life with 2degrees boss Mark Callander.

Inside Economics: Should you take NZ Super if you don't need it?
ANALYSIS: Framed in even more basic terms: is the pension a benefit or a right?

Liam Dann: Town v Country – Big cities left behind in economic recovery
OPINION: A two-speed economy is developing which could cause headaches for the RBNZ.

Pop star Georgia Lines: Why money was never a factor in pursuing her dreams
The award-winning singer-songwriter has always had a knack for business.

More interest rate cuts to come ... or not? Reserve Bank hedges its bets
The bank cut the Official Cash Rate but gave few clues as to what it will do next.

Reserve Bank cuts OCR to 3.25%, mortgage rates fall
The vote to reduce the OCR was not unanimous.

Inside Economics: RBNZ's big rate call today, plus are flat whites cheaper now than in the 1990s?
ANALYSIS: Liam Dann takes a deeper dive into the week's economic news.

Another rate cut expected as new RBNZ Governor fronts for first time
The Reserve Bank will produce new forecasts amid a period of extreme uncertainty.

Liam Dann: Kiwis need to save their way out of this financial hole
Government moves to boost KiwiSaver contributions are a good start but should go further.

On The Up: Pals co-founders - how they went from surfing buddies to RTD moguls
Mat Croad and Nick Marshall have known each other for most of their lives.

Liam Dann: Upbeat Treasury forecasts GDP growth, rising house prices
Opinion: Treasury's Budget forecasts paint an optimistic picture – but are they too rosy?

Inside Economics: Everything you need to know about the Budget
ANALYSIS: Liam Dann takes a deeper dive into the week's economic news

New Reserve Bank survey shows business inflation expectations rising
The Reserve Bank has launched a new survey of business expectations.

Liam Dann: ‘Perfect storm’ for flat whites - what surging food prices mean for the economy
Butter, cheese, coffee...do rising food prices signal the return of high inflation?

Butter prices soar 65%, driving food cost higher, new data shows
Stats NZ's selected prices index includes power, rent, food and travel.

From 'pretty tough' rural Tassie to managing $80b: NZ Super chief Jo Townsend's career
'Money was certainly not plentiful in our household,' she tells Liam Dann.

New data show young Kiwis leading the brain drain; net migration falls below 30,000
A large number of young Kiwis are leaving for Australia, although the rate may have peaked

Inside Economics: What tariff truce means for NZ and why steak prices are rising
Liam Dann takes a deeper dive into the week's economic news.

Liam Dann: After Orr – is it time for a Reserve Bank reset?
OPINION: The challenges facing the Reserve Bank.

Upbeat outlook: Westpac economists see recovery gathering steam
Strong export prices are helping to drive the economic recovery.

Liam Dann: In a world of grim news, here are five economic bright spots
OPINION: There is no shortage of bad news to worry about, but let's not despair.

Jobless rate better than expected, part-time worker increase credited
The labour market remained weak and disinflationary, economists say.

Inside Economics: How much Government debt is too much?
OPINION: Liam Dann takes a deeper dive into the week's economic news.

Unemployment set to rise to highest level in nearly a decade
Labour market data will also reveal how fast wages are rising.

Liam Dann: Are Kiwis about to be hit with an ‘austerity Budget’?
The Finance Minister faces a difficult balancing act with this month's Budget.

Business confidence falls as tariff turmoil takes a toll
The new survey still pointed to some signs of economic recovery.

Inside Economics: Why the Kiwi is so strong against the Aussie dollar
OPINION: Liam Dann takes a deep dive into the week's economic news.

Liam Dann: Why 70 really is the new 50 ... and why the retirement age will need to rise
OPINION: As if we don't have enough to worry about right now, we're all getting older.

Review: Hits for Africa as Toto and Christopher Cross begin NZ tour
Yacht-rockers Toto deliver the hits in Auckland, before Wellington and Christchurch shows.

'Good to see' – consumer confidence on the up
Consumer confidence has lifted but so too have inflation expectations.

Inside Economics: Donald Trump v the US Fed?
OPINION: Liam Dann takes a deeper dive into the week's economic news.

Liam Dann: RBNZ needs to cut interest rates further and faster
OPINION: The only certainty around the economic direction right now is uncertainty.

Annual inflation up to 2.5%
New CPI data shows rents drove an increase in inflation.

New inflation data due today: Are prices on the rise again?
Global tariff turmoil is making the inflation outlook more uncertain.

Gloomy forecast: ANZ sees OCR falling to 2.5% as recovery falters
GDP growth will be weaker as confidence weakens, ANZ economists say.

Inside Economics: Measuring tariff turmoil uncertainty... plus inflation risks
Liam Dann takes a deeper dive into the week's economic news

Brain Drain: Kiwi departures high but numbers have stabilised
New data shows the net migration rate is now relatively steady.

Opinion: Risk of another GFC rises as trade war takes world to the brink
Dangerous stand-off: This is the economic equivalent of the Cuban missile crisis.

'Good sense of optimism': SMEs lead NZ's economic upswing
'First time in 5 years we’ve had a positive swing on sentiment.'

OCR decision: RBNZ expected to cut rates further on tariff downturn
The RBNZ cut the OCR by 25 basis points but hinted that it is prepared to go further.

Reserve Bank cuts OCR by 25 basis points to 3.5%, banks trim floating home loan rates
The RBNZ says it has scope to lower OCR further as effect of US tariffs become clearer.

Liam Dann: Big OCR call today as tariff turmoil threatens NZ recovery
US trade policy may force a rethink on how low the OCR has to go.

On The Up: Is self-belief the missing piece of the economic puzzle?
How much is a lack of confidence slowing our recovery?

Amid tariff turmoil, will the Reserve Bank cut again?
The RBNZ is due to make its first rate call since Adrian Orr's departure.

Liam Dann: NZ must hold its nerve amid the tariff turmoil
OPINION: Our economy faces yet another challenge to fragile recovery hopes.

‘Manageable’ impact: NZ faces $900m hit from US tariffs
Weaker global demand is likely to depress commodity prices, says Westpac's Kelly Eckhold.

Tariffs explained - who pays? Will they cost NZ consumers?
Liam Dann answers some of the big tariff questions after today's announcement.

Inside Economics: Could Trump tariffs mean lower OCR, plus why house prices are just ‘plodding’
OPINION: Liam Dann takes a deep dive into the week's economic news.

ANZ Business Outlook: Slowly improving but it ‘isn’t easy’
Business confidence is steady but inflation pressures have risen, an ANZ survey says.

Market Watch: Wall St has a history of ignoring political turmoil – can it last?
In the final episode of Market Watch, we look back at nine years of share market growth.

ASB: ‘If economic recoveries are cars – New Zealand is more Prius than Ferrari’
An ASB economist outlines the 'good, the bad and the ugly' of the recovery.

What Trump’s tariff turmoil means for NZ’s economic recovery
OPINION: Good, bad or ugly, here's hoping US tariff announcement brings some certainty.

Inside Economics: Why the Kiwi dollar is so low; plus, an alternative to GDP?
Liam Dann takes a deeper dive into the week's economic news.

Liam Dann: If this is a recovery, why does it feel so bad?
OPINION: We're out of recession but consumer confidence has slumped again.

Is the economy’s ‘surprise’ bounce the start of a real recovery?
Stronger-than-expected fourth-quarter GDP growth is good news, but can it last?

'Upside surprise': NZ limps out of recession, GDP rises 0.7%
The New Zealand economy returned to growth in the final quarter of 2024.

New Zealand spent $26.4 billion more than it earned in 2024 – that’s an improvement
The current account deficit has narrowed on improved tourism and dairy exports.

Inside Economics: Why gold prices are soaring plus the bright spot in a sea of grim forecasts
Liam Dann takes a deeper dive into the week's big economic news

Have we escaped recession? Experts on what to expect this week
"The economy is climbing out of a deep hole" - ANZ economists

Liam Dann: Can the economy recover in time to save Luxon?
OPINION: Economists say the recovery is under way but the public aren't feeling it yet.

New stats: Kiwi exodus continues but has the brain drain peaked?
New data shows the trend for Kiwis heading offshore has moderated.

Inside Economics: How miserable are we? - ranking NZ on the ‘misery index’
Liam Dann looks at how New Zealand’s recovery stacking up against the Aussies

Liam Dann: Adrian Orr was never boring - perhaps that was his biggest problem
OPINION: Orr leaves in a political climate unsuited to his style.

Why filling the petrol tank is about to get cheaper for Kiwis
Slower global growth is suppressing oil prices which should flow to the local pump prices.

Who could replace Adrian Orr as Reserve Bank Governor?
As Orr departs, what's next for interest rates and the future direction of the RBNZ?