Fran O'Sullivan
Head of Business
Head of Business, NZME
We are your advocate, Aotearoa. Uncovering stories that matter, asking hard-hitting questions of those in power, live-blogging sport events, monitoring the highs and lows of the NZX and providing Premium expert opinion and analysis. Bringing you distinctive, quality journalism and breaking news from across New Zealand and around the world. With specialists working together to create indepth reads, engaging video, and unmissable podcasts.
Check out Fran’s latest content
Fran O'Sullivan: What Peters' bold words reveal about NZ's China strategy
OPINION: Foreign Minister Winston Peters will meet his counterpart in Beijing next year.
Christopher Luxon on how to deal with NZ’s ‘productivity disease’
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon spells out his hopes and intentions.
Fran O’Sullivan: Winston Peters - ‘You never give up in this business’
OPINION: Peters employed a classic bait-and-switch strategy to re-engage with the US.
Fran O’Sullivan: Trump's trade vision could cost NZ $750m
OPINION: Trump's new commerce boss is a keen proponent of tariffs.
Fran O'Sullivan: Trump’s tariffs loom over Apec as leaders meet in Lima
OPINION: NZ Prime Minister needs to make the most of meeting Chinese President.
Sustainable Business and Finance: Time for a frank conversation
Pressure likely to emerge for NZ to up its climate finance contributions.
Fran O'Sullivan: Trump's next move on China will be crucial
China signals readiness to open markets, as Trump’s tariffs could hit US consumers hard.
Fran O’Sullivan: Three takes to watch for if Trump wins the US election
OPINION: The United States election is a little more than a fortnight away.
Mood of the Boardroom: How CEOs rate Luxon's performance
AS a former CEO himself, Luxon knows all about KPIs - so how has he performed as PM?
Mood of the Boardroom: CEOs urge Govt to pivot for economic growth
Government should focus positively on the road ahead, say business leaders.
'Smart, strategic and vital to our interests': Winston Peters ‘in his sweet spot'
CEOs laud Peters ‘the best Foreign Minister New Zealand has ever had’.
MFAT tops effectiveness survey, leaving Treasury trailing
MFAT tops 2024 Mood of the Boardroom survey, rated most effective govt ministry.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon finds right balance on geopolitical tightrope
PM Luxon has repositioned New Zealand closer to traditional security partners.
Fran O’Sullivan: How do we get China in the door?
OPINION: Hurdles faced by Chinese firms and tourists are hampering bilateral relations.
Fran O’Sullivan: NZ eyes closer ties with US amid Aukus collaboration plans
OPINION: The US presidential election has concentrated diplomatic minds.
The benefits of an apolitical pipeline
Sean Sweeney will leave his role leading Auckland’s City Rail Link for Ireland.
Fran O'Sullivan: Are Govt appointments a poisoned chalice for directors?
OPINION: Is taking on a Government appointment worth the risk?
Agribusiness and Trade: Luxon dubbed NZ’s ‘salesman in chief’
Business people accompanying Luxon in Tokyo called him 'chief marketing officer'.
Doubling Kiwi exports to grow NZ’s wealth
NZTE has launched a new global investment drive.
Double duty: Turbocharging growth in primary industries
MPI’s eight-point plan aims to maximise international opportunities.
Fran O'Sullivan: International politics a complex game – but Luxon has a trump card
OPINION: It is a testing time – including for Luxon.
Fran O’Sullivan: Welcome to Amateurville (if you can get here)
OPINION: Our failure to build bipartisan consensus on infrastructure is on display.
Fran O’Sullivan: Chinese Premier Li urges Kiwi business leaders to bring nations closer together
OPINION: Li’s messaging at the hour-long meeting was both implicit and explicit.
Placing a bet on space industry
NZ's space industry will be spotlighted during Christopher Luxon's visit to Japan.
Luxon leads mission to pitch NZ to Japan
The Prime Minister leads the pitch for Japanese investment in Tokyo next week.
Fran O’Sullivan: First the Budget, now the gamble
OPINION: There is considerable support for Willis’ Budget approach – but also misgivings.
Labour’s Barbara Edmonds prepares to go head-to-head with Nicola Willis
On Thursday Labour's finance spokeswoman will face her first big public test in the role.
Fran O’Sullivan: Bugger the politics, let’s get rational and sort our economy
OPINION: There is a brighter future ahead if we address the major issues now.
How Winston would grow our economy: Deputy PM on countries NZ should follow
The Deputy PM is eyeing tax and investment strategies used by other small nations.
Fran O’Sullivan: Did Luxon land the right moves in Southeast Asia?
Luxon brought a human dimension to the serious international work.
Fran O'Sullivan: It’s mission possible for Luxon on trip to Southeast Asia
OPINION: Luxon’s contention is that NZ doesn't have the influence it could.
Fran O'Sullivan: Ghosts of PMs past haunting Luxon on foreign policy and China
OPINION: The likes of Key and Clark are seen as having an outsize influence on debate.
Fran O'Sullivan: Luxon needs to take long view and revisit tax cuts plan
OPINION: Govt books need knocking into shape before they dish out inflationary tax cuts.
Fran O'Sullivan: Project Auckland builds momentum for the city
The vision is for Auckland to be 'wealthier, healthier and to unlock its potential'.
Fran O’Sullivan: Minister scores world trade talks win but tough season looms
OPINION: The Minister of Trade has his work cut out in a pivotal US election year.
Fran O’Sullivan: Power player David Seymour turning his sights on boosting foreign investment
OPINION: The Act leader has emerged as a key change agent.
Fran O’Sullivan: Government needs to invest in Wellington’s infrastructure
OPINION: It's embarrassing to have Australian media scoff at water leaks in the capital.
Fran O’Sullivan: New Zealand looks to shift its status as defence freeloader
OPINION: But a balancing act remains regarding NZ policy independence.
Fran O'Sullivan: James Shaw now officially in play
OPINION: He has resigned from Green Party co-leadership.
Fran O’Sullivan: Open debate on Treaty principles should be nothing to fear
OPINION: Polling over term of last Government showed views hardened on race issues.
Fran O’Sullivan: Is it time for James Shaw to bail out?
OPINION: Lacking support, why would Shaw want to stay?
Fran O’Sullivan: NZ First tweet on crime follows shoplifting allegations
Fair play wouldn't go amiss in allegations around the Green MP.
Fran O’Sullivan: Taxing capital gains - Aussies can, why not us?
OPINION: Five of the top columns of the year from Fran O'Sullivan.
Fran O’Sullivan: Winston Peters’ Red Sea move brings NZ and the US closer
OPINION: New Zealand’s interests are three-fold: Economic, moralistic and loyalistic.
Fran O'Sullivan: Christopher Luxon needs to embrace chairman’s role
OPINION: Rising pressures will require the PM to move beyond his current leadership style.
Fran O'Sullivan: Cook Strait ferry debacle another sign of Labour’s loose spending
OPINION: But the new Government needs to move quickly on a ferry replacement plan.
Fran O'Sullivan: Luxon needs to get the business community onboard
OPINION: Luxon needs to sit down with the business community - sooner rather than later.
Dynamic Business: Artificial Intelligence at Apec CEO Summit
OpenAI’s Sam Altman says to expect the ‘greatest tech leap forward’.
Fran O’Sullivan: Indra Nooyi says it’s time to get a plan for New Zealand
The country needs a fix — international businesswoman Indra Nooyi has some suggestions.
Dynamic Business: Fran O’Sullivan - taking an ambitious path to the future
The report explores some options NZ might pursue to get the country moving.
Fran O’Sullivan: Farewell Henry and Charlie - two lives of influence
OPINION: Henry Kissinger and Charlie Munger were on my dream dinner-party list.
Fran O’Sullivan: Radical or conservative? New coalition is both at the same time
OPINION: Coalition details were worth the wait.
Minister of Trade makes direct pitch to US President Joe Biden
Damien O’Connor's pitch was said to have piqued the US President’s interest.
Fran O’Sullivan: Even minus Luxon, NZ makes its case at Apec
OPINION: Incoming Prime Minister misses opportunity to meet one-on-one with key leaders.
NZ on the line in Dubai for COP28
New Zealand political leaders have talked a big game on climate change.
Māori leaders debate access to capital at Infinz
Iwi CEO: Māori have endured economic marginalisation for the better part of 180 years.
Fran O’Sullivan: Can Luxon get Peters and Seymour to play nicely?
OPINION: Luxon will have an interesting time before he gets cracking.
Fran O’Sullivan: Ardern could shine a light on mosque attacks
OPINION: Former leader has valuable insights into what happened in Christchurch.
Fran O’Sullivan: Apec mission beckons for Luxon
OPINION: Apec is important to NZ and there are many leaders Luxon will want to meet.
Fran O’Sullivan: Winston Peters the horse-trader gets ready to deal
OPINION: A word of caution for Luxon.
Luxon has edge in the campaign — CEOs
The CEOs had a clear view after watching Leaders’ Debate.
Mood of the Boardroom: Rating Jacinda Ardern's prime ministership
No question in the 2023 Mood of the Boardroom survey elicited as many comments from CEOs.
21 years of Mood of the Boardroom
The 2023 Election Survey is the 21st edition of the CEOs’ Survey.
Fran O’Sullivan: Praise awarded for ‘getting stuff done’
OPINION: Damien O’Connor’s trade deals seal top spot.
Chris Hipkins no gamechanger, CEOs say
Chris Hipkins had to inject new purpose into a Cabinet.
When China sneezes the world (and New Zealand) catch a cold
CEOs and directors respond to the Herald’s 2023 Election Survey.
Mood of the Boardroom: Company CEOs speak out on co-governance
Some 20 per cent believed co-governance is 'wrong and divisive' in survey.
Fran O’Sullivan: Luxon goes on a quest for top talent
OPINION: The former Air NZ chief executive has a wide network.
Fran O’Sullivan: Luxon’s challenge is to make governing an adults-only business
OPINION: A Luxon-led government will need to be bold.
Fran O’Sullivan: China too valuable for Fonterra to write off
OPINION: China’s dairy industry is on a tear.
Fran O’Sullivan: Why we should care about a potential return of Trump
Opinion: Like him or loathe him, Trump has been a major disruptor.
Zero-myco may be a first for New Zealand
No other country has attempted to eradicate Mycoplasma bovis.
China-NZ trade - opportunities of scale
New Zealand companies need to dig deep into the changing tastes of China.
NZ needs to flourish in international markets, MPI boss says
Half NZ's greenhouse gas emissions are from agriculture, here's how we stay in the game.
Fran O’Sullivan: Jacinda Ardern’s star power shines on in BlackRock deal
OPINION: A seed was sown by Ardern, which finally came to fruition this week.
Fran O’Sullivan: NZ has to come clean - we can’t plant our way out of climate change
OPINION: Hallelujah! Chris Hipkins has drunk the climate Kool-Aid.
Election 2023: Fran O’Sullivan: Business looking for vote of confidence on election day
OPINION: There is a great deal of pre-election reckoning happening right now.
Fran O’Sullivan: It’s time for NZ and Australia to get closer again on the economic playing field
OPINION: We are at least friends after all, aren’t we?
Fran O’Sullivan: Chris Hipkins deftly keeps onside with China and US
OPINION: Hipkins is clear that China remains New Zealand’s most 'complex relationship'.
Fran O’Sullivan: Hipkins’ priorities in China - Economy, economy, economy
OPINION: Chris Hipkins firmly put on the cloak of a political pragmatist.