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.

'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?

Inside Economics: Why is the housing recovery taking so long? And what’s shrinking NZ’s current account deficit?
Is falling migration stalling the house price recovery?

Market Watch: The good news/bad news scenario for the dollar and interest rates
Liam Dann and Pie Funds chief investment office Mike Taylor analyse the market outlook

Liam Dann: Why I’m cheering the AI boom ... and three tips for surviving it
For many workers, it's getting hard to know what's worse, a tech wreck or tech success.

Recession over, but outlook subdued, business survey shows
The ANZ Business Outlook survey paints a mixed picture of the recovery.

Inside Economics: Why US dollars still rule the world...and what’s up with the price of cheese
Liam Dann takes a deeper dive into the latest economic news.

Liam Dann: Economic recovery has begun. Here’s what the new normal looks like
History suggests only a short window before the next black swan event rattles our economy.

Reserve Bank on track for ‘more cuts sooner’ but reduces forecast for house prices
The RBNZ warned of uncertainty around US tariffs and geopolitical events.

Watch: Reserve Bank Governor speaks after OCR cut, major banks lower lending rates
The Reserve Bank is now offering a fresh take on where the economy is headed.

Inside Economics: Big rate call today, plus brain drain stats reveal alarming exodus of older workers
It is the trend for record departures of those in their 30s and 40s that should worry us.

OCR preview: Big cut coming this week - but how low will rates go?
A 50-basis-point cut this week is near certain but the longer-term track is hard to pick.

Losing our young people: New stats reveal age of Kiwis leaving the country
The new data show 47,100 Kiwis departed in 2024, the largest number ever recorded.

Liam Dann: Could Trumponomics ruin plans for a rate cut recovery?
Local food prices are rising again and US trade policy threatens to lift global inflation.

Inside Economics: The return of ‘voodoo economics’ - do lower taxes generate more revenue?
Liam Dann takes a deeper look at the logic behind low tax regimes and the options for NZ .

Market Watch: Share markets are rattled, but here’s why one fund manager remains optimistic
Liam Dann talks tariff turmoil with Pie Funds CIO Mike Taylor.

Liam Dann: The most brutal and personal economic statistic
OPINION: When inflation bites, we all feel it. But losing your job is personal.

Young people bear the brunt – youth unemployment hits 23%
More than half of New Zealand's newly unemployed last year were aged 15-19.

Inside Economics: Trump’s trade war – counting the ways it could hit Kiwis in the back pocket
OPINION: Why do economists hate tariffs? And what will they do to your mortgage rate?

33,000 jobs gone in a year - new data reveals extent of recession
Unemployment hit its highest level in more than four years.

Data expected to show more than 30,000 jobs lost in 2024
New labour market data from Stats NZ this week will reveal how bad the recession has been

Liam Dann: When even the world’s oldest profession is struggling, you know times are tough
OPINION: The economy still feels bad but a recovery is slowly gaining momentum.

‘Over $400 a month’: Economists see mortgage savings boost to economy in 2025
Two economists have crunched the numbers on mortgage costs in 2025 and the news is good.

Sales teams see ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ after tough 2024
A survey of New Zealand's leading sales people shows economic optimism is growing.

Inside Economics: Is property investing non-productive? Where should we invest?
If property is not 'productive', what is?

Liam Dann: PM is right, we have a 'culture of saying no' and we need to shake it off
OPINION: Culture change is good but bolder policy needed to emulate Ireland and Singapore.

Sir Bill English: What he'd do differently if he was PM again
Sir Bill English shares his money stories and reflects on his legacy.

Falling net migration will ‘erode support for housing market’
Kiwis still departing in high numbers but there are signs the trend has peaked

Big rate cut still on the cards after inflation data
A decent fall in non-tradeable inflation should hearten the Reserve Bank.

Rising rents keep inflation stuck at 2.2%
The consumers price index increased by 2.2%.

Inside Economics: Capital Gains Tax v Wealth Tax – what's the difference?
Liam Dann answers readers' questions about economics.

New data shows economy still struggling
Service sector survey and Seek job ads both point to a tough end for 2024.

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

Inside Economics: Why can’t we fix our mortgage for 30 years like Americans?
Liam Dann answers reader questions about economics.

Hannah McQueen: Why earning good money won’t make you rich
Liam Dann talks to Hannah McQueen, founder of financial strategy firm EnableMe.

Inside Economics: What is the current account deficit and can the nation survive it?
We revisit reader questions in the best of Inside Economics.

'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.

Economists pick the three big issues for NZ in 2025
Last year inflation was the big worry but it has now fallen down the list.

Inside Economics: When interest rates rise (or fall) where does the money go?
Liam Dann answers reader questions about economics.

‘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: Why a 265-year-old beer brand is suddenly cool with Gen Z
Back in black: Guinness sales boomed in 2024 and Liam Dann went along for the ride.

Liam Dann: Why so many Kiwis are leaving for Australia and its stronger economy
OPINION: Five of the top columns of the year from Liam Dann.

Market Watch: What to expect in 2025 – and what we picked right and wrong in 2024
Pie Funds CIO Mike Taylor makes his annual picks for the year ahead.

Liam Dann: The only way is up for our economy in 2025
OPINION: Last week's GDP shocker took the edge off the Christmas cheer,

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

Liam Dann: Don’t panic about worse-than-expected recession
OPINION: It was the worst recession since 1991 – but at least it is behind us.

'Worst since 1991': NZ in deep recession after massive GDP fall
GDP data for the third quarter shows a wipeout.

Current account deficit narrows as Kiwis import less
The latest figures from Stats NZ show a modest improvement in the trade balance.

'Low point' – new data to confirm NZ back in recession
Data due this Thursday will update the nation's third-quarter economic performance.

Liam Dann: Last blast of economic news to offer no tidings of comfort or joy
OPINION: Economy watchers will have to wait a little longer for the silly season

Another annual record for departures from New Zealand
New migration data from Stats NZ shows downward trend maybe stabilising

Interest rates: Kiwibank cuts fixed mortgage rates, term deposits
The move follows other banks as longer-term rates creep lower.

Liam Dann: Reliance on ‘bank of mum and dad' a worrying trend for NZ
How do we stop economic inequality from becoming ever more entrenched?

Inside Economics: Is NZ poorer than the poorest US state?
New Zealand’s low productivity really is a serious problem.

Liam Dann: RBNZ's grim warning as productivity woes come to a head
OPINION: New Zealand faces a future of slow and low GDP growth on its current path.

Market Watch: The ‘Trump Bump’ – how long can it last?
Watch: Liam Dann talks to Mike Taylor about the outlook for the share market.

Business outlook 'brightening' as inflation expectations fall - ANZ
ANZ's Business Outlook shows confidence dipped but firms' own expectations are rising.

Official Cash Rate cut: Reserve Bank says more cuts to come in February
But Governor Adrian Orr warns borrowers not to expect extremely low rates.

Inside Economics: Outlook for housing in 2025...do we really want another boom?
Liam Dann takes a look at the forecasts for the property market.

More interest rate relief coming ... but how much and where to next?
The Reserve Bank will this week deliver a new set of forecasts for where rates are headed.

Liam Dann: Why the Kiwi dollar is losing value ... and could slide further
The Kiwi is under pressure as the US dollar rises on expectation of higher interest rates.

The Cult: Fuelled on Whittakers chocolate, post-punk legends wow Kiwi fans at Spark Arena
Liam Dann: 'They looked fitter and sounded more polished than they have done in decades'.

Inside Economics: All eyes on RBNZ's last big call for 2024
Liam Dann takes a deeper dive into the week's economic news

ANZ predicts faster economic recovery
While the outlook for activity is improved, the economy will continue to be challenging.

Liam Dann: You’ll soon pay more for a block of cheese - and it’s good news
OPINION: Dairy prices and growing conditions are lining up to give the economy a boost.

Food prices fall in October but milk and butter on the rise
Fruit prices go bananas but vegetable costs plummet.

Headed for Oz: Kiwi departures continue to set new records
New data from Stats NZ show New Zealand's net migration gain is falling fast.

Inside Economics: Why Trump might mean higher mortgage rates in NZ ... all the fallout from his big win
Liam Dann takes a trip down the wild and winding path of Donald Trump's economic policy.

Trump policies to clip New Zealand's growth - analysts
Economic analyst BMI says the NZ economic recovery will continue - but more slowly.

Liam Dann: The one bright spot buried in unemployment data
OPINION: Labour market data shows young people are returning to education as jobs dry up.