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.

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?

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