The Current State of Play
New Zealand's totals
288 billion NZ dollars Government Debt.
(The figures above reflect the 2025/2026 'Total Borrowing’ disclosed on the Crown Balance Sheet published by The New Zealand Treasury in the 2025 Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update released on 16 December 2025)
424,155 People on a main benefit.
(As of January 2026, including number of people on working age benefits, Jobseeker Support, Jobseeker Support – Work Ready and Jobseeker Support – Health Condition or Disability. - Source Ministry of social development website)
2,886,000 People employed by Dec 2025.
(Data from Stats.Govt.NZ website)
$1380.00 Average NZ Wage
(Data from Stats.Govt.NZ website)
What's Next?
Today:
We are feeling the financial pinch of not having enough money to now afford the basic necessities of life for all of us.
We used to be world leaders in living standards, education and health, now we have slipped from that position and are sliding into third world status in some areas.
We all moan and cry how could we have let this happen?
Why didn't the government of the day do something?
Why didn't anyone say or do something?
Truth of the matter:
We don't want to be involved.
We are happy to give a government half our income, tell it to do something, but do not define what something is, then get upset when nothing tangible is achieved (Look at Roading, Health, Power, Water, infrastructure etc.)
The next government will promise to help fix all these things (like they have been doing since the 1970's) it will involve some hard work and lots more money (Taxes and Borrowing) then the change will be just as predictable.
Tommorow's Forecast:
When the current crisis is over (and it will be) we will be content with higher prices, more taxes, a slightly higher wage and lower living standards.
Eventually we will be taken over by foreign investors / Countries, strip mined then thrown away like many ither irrelevant countries in the history of the world.
Inevitable?
NO!