The IMF ranks NZ as 183rd out of just over 196 nations in the world for 2024 (confirmed) economic (GDP) growth

Its official. The figures came in yesterday from the International Monetary Fund. NZ had one of the world's worst performing economies in 2024, coming in at 183rd out 196 nations. New Zealand and a tiny handful of countries have shrinking GDP. Nearly all of the nations ranked below us are in civil war. They are Myanmar, Haiti, Ecuador, Jamaica, Kuwait, Lebanon, Syria, Libya, Yemen, Botswana, Argentina, Austria and South Sudan. It can't be true, can it? Don't believe me? Then look at the IMF numbers for yourself at the underlined link (and click on "Statistical Appendix A: Key Global Economic Indicators"). Over these past years politicians, media types, and think tanks have belittled comments we've made on this Blog regarding mistakes NZ's leaders were making. We were accused of exaggerating. Even last year when we highlighted the IMF figures, the reply was we used projected figures. The figures we're using today are actual ones for 2024. How a nation could be lauded as having the world's best Covid response (just ask Labour Leader Hipkins and former PM Ardern - it has to be true) and then fall to become one of the most stagnant backwaters, with its youth bailing out for overseas, is remarkable. The cause? Donkeys in our political parties, who corruptly put their donkey mates into key positions of power, not to mention an inbred private sector that needs to be turned on its head. Every monopoly in NZ should be smashed to pieces. Exaggerating again? Go look at the IMF report.

Key Global Economic Indicators

Yale University in the US weaponizes Former NZ PM Jacinda Ardern Against President Trump, even using her to give him the middle finger on Tariffs.

Yale University must really want to get defunded by the US Government. Its leadership has just given Trump the big middle finger. One may've thought Yale would balance their guest speakers so they reflected the entire political range to pre-empt moves against them by the new administration. But no. Yale goes and invites former NZ PM Ardern to give its Class Day Graduation Address 2025. Ardern endorsed Democrat Karmala Harris last year for President. Yale describes Ardern as follows, "She embodies empathy & excellence, character & commitment, innovation & inclusion .. During her time in office, she .. navigated significant challenges, including .. a volcanic eruption and global pandemic. With a people-first approach grounded in kindness, she .. led an administration in which NZ reached a historic 50% representation of women in Parliament & government-appointed boards" (now I know why I was never considered for any of those positions, darn it). She also "secured historic international trade agreements". Seems Ardern is now a great defender of free international trade. Funny, I never thought of her as much liking markets, having viciously blamed former Finance Minister Ruth Richardson's Mother of All Budgets for the suicide of her neighbor in Morrinsville, and attacked folks like Sir Roger Douglas for wrecking NZ and creating poverty and inequality, which she had to fix, all because he embraced "neoliberalism" and small government and opened NZ up to .. more international trade and competition.

How can we interpret Yale's advertising blurb for Ardern? Seems its designed no less than to use Ardern as a weapon against the US President. Namely that Trump is her Opposite - he is everything she is not. He is non-empathetic; he has no character; he disdains excellence; he hates inclusion; he is anti free trade. When will this endless attempt of Ardern to keep telling the world that she is morally superior to the rest of us stop? I should've been more savvy & become a politician instead of embarking on an academic career. Ardern & her side-kick Finance Minister Robertson have taught me that you can have a much bigger academic career by becoming local Kiwi Labour Party politicians. That will get you to Yale, Harvard, Oxford .. and even Otago should you wish to retire as Vice Chancellor back to your old student haunts. What's next? Ardern may become my boss, so I'd better be careful. When that happens my types will be out on our ears for not symbolizing "empathy and excellence, character and commitment, innovation and inclusion", like she does. Gosh, even writing down those words makes me feel like a mean, horrible failure already.