New Zealand's Next Economic Chapter

The Business of AI: Productivity, Jobs and New Zealand's Economic Future

Artificial intelligence is reshaping the way businesses operate, creating new opportunities while challenging traditional ways of working. This session will explore how AI is transforming productivity, the future of work, investment and competitiveness, and what New Zealand must do to capture the economic benefits while preparing its workforce for the changes ahead.

Infrastructure: Are We Finally Making Progress?

New Zealand has spent years talking about its infrastructure challenges. Now, with major projects coming online, new water entities taking shape and a clearer long-term infrastructure pipeline emerging, are we finally moving from plans to progress? 

This session will examine where genuine progress is being made, where we are still falling short, and the next big decisions needed to support New Zealand’s future growth.

Who Should Run New Zealand? Rethinking Governance for Growth

As New Zealand faces increasingly complex economic and social challenges, are our current governance structures fit for the future? 

This discussion will explore the evolving role of local and central government, regional decision-making and regulatory reform in delivering better outcomes for communities, businesses and the economy.

The Pacific: Our Greatest Opportunity or Our Greatest Strategic Challenge?

The Pacific is becoming one of the world's most contested regions, with growing geopolitical competition, climate pressures and increasing economic importance. This panel will examine New Zealand's role in the region, how we strengthen our relationships with Pacific nations, and what the changing strategic landscape means for our economy, security and future prosperity.

Powering the Economy: Electricity and Connectivity for Growth 

New Zealand’s ability to grow and compete will depend on reliable electricity and strong connectivity. As demand increases across industry, electrification and emerging sectors such as data centres, this session will explore whether we have the generation, transmission, networks and connectivity needed to support a growing economy, attract investment and enable future growth

The Cost of Us: Tackling New Zealands have nots

From crime and addiction to poor health, welfare dependency and disengagement from education, New Zealand’s social challenges carry an enormous human and economic cost.  What are our bold choices?

Macro cyber security threats - warfare, national security and societal survival.  The next global shutdown

As businesses, government and everyday life become increasingly digital, cyber threats are growing in scale and sophistication. This session will explore how organisations can strengthen their resilience, protect critical infrastructure and personal data, and respond to one of the fastest-growing risks facing New Zealand's economy.

Monopolies and Duopolies: Challenging the Established Order

When markets are dominated by one or two major players, what does it take to create genuine competition? From barriers to entry and market power to regulation and reform, this session will examine the challenges of concentrated markets in New Zealand and their implications for productivity, innovation and economic growth. What needs to change to give new entrants a fair opportunity, challenge established players and create markets that work better for businesses and consumers? As New Zealand looks to build a more dynamic and productive economy, panellists will explore how we can move beyond the status quo and unlock the benefits of greater competition.

Education: Have We Turned a Corner? 

With significant reforms underway across New Zealand's education system, is the sector finally on a path to lifting achievement, strengthening workforce readiness, and restoring confidence? This session will explore whether recent policy changes are delivering meaningful progress, what challenges remain, and what education must do to equip the next generation

The Cost of Chronic Health: Can We Afford Not to Prevent It?  

Chronic conditions place an increasing burden on New Zealand’s health system, workforce and economy  but how much of that cost could be prevented? As demand and healthcare costs continue to rise, should New Zealand shift more of its focus and investment from treating illness to preventing it in the first place?

Defending Tomorrow: Technology, Security and New Zealand's Strategic Future

The nature of defence is changing rapidly, driven by advances in space, AI, autonomous systems and cyber technology. This session will explore how innovation is reshaping national security, the role New Zealand companies are playing on the global stage, and the opportunities emerging for our economy and high-tech industries.