In this episode of The Better SMB, Rob Bull and David Altena go behind their NZ Manufacturer article “Leadership from the Top: How Government Must Reflect What It Asks of Business.” They explore what genuine leadership across the system looks like, from the Beehive to the boardroom, and why consistency, accountability and execution matter more than ever. Building on their conversation with Minister Chris Penk, the hosts discuss where government is showing signs of progress, where leadership gaps remain, and how small and medium businesses can lead the productivity movement themselves instead of waiting for permission. Highlights: 

• Government acts as a monopoly, so who holds it accountable for performance? 

• The “easy button” approach: why raising taxes and levies undermines innovation 

• Lessons from top-performing countries like Singapore and Norway 

• The case for a public sector performance dashboard, transparency that builds trust 

• Leadership isn’t about authority, it’s about consistency, clarity and execution 

--------------------- The Better SMB Podcast is sponsored by SetSeed, the all-in-one platform that redefines what a website can be. Smart, secure and AI-tailored to reflect your brand. No plugins, no patchwork, no problems. Just world-class software and support in one subscription. Discover more at setseed.com  ---------------------  Connect with Rob and David on LinkedIn  Rob Bull  David Altena  Learn more about NZ Lean Academy and the mission Rob is on to make NZ the best place in the world to do business   Download David's NBR-featured report "Boosting Productivity in New Zealand SMEs" by joining the mailing list on the Altena Solutions website and start your journey to a more productive business today