As New Zealanders struggle with the worst recession in 34 years, a group of economists have warned that the government’s austerity programme is making it worse. One of those critics is Dr Ganesh Nana, former Productivity Commissioner and Chief Economist and Research Director at BERL, Business and Economic Research Limited. Ganesh is a regular advisor to industry and government and was part of the government’s Welfare Expert Advisory Group. He’s a cricket fan, numbers guy and has a passion for seeing Aotearoa New Zealand reach its full potential in all aspects, social, environmental and economic. Ganesh’s concerns about our approach to managing the economy is incredibly timely.

Vincent recorded this interview largely during an event at the Sustainable Business Network late last year.

With both science and storms pointing to a warming world, New Zealand food producers must prepare for climate change. But is the sector sleepwalking into disaster? How can food sector not just survive but flourish in a hothouse climate?

New and novel proteins could threaten New Zealand’s traditional strengths in dairy, red meat and seafood. Predicted to be lower in emissions, lighter on water and land, cruelty-free and at industrial scale, new and novel proteins may become the first choice in a climate-constrained world. Can we adapt?

 An explosion in the number of small food brands in the last 20 years hints at where New Zealand's future food opportunities exist: in global niches. New Zealand’s strength in co-ops and single-desk trading gave this tiny country global clout in commodities. But with consumer demand fracturing along almost individual lines - and combined with ever-improving innovation and rapid manufacturing - can we rely on our historic strengths to flourish? Are we investing in the right skills and products to dominate the niches?

 Sir Jonathan Porritt is patron of the Aotearoa Circle, the founder of Forum of the Future and a leading advocate for sustainability and climate action. He spoke to us on a hot UK morning about the future of food.

New Zealand’s food and fibre industry is built on generations of selective breeding - from ryegrass and cows to kiwifruit and apples. But recent improvements in gene technologies offer a step-change in how we can create new resilient and productive varieties. Will New Zealand seize the opportunity or be left flatfooted in a race to the future?

Every two years, delegates meet at the UN Convention on Biological Diversity - a sort of nature version of the more famous climate COPs. This year, COP16, was held in Cali, Colombia, and there were high expectations following the successes at the COP15 in Montreal in 2022 which launched the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). However, despite some breakthroughs, funding and agreements fell short as negotiations were hampered by poor internet connections, conflicting agendas and shortage of time. Two steps forward, one step back.

Witnessing from the sidelines was Manu Caddie, who is part of the Indigenous Caucus, representing the Aotearoa Indigenous Rights Trust. Manu is also a champion of indigenous IP development in pharmaceuticals and natural health.

As sea levels rise, home insurance premiums follow. A new report from the Helen Clark Foundation and engineering consultancy WSP New Zealand says it’s time we sorted out how best to protect our homes. Report author Kali Mercier tells Ross Inglis what residential property insurance could look like in a time of climate change.

Vincent had the pleasure of interviewing Albert Tucker, chairman of the Karma Cola Foundation, and a leading figure in the Fairtrade movement. The interview was part of a talk he gave at a Sustainable Business Network event, so apologies for sound issues as it was a live recording. Albert is an amazing individual. He was born in Sierra Leone but fled with his family to the UK before the civil war.

After graduating with an MA in Social Policy and Administration he moved into community working with Comic Relief and The Big Lottery fund. But his roots pulled him back to African and he now specialises in helping small-scale farmers to use trade to grow their communities, improve their income, and protect their environment. Vincent started by asking Albert to describe life for the cola farmers in Sierra Leone.

If 2023's Cyclone Gabrielle proved anything, it was that New Zealand is woefully exposed to the risks of climate change and has no coherent strategy for moving people and assets away from them. Sustainability consultant Kelly Flatz tells Ross Inglis that the national conversation about managed retreat is only just starting.