As we reach the close of the third quarter of 2020, the latest statistics on the New Zealand economy give us a picture of the depth of the recession in the first half of the year, with the domestic economy contracting 12.2% in the June quarter. GDP is the topic of the month, and while the contracting economy is no surprise with the strict lockdown measures, NZ’s performance is perhaps a little better than expected when compared with The Treasury’s Budget forecasts back in May (green line in graph below left). The September Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update expects GDP to rebound in the next quarter.
Te Waka Economic Radar 2 October 2020

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New Writer in Residence for 2021
The University of Waikato is set to welcome Michalia Arathimos as the Writer in Residence for 2021. She will start in her new role after Easter and her residency project will be her third novel, Sojourn, which is set in the Waikato.
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Outstanding Sacred Heart student wins US athletic scholarships
A year 13 Sacred Heart Girls’ College student has been offered numerous track and field scholarship offers from public and private Division 1, 2, and 3 universities in the USA, ranging in value up to $300,000.
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Hindsight 2020… and what to look out for in 2021
In Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by a series of ghosts who show him scenes from his past, present, and the miserable future that awaits him. Scrooge takes this knowledge as an opportunity to change his ways, and avoid the fate shown to him by the ghost of Christmas yet-to-come. If only we had such guides to show us how to act now.
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Symbolic stone handover heralds the start of the Pan Pacific Community hub build
A significant celebration ceremony heralding the start of the build for the Pan Pacific Community hub in Hamilton took place on 5 December, at the Hamilton Bowling Club at Hinemoa Park.
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