New Zealand isn’t the same country it was five years ago. But most Kiwis are still living like it is. We’ve shifted from a factory economy to a skills-based economy, but everyone’s still thinking like it’s 1995. While you’re waiting for your 2.6% pay rise, house prices are forecast to grow 6% annually. The math doesn’t work. Mikey and I break down what’s really happening: why everything feels harder, why traditional employment isn’t cutting it anymore, and why some people are thriving while others are struggling. This isn’t about doom and gloom. It’s about seeing the new rules of the game. The people doing well aren’t waiting for the government to save them. They’re not hoping their boss gives them a pay rise. They’ve figured out how to get paid for their skills, not their hours. Treasury’s own data shows wages growing at half the rate of asset prices. You can keep pretending this will magically fix itself, or you can adapt to the new reality. The country has changed. The question is: will you?
