How long at Level 3? / Pressure to help SMEs and tourism grows / Fresh focus on ‘industry policy’ / The leadership challenge that wasn’t / $5-to$10b in ‘shovel-ready’ projects? / NZ First seizes covid’s nationalist opportunities / Metlifecare stoush one to watch

HVxtra Covid-19 response / A generous Budget at Level 2 - the govt’s dream outcome? / Ministers already thinking 3 weeks hence / The Aussie factor / A word on ‘elimination’

Lockdown decision: health vs politics vs economy / Trust is high, but the mood could turn fast / Budget decisions revealing coalition fractures / Election date / Kainga Ora to pick up abandoned subdivisions? / Refinery strategic review / Climate change added to RMA

Insolvency ‘safe harbour’ and ‘hibernation’ provisions / Life after covid-19 / Coming out of lockdown - next week’s Cabinet focus / Economic outlook - down then up, but no clarity / A long period of relative isolation / Not much respite on regulatory agenda /

HVxtra Covid-19 response March 26 2020 / Parliament grinds to a halt on all non-covid work / Private sector struggling to keep up / Mortgage and business lending packages face delay / Budget rewrite / UBI? / Extraordinary powers

HVxtra National lockdown / Finally at lockdown. The question still is: will it work? / The details: Level 4 alert starts at 11.59pm, Wednesday, March 25, Essential services, Financial stability/lending/wage subsidies

The govt’s big choice - go harder or invite defeat / Flatten the curve is no longer the goal / National lockdown? / Fiscal, monetary and financial system responses - more to come / Did Bridges just lose the election for National? / Election delay must be on the cards

HVxtra Covid-19 economic package / How deep will the recession be? / The Hugo Group and Covid-19

Intense SME stress already apparent from covid-19 / Monetary policy won’t fix it / Worry, prepare, don’t panic / Political distractions / Pressure grows for Tiwai Point transmission deal / Slow track for light rail / Jeanette Fitzsimons, 1945-2020

Covid-19 - at worst a ‘technical’ recession / RBNZ ‘looking through’ the virus impact / NZ First’s donations swamp / Energy minister eyes ‘market failure’ intervention powers / Referenda heading in different directions / Ihumatao still ‘stuck’ / Sustainable NZ on the ropes?