The Government's message in Budget 2025 is clear: New Zealand’s economic future lies not in more public spending, but in business-led growth. As ASB’s latest commentary puts it, the Government is “handing the growth baton to the private sector.”

This is a pivotal moment in history as New Zealand has long grappled with lagging productivity. 

Despite our ingenuity and resilience, we’re yet to unlock the performance potential other developed nations take for granted. With the Government focused on fiscal consolidation and laying the groundwork for long-term prosperity, the responsibility for the country rests with us: the business community.

This isn’t just a call to action. It’s a challenge to reimagine how we operate, how we lead, and how we transform our productivity as a nation. And at Vantaset, we are stepping forward to help shape this next chapter.

Drawing on insights from our 25+ years helping businesses transform their performance, we believe New Zealand needs a productivity reset. This will require an investment in leadership capability, embracing performance excellence, and adopting new ways of working to drive organisational transformation at scale.

That’s why we’re preparing to launch a bold new campaign aimed at rallying business leaders across Aotearoa to lift their game, not just for their bottom lines, but for the betterment of the country.

We see Budget 2025 not as a constraint, but as a unifying moment. A moment where the Government is asking businesses to take the lead given we need to be the answer.

If you'd like to be kept informed, please let us know.

Ref: ASB Economic Note 22 May 2025