Mike's Minute: I think the mood has shifted in NZ

I got a sense about something this week and it's not because it's about to be spring, although that will undoubtedly help. 

I got a sense this week that the tide on the New Zealand story is turning. 

The ongoing stats, like the size of the infrastructure pipeline, more money this year, more money and projects for years to come, the new visas, and the visas that are working better than we thought, money, jobs, and culture are on their way. 

But the gold medal goes to the dawning realisation that we are about to outgrow and outperform Australia. Not just next year, but for a number of years. 

The stats have been there – the Reserve Bank Governor in Australia reduced her GDP forecast and that number is below ours, which is about 2.5%, maybe more. 

But put it together, as Westpac did, call it a report, lay it out for all to see and pennies drop. 

Why it's so important is a lot of our plight is as much mental as it is physical. 

Australia has a myriad of real issues, from housing, to debt, to transport, to race. 

We do too, but they have never sunk like us. 

Part of what is and has held us back this year is too many have decided we are stuffed, so they left. 

But left for what? What is the psychology of moving countries? Pay? It can be, but not always and I'll tell you this for nothing, the pay gap does not bridge the house gap. 

But do those leaving realise that, or they don’t care, or don’t even know? 

Obviously what bogged it down this year was the "Survive to '25" thing. It started well in January but never took off. So were we sold a lemon? A false dawn? 

What this report does, and it's not alone because there is plenty of material out there if you hunt for it, is quantify our reality. Between the law changes, the visas, the farmers, the currency, and all the fixes and reforms, it adds up to an irrefutable picture of change that is about to pay dividends. 

The pieces seem to be fitting together. But the prize is they paint a better picture than our nearest neighbour, our greatest friends, our biggest opponent. 

We are not just beating anyone. We are beating Australia. 

When that comes to pass, watch the mood then. 

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