Labour finance spokesperson Michael Cullen said today that he is surprised Bill English has trumpeted the results of the World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Report released some weeks ago.

The report shows New Zealand has dropped 12 places in two years.

"Perhaps Mr English might also compare us to our 12 major trading partners in terms of economic record.

"New Zealand has the second lowest growth rate, the biggest current account deficit, the second highest net foreign debt, the lowest gross savings and the second highest long term interest rates.

"Real business people looking to set up business might consider these numbers rather than read subjective assessments from the right wing Economic Forum," Dr Cullen said.

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Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>