User Profile

Pattrick Smellie

Pattrick Smellie is co-founder of BusinessDesk and has reported the New Zealand economy and business since 1983.

Top 10 ways to reach net-zero carbon

The Productivity Commission argues we have to make big changes now if we are going to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. Here are 10 things that may get us there.

Apr 27 2018

Pattrick Smellie

Newsroom

ComCom worries about airport monopoly profits

The Commerce Commission says Auckland Airport is planning to make $47 million more profits than it should, and that customers may get overcharged.

Apr 26 2018

Pattrick Smellie and Nikki Mandow

Newsroom

Govt firm on budget responsibility targets

Finance Minister Grant Robertson says he can meet fiscal responsibility targets, despite CTU pressure and escalating demands from health and education infrastructure.

Mar 29 2018

Pattrick Smellie

Newsroom

Govt to include social factors in electricity inquiry

Included in the draft terms of reference for the review is whether electricity suppliers can extract excessive profits over time.

Mar 28 2018

Pattrick Smellie

Newsroom

NZ’s fossil fuel transition will take decades: Minister

Energy Minister Megan Woods told the annual oil and gas conference in Wellington there would be a “long transition” to renewables.

Mar 27 2018

Pattrick Smellie

Newsroom

Warning: electric cars could overload our power network

The heater or the car? Power companies are worried that a battle for peak tea-time electricity is looming as electric cars gain popularity. Not to mention a $4 billion network upgrade.

Mar 13 2018

Pattrick Smellie

Newsroom

Outdated copyright law stymies investment: Deloitte

A new Deloitte report says growth areas of the digital economy - from data mining and cloud computing, to innovation in music and film - are stymied by our outdated copyright laws.

Mar 13 2018

Pattrick Smellie

boardroom

Joyce quits; deadline passes for NBR apology

Steven Joyce, the National Party’s chief political strategist since the mid-2000s will retire from Parliament on April 6, after new leader Simon Bridges did not offer him the finance spokesmanship in a shadow Cabinet reshuffle. His move clears the...

Mar 06 2018

Pattrick Smellie