So expect 2022 to once again be dominated by the pesky virus, serving as the backdrop to everything else. Also living with Covid-19 in the country likely means at least some ongoing restrictions for much of 2022. In June the Climate Change Commission handed the Government its final advice, in the form of a 400-page report, on how NZ could reduce carbon emissions to meet the requirements of the Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Act. Former Crown prosecutor Simon Bridges recently becoming National's Finance Spokesman combined with the idiosyncratic personality of Reserve Bank Governor Adrian Orr, ensures the central bank will be a political football in 2022. The Reserve Bank raised the OCR by a combined 50 basis points in its final two reviews of 2021 to 0.75%.

Source: Stuff December 22, 2021 17:51 UTC