Summarised by Centrist
New Zealand’s top jobs are controlled by a “corrupt inner circle” of political insiders who reward their mates, argues economist Robert MacCulloch.
Speaking on The Platform, he called out a rigged system where the same unqualified people rotate through high-status positions—regardless of which party is in power.
MacCulloch didn’t mince words, accusing the financial and political elite of running a monopoly that shuts out true competition. “Appointments made in Wellington are just so corrupt it’s beyond belief,” he said, pointing to Grant Robertson’s appointment as Vice-Chancellor of Otago University despite having “never taught a course, never done research, and having no qualifications for the job.”
He also criticised National’s decision to reappoint Neil Quigley as chair of the Reserve Bank board, describing him as “Steven Joyce’s mate” and another example of cronyism. MacCulloch warned that the exodus of young New Zealanders isn’t just about wages—it’s about opportunity. “Every high-status job in the country is just a job for mates,” he said.
The culture of backroom deals extends beyond politics. According to MacCulloch, the big banks use their media-friendly economists as a “PR front” to push narratives that serve corporate interests. Meanwhile, the Reserve Bank’s mismanagement has engineered both economic booms and recessions, deepening instability.
New Zealand’s future, he argued, depends on breaking this cycle. “You can’t have a country where all the people at the top are the wrong people.”
