In this episode, Mika and friend-of-the-podcast Justine Lee interview Peter Fraser. Peter (Ngāti Hauiti ki Rangitikei) is an economist, academic, and sandblaster from the Hutt Valley. The conversation delves into the shape of the New Zealand economy, the dairy industry, climate change, Maori economic development, and the future of New Zealand. Peter shares his personal journey from growing up in Wellington, working for the government and different departments, to eventually reinventing himself as the "sand blasting economist". Fraser also discusses his viewpoints on New Zealand's economic policies, the impact of the dairy industry on the environment and economy, and the challenges of making significant changes in these areas due to political and economic constraints. He touches upon his experiences in local politics and his candid thoughts about the future challenges facing New Zealand and the world at large, especially in the context of climate change and sustainable practices.

Show notes

• Growing For Good – Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Morgan William’s report on on intensive farming, sustainability and the environment

• Susan Krumdiek, energy transition engineer

• Mike Joy, freshwater ecologist

• Milton Friedman, economist

• Public choice theory

• Robert Muldoon, former prime minister and minister of finance

• Roger Douglas, former minister of finance

• Milked (“White lies in dairy land”) documentary