From December issue, NZ Manufacturer – The Year in Review

Ian Walsh, Partner, Argon & Co NZ

We have finally seen the “green shoots” and those businesses still going can finally tick the survive (till) 2025 box. Confidence is on the up and activity is starting to move, what a ride! But what have we learned? Here are a few reflections from me.

1. Traditional approaches to getting through the hard times are no longer enough. Many businesses tightened their belts, let people go, stopped all discretionary spending, travel etc. and didn’t make it.
2. Waiting for things to get better is not a strategy. This is just giving your competitors, especially those overseas, a free pass.
3. We can no longer rely on distance and separation for protection. NZ is easy to access and service from anywhere, if you think you are safe you may be deluding yourself.
4. It is all about productivity. We must face into this reality, we can’t work harder or longer we already top this league, we must work differently and recognise the rest of the world is and has adapted, and so must we. There’s no avoiding it or waiting for government intervention.
5. We have some core industries and capabilities which are world leading. Our dairy and tech sectors are world-leading, with aspirational companies. Let’s not be complacent; let’s push on and assert and grow these advantages.
6. We have a window of opportunity. Carpe Diem. Now is the time, before the next global uncertainty. It is now or maybe never. Identify your strategic competitive advantage and actualise it? Need help? Seek it.

7. We are brave and innovative, the pioneering spirit lives strong, we can do this. There are enough tall poppy killers out there, lets celebrate the go getters, the achievers, the adopters and the triers and applaud that they are working to make our standard of living better. Surely supporting the naysayers is not an option.

So, as we move into 2026, I have complied my top 5 list for a successful 2026 and beyond.

1. Identify and support key strategic businesses with incentives to upskill and implement global best practices. We mobilise government, institutions, financial institutions to align behind investing in productive assets and building capability

2. Introduce industrial engineering, supply chain, and logistics capabilities in universities and institutions to support businesses with talent that can enhance productivity. Current offerings are limited compared to international standards, and we are in dire need of capable change agents.

3. Government implements support for programs that drive building productive capability, as they do in Australia!

4. Reintroduce the SIRI assessment program and double down on AI education and implementation capability. AI is more than improving personal efficiency with co-pilot; it is about reinventing businesses and supercharging competitive advantage

5. If we are really bold, we could implement a NZ framework for best practice and benchmarking which would help businesses truly understand how big the gap is and the roadmap for improvement.

Theres a lot to do, I am excited for 2026, as I feel we are on the cusp, and we are about to embrace the change that will shore up our future. I am ready…. join me!!