https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/opinion/bruce-cotterill/rss NZME Bruce Cotterill is a highly respected company director and in-demand advisor to business leaders. Bruce is the author of the book, The Best Leaders Don’t S Sat, 06 Jun 2026 15:01:35 Z en https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/opinion/bruce-cotterill/a-budget-for-the-country-please/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/opinion/bruce-cotterill/a-budget-for-the-country-please/ Normally we have to wait until the budget comes out before we hear that most overused of post-budget phrases, “there’s nothing in the budget for me”. Wed, 29 May 2024 23:55:33 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/opinion/bruce-cotterill/asylum-seekers-ahead-proceed-with-caution/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/opinion/bruce-cotterill/asylum-seekers-ahead-proceed-with-caution/ The various regional wars continue to spawn a wave of unlawful immigration. That all started a decade or so ago as the Syrian people sought safety in foreign lands. But it has escalated as hordes of people from the Middle… Thu, 16 May 2024 17:00:03 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/opinion/bruce-cotterill/bruce-cotterill-the-remuneration-authority-is-tone-deaf/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/opinion/bruce-cotterill/bruce-cotterill-the-remuneration-authority-is-tone-deaf/ The latest announcements by the Remuneration Authority suggesting an increase in parliamentary salaries strikes me as a government department that is tone deaf to the state of the country and the needs of the people. Thu, 02 May 2024 17:00:03 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/opinion/bruce-cotterill/bruce-cotterill-when-tv-news-is-the-news/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/opinion/bruce-cotterill/bruce-cotterill-when-tv-news-is-the-news/ Media people love reporting on the media. As a result, when media companies start shedding services, people - or programmes in this case - it can become the biggest story in town. Mon, 22 Apr 2024 19:23:59 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/opinion/bruce-cotterill/bruce-cotterill-bad-behaviour/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/opinion/bruce-cotterill/bruce-cotterill-bad-behaviour/ Last week’s news that New Zealand school students are among the worst behaved in the OECD came as quite a surprise. On reflection, it probably shouldn’t have. Mon, 08 Apr 2024 17:00:29 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/opinion/bruce-cotterill/bruce-cotterill-when-language-is-used-to-divide/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/opinion/bruce-cotterill/bruce-cotterill-when-language-is-used-to-divide/ A nasty theme is emerging in New Zealand politics. It’s come on gradually, particularly over the past year or so, but has become somewhat exaggerated recently, particularly in the months since the new government was sworn in. Wed, 20 Mar 2024 16:00:17 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/opinion/bruce-cotterill/bruce-cotterill-planes-houses-and-double-standards/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/opinion/bruce-cotterill/bruce-cotterill-planes-houses-and-double-standards/ I sometimes think we’re quite good at double standards. It’s one of our quirky little habits and it has surfaced again this week. Wed, 06 Mar 2024 18:40:54 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/opinion/bruce-cotterill/bruce-cotterill-it-s-a-big-mess-we-need-to-be-patient/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/opinion/bruce-cotterill/bruce-cotterill-it-s-a-big-mess-we-need-to-be-patient/ It hasn’t taken long has it. Wed, 21 Feb 2024 19:09:54 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/opinion/bruce-cotterill/bruce-cotterill-are-we-better-together-or-better-apart/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/opinion/bruce-cotterill/bruce-cotterill-are-we-better-together-or-better-apart/ My grandmother used to say that things come in threes. I’m not sure why she thought that but I’m sure it was nothing more than a grand old superstition of her time. Wed, 07 Feb 2024 16:00:21 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/opinion/bruce-cotterill/bruce-cotterill-the-christchurch-call-and-the-end-of-woke/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/opinion/bruce-cotterill/bruce-cotterill-the-christchurch-call-and-the-end-of-woke/ I’ve been surprised by the reaction to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s meeting with former PM Jacinda Ardern. Social media has been alive with criticism of Luxon’s decision to meet to discuss the future of one of her projects. Wed, 31 Jan 2024 16:00:11 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/opinion/bruce-cotterill/bruce-cotterill-employment-is-a-two-way-street/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/opinion/bruce-cotterill/bruce-cotterill-employment-is-a-two-way-street/ There’s a bit of a storm brewing around the new government’s proposed workplace reforms. Wed, 20 Dec 2023 16:00:38 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/opinion/bruce-cotterill/bruce-cotterill-simple-communications-and-a-100-day-plan/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/opinion/bruce-cotterill/bruce-cotterill-simple-communications-and-a-100-day-plan/ It seems like a long time since the election. But this week, our new government has finally been sworn in. They are now operational and, by all accounts, on a fast track of things to do by Christmas. Wed, 06 Dec 2023 16:00:08 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/opinion/bruce-cotterill/bruce-cotterill-challenging-the-media-s-independence-is-good-for-all-of-us/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/opinion/bruce-cotterill/bruce-cotterill-challenging-the-media-s-independence-is-good-for-all-of-us/ You can easily spot the guy who’s been there before. He gets straight back into the business. He knows where to go and what to do. It’s as if he’s never been away. In this case, he’s back to his… Wed, 29 Nov 2023 16:00:26 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/opinion/bruce-cotterill/bruce-cotterill-the-confidence-that-comes-with-competence/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/opinion/bruce-cotterill/bruce-cotterill-the-confidence-that-comes-with-competence/ It looks like we’ll have a new government locked in and ready to go sometime in the next 24 hours. And I’m looking forward to seeing the new line-up in action. Wed, 22 Nov 2023 22:02:29 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/opinion/bruce-cotterill/bruce-cotterill-something-s-going-wrong-with-food-prices-and-it-s-not-the-supermarkets/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/opinion/bruce-cotterill/bruce-cotterill-something-s-going-wrong-with-food-prices-and-it-s-not-the-supermarkets/ I listened to Jamie Mackay talking on The Country radio show last week about the retail price of a rack of lamb. Wed, 15 Nov 2023 16:00:41 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/opinion/bruce-cotterill/bruce-cotterill-lewis-clareburt-is-this-the-best-we-can-do/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/opinion/bruce-cotterill/bruce-cotterill-lewis-clareburt-is-this-the-best-we-can-do/ As we near the end of 2023 our attentions turn to 2024. And after the welcome distractions of the Rugby World Cup and, for the moment, the Cricket World Cup, it’s great to have another mammoth sporting event lined up… Wed, 08 Nov 2023 22:49:56 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/opinion/bruce-cotterill/bruce-cotterill-supie-is-sad-but-its-not-what-we-think/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/opinion/bruce-cotterill/bruce-cotterill-supie-is-sad-but-its-not-what-we-think/ The unfolding saga about the online grocery business Supie is very sad, but also enthralling. Wed, 01 Nov 2023 18:39:04 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/opinion/bruce-cotterill/bruce-cotterill-a-new-government-time-will-tell/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/opinion/bruce-cotterill/bruce-cotterill-a-new-government-time-will-tell/ I’ve been keeping an eye on the media channels, scanning for political updates. Of course there have been precious few. Wed, 25 Oct 2023 16:00:57 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/opinion/bruce-cotterill/bruce-cotterill-lessons-from-the-election-and-a-nod-to-the-future/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/opinion/bruce-cotterill/bruce-cotterill-lessons-from-the-election-and-a-nod-to-the-future/ The election is now behind us and there have been plenty of lessons for the outgoing government and the one that awaits us. There are some learnings for business too. So I thought I’d recap on a few of the… Wed, 18 Oct 2023 16:00:21 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/opinion/bruce-cotterill/bruce-cotterill-i-think-were-ready-for-the-election/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/opinion/bruce-cotterill/bruce-cotterill-i-think-were-ready-for-the-election/ I think we’re ready for the election. The campaigning is becoming oddly repetitious, with some political parties constantly re-stating their policies that we now know well, while others continue their approach of attacking the ideas of their competitors. Wed, 11 Oct 2023 20:10:32 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/opinion/bruce-cotterill/bruce-cotterill-we-need-to-be-able-to-talk-about-difficult-issues/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/opinion/bruce-cotterill/bruce-cotterill-we-need-to-be-able-to-talk-about-difficult-issues/ There’s a viral video going doing the rounds. It’s eighteen months old now and it features what appears to be the conclusion and prize giving at a children’s gymnastics tournament in Ireland. The young girls are all lined up and… Wed, 04 Oct 2023 20:30:26 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/opinion/bruce-cotterill/bruce-cotterill-when-the-trophy-is-not-the-big-prize/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/opinion/bruce-cotterill/bruce-cotterill-when-the-trophy-is-not-the-big-prize/ I’ve always wanted to return to Milan. It is a truly specular city, and after Rome, is Italy’s finest. So, when the opportunity came to go back during fashion week, it didn’t take much to convince me. Wed, 27 Sept 2023 16:00:22 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/opinion/bruce-cotterill/bruce-cotterill-up-in-smoke-why-we-need-to-ban-vaping/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/opinion/bruce-cotterill/bruce-cotterill-up-in-smoke-why-we-need-to-ban-vaping/ Our little country has its fair share of challenges at the moment. Most of it is not good. The stuff that’s important is in bad shape. Education, health, law and order, the cost of living; the list goes on. And… Mon, 25 Sept 2023 23:16:48 Z