Perriams Pacesetter — 2 November 2026

Every Monday we post some thoughts in our Perriams Pacesetter, containing fresh thoughts for the week, the weekend just gone, and a bit of left field. Click below to read.

GEM

It’s the final countdown this week for you to have your input into who will govern the country.

Every vote will count. It’s going to be tight, so let’s all give our vote a bit more consideration than perhaps we’ve done in previous elections, and maybe you’ll have your wish. 🙂

SPOTLIGHT

The Reserve Bank surprised most of us last week by holding the OCR at where it is.

Why did they do this?

Inflation is still outside their target band of under 3%. However, the 3.7%, inflation did come in below where the Reserve Bank expected, so, Kiwis are being more cautious than the Reserve Bank expected.

In other words, we are not spending and there are a lot of businesses that are not necessarily passing on their increased costs

Where does this place interest rates? The OCR is currently at 2.25%.

There is likely to be an increase next time around. 🙁

TOPICAL

It’s off your bike, ChCh people.

Our City Council’s proposal to cut 80% of its cycleway spending and only 1% of its roading budget.

Whilst it’s only a proposal at this point, how ridiculous. The Garden City is largely as flat as a pancake.

We have to push back the pedals.

Given cycling’s positive impact on physical and mental health and the wider social and environmental benefits, what on earth are our councillors thinking?

SPORTIFY

Ali Williams + Anna Mowbray: death of their support of NZ Netball.

Just when we want corporate sponsorship, and in particular NZ’s wealthy to support our mainstream sports, NZ Netball “bails” on their support, without any reason given.

Pretty sad. ☹️

SPORTIFY

Liam Lawson, whilst disqualified on a technicality for the Mexican Grand Prix, the earlier infringement he got when his car gave Max Verstappen a nudge shows that he’s not prepared to back down for anybody.

Ballsy + bold, given the power that Verstappen holds.

OF INTEREST

Anthropic, pre its public listing on the US Stock Exchange in its securities requirements for stock exchange, submitted 385 pages covering the finances, executive compensation, dividend policy and the likes but here’s the interesting fact of the 385 pages in the document, 93 are devoted to “risk factors”. That is, the things that could hurt potential shareholders who invest.

Just another worry as to what we don’t know about AI, and neither do they?

AI

A recent international test gave ChatGPT and Claude 50 real tax questions across 15 jurisdictions. Used on their own both models got only 50% of the questions right. ChatGPT was also judged to be confidently wrong 18% of the time, while Claude was confidently wrong 10% of the time.

THE MARKETS

Inflation is always a hot topic in our NZ economy, and the Reserve Bank has a mandate to keep this under 3%.

Spare a thought then for some global inflation stats.

Here are the world’s five countries with the highest inflation levels:

Country — Inflation

Venezuela — 468%

Iran — 79%

Sudan — 41%

Argentina — 33%

Turkey — 31%

OCR 2.5% ↑ July 2026 CPI 4.1% ↑ June 2026 Unemployment 5.3% ↓ March 2026 House Price Movement 2.3% ↑ July 2024 Rent Price Movement 4.3% ↑ July 2024

Only 53 days to go until Christmas!

PERRIAMS POWER RANKINGS – 02 November 2026

Each week we announce Perriams “Game Changers” for the week.

1. Kaipo Olsen-Baker was named World Rugby Women’s 15s Player of the Year.

And Elinor Plum-King Women’s 15s Black Ferns Player of the Year.

2. The 70th Tour of Southland started on Sunday.

How good is that, as it still maintains itself as NZ’s most prestigious cycle race.

3. NZ Netball’s decision to ditch Anna Mowbray + Ali Williams’ support for a privately run domestic league.

What a crap decision.

NZ Netball, what are you thinking?