The wild history of inflation in NZ | Context

In this episode of Context, RNZ’s Guyon Espiner and Corin Dann unpack the history of inflation in New Zealand and around the world - and why it still drives today’s cost of living crisis. | Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/RNZVideo?sub_... From the 1980s, when inflation hit nearly 19 percent, to Muldoon’s controversial wage and price freeze, to the COVID-19 pandemic that sent global prices soaring, this episode explains what inflation really is, why it matters, and how it affects everything from your mortgage rates to the price of butter. Along the way, we explore: How New Zealand pioneered inflation targeting Why politicians and central banks clash over interest rates What hyperinflation looked like in places like Germany and Zimbabwe And whether alternatives to monetary policy could work here. If you’ve ever wondered why prices rise, how governments respond, and what it means for your wallet, this episode is for you.