Now that the first major leg of the Inequality book tour is done and dusted, I estimate I’ve spoken directly to over 1,000 people, including all the events during the last few months. Much of that has happened outside the main centres, and it’s been good to hear what’s on people’s minds across the country….

We’ve just confirmed another talk on the Inequality Road Tour: Blenheim, on Wednesday September 25th, 7pm, at the Marlborough District Library. That’ll be the start of a short Top of the South trip, taking in Motueka on the Thursday (details to come) and Nelson on the Friday: www.inequality.org.nz/upcoming-events.

Here’s a shot from Thursday night’s talk in Napier – a full house at Beattie and Forbes bookshop. Thanks to James Landon for the picture. James notes that in the crowd “were 3 prospective Regional Councillors, one City Councillor, various Health Professionals, a PWC Partner and the Children’s Commissioner no less”.

I’ve just been going over the results of Roy Morgan’s August opinion poll, and they’re clear: inequality and poverty are the most pressing issues for New Zealanders. In the poll, 15 per cent say that “Poverty/ The Gap Between Rich & Poor/ Imbalance of Wealth” is the most important issue the country faces – more…

People listening recently to Morning Report may have heard the World Bank’s chief economist, Kashik Basu, noting that the bank had two new goals that confirm inequality’s position in the mainstream of world thinking. The first was to reduce the number of people living in extreme poverty; the second, to make sure that countries were…