New Zealand is the envy of the world right now, with COVID-19 almost eliminated and society returning to a new kind of normal. The economic, political, and viral stability of the country has been linked to an uptick of interest in the property market, as offshore buyers look on closely, Kiwis return home, and city residents look forward to making a tree change in a post COVID world.

As national governments continue to tackle the economic effects of the COVID-19 crisis, a new way of looking at the economy is rising to the surface. Modern Monetary Theory (MMT) is an alternative to neoclassical economic theory, with many of its theories and tenants currently being tested as the world struggles to react to the global pandemic. If MMT's biggest proponents are right, everything we thought we knew about public finance could be wrong.

The reality of COVID-19 continues to affect economic growth, as health and isolation measures endure in direct response to the pandemic. Household spending is down on a universal basis, with the economies of Australia and New Zealand severely affected despite relative success in containing the virus. The situation is changing by the day, with leading industry research company IBISWorld publishing an in-depth breakdown of how the pandemic is currently affecting the Australian and New Zealand economy. 

In a world defined by deliberate and organised action, sometimes the incidental things make all the difference. Incidental activity is a valuable form of daily exercise, with small incidental movements accumulating throughout the day as the result of your normal routine. While not a complete substitute for discipline and organisation, these small movements add up over time to improve your physical and mental health. Incidental exercise doesn't happen at the gym, which makes it an ideal solution in a COVID-19 world.

As coronavirus restrictions continue around the globe, access to living space is shrinking as the world gets smaller and more localised. Whether it's your town, your suburb, or your property, people have been forced to lower their horizons and spend time in the confines of their own backyard. Current restrictions are designed to place limits on novel experiences and minimise social contacts in order to control COVID-19. While this situation is incredibly challenging on many levels, it also creates opportunities to explore the smaller spaces that lie just beyond your door.

New Zealand has emerged from lockdown earlier than most, with relatively few deaths and a contained COVID-19 spread despite a small recent outbreak. While closing down much of the economy was seen as a necessary measure by many New Zealanders, the economic and social impacts of the shutdown will take some recovery time. Certain industries have been hit hard, including tourism, hospitality, and discretionary retail. The entire country will be under pressure in the months ahead, with smart navigation needed to manage the economic and social impacts of the pandemic.

Gyms across Australia and New Zealand have been shut over recent weeks, with outdoor fitness equipment and classes also limited until very recently. While everyone will be happy when their local gym opens for business, the pandemic has given people a unique opportunity to take control of their own fitness. From YouTube fitness classes to bodyweight routines and backyard workouts, the humble suburban home can be your new fitness centre.

The New Zealand property market is struggling to find momentum, with house sales dropping by almost 50% from the same time last year. Despite the great health results achieved since the shutdown, the impact of the pandemic continues to weaken domestic industries, mute migration numbers, and threaten the tourism sector. While New Zealand house prices have been remarkably resilient so far, the sharp drop in sales volumes highlights a new and mostly unknown landscape ahead.  

Excelling at sport demands a potent combination of physical ability, mental ambition, and emotional stability. Conditioning your body to perfection is only half the battle, you also need a rock solid mental approach and the rare ability to deal with pressure in its many shifting forms. From Olympic athletes to world-class football players, the psychology of pressure in sport is a huge and often opaque subject that we're only beginning to understand.

From cats and dogs to more exotic pets, animals add so much colour and joy to human lives. While all pets are special, some of our animal companions are a little more memorable than most. Record-breaking animals come in all shapes and sizes, from the world's tallest dog to the loudest purring cat and a turtle that's been around longer than any human. Let's take a look at some pet world records to see if your beloved pet has what it takes to enter the record books.