Economist Shamubeel Eaqub recounts how the term 'zombie towns' created an outcry in rural New Zealand. Now, a decade on, he wants to understand if anything has changed in the provinces. Did he miss something back then? Why have the economic statistics started to change - albeit slowly? What's going on in New Zealand's economic heartland? He chooses to focus on two towns: Balclutha and Tokoroa. He travels first to South Otago, where he quickly discovers locals determined to show him they are not the walking dead.
In this episode, Shamubeel talks to:
Nigel Stirling - South Otago farmer and former RNZ economics correspondent
Ruth Baldwin - manu whenua
Bryan Cadogan - three-term mayor of South Otago
Olive Glover - lost two farms as a result of Rogernomics reforms
