New Zealand business leaders are moving geopolitics into mainstream governance, the 2025 Mood of the Boardroom survey reveals.
Seventy-eight per cent of chief executives said their boards regularly review such risks, a sharp contrast to the 21% who do not and the 1% who are unsure. The findings point to mounting concern over global instability and its impact on trade and investment.
Institute of Directors CEO Kirsten (KP) Patterson said the past year reinforced how external shocks hit small economies.
“This year has underlined that small nations like New Zealand feel every ripple of global instability and must turn agility into our strategic advantage,” she said.
“At every board meeting, we discuss geopolitics and its impact on both capital flows and investment risks.” Mainfreight managing director Don Braid added: “A no-brainer when we operate and are exposed to the Asean, European and the Americas markets.” Morrison CEO Paul Newfield said.
Concerns about reliance on China remain widespread. A food industry chairperson said, “Concentration of business in China has been part of our discussion for a decade.” In education, one leader noted: “Given our reliance on Chinese student recruitment, we have active monitoring and diversification strategies in place.”
A grocery sector leader warned, “The impact of global uncertainty, trade and tariffs, and the current wars are causing significant impacts on the rising cost of goods for our business and our customers.” An energy chairperson added that even domestically focused firms monitor developments abroad because of customer exposure.
Directors are moving from reactive oversight to proactive risk planning, with nearly four in five boards now treating geopolitics as a standing agenda item.