Zombie Towns: Everything I Missed

Economist Shamubeel Eaqub re-evaluates his 2014 "zombie town" thesis, which predicted the irreversible decline of provincial New Zealand. The 1984 Rogernomics reforms, characterized by the removal of agricultural subsidies and market protections, triggered widespread economic trauma, forcing many rural communities into stagnation as young people migrated to cities. Despite these historical hardships, towns like Whanganui and Balclutha are now experiencing unexpected growth, prompting a shift in Eaqub’s perspective. By interviewing residents and local leaders, the investigation uncovers how these communities survived the initial shock of neoliberal restructuring and adapted to modern economic realities. This inquiry highlights the uneven distribution of prosperity following decades of free-market policies and explores the factors enabling some provincial centers to rise from the grave while others continue to struggle.