Think Big

The Think Big schemes saw the government borrow heavily overseas, running up a large external deficit, and using the funds for large-scale industrial projects.

Petrochemical and energy related projects figured prominently, designed to utilise New Zealand's abundant natural gas to produce ammonia, urea fertiliser, methanol and petrol.

Muldoon's administration intended the Think Big projects to reduce New Zealand's reliance on imports, especially oil, and thus improve the balance of payments.

Declining oil prices rendered this process uneconomic and saw a reduction in the production of synthetic fuel; however, the industry still remained at large due to prior investment.

The construction of the Clyde Dam on the Clutha River formed part of a scheme to generate electricity for the national grid.

Richard Prebble said to the Labour Cabinet during the Māori loan affair: "Better to talk about the $7 billion that was borrowed (by Muldoon for Think Big) than about the $600 million that wasn’t.

The Clyde Dam , a "Think Big" project.
An electric EF class locomotive on the electrified section of the NIMT .
New Zealand money supply and inflation
M3 money supply increases
Housing inflation
Consumer price index