Why the transtasman income gap is larger than it appears 26 Feb, 2021 05:00 AM 13 minutes to read The transtasman income gap is larger than it appears. Photo / Getty Images The transtasman income gap is larger than it appears because not only do we earn less, but also we get less value for our money. What's the answer? By Professor Tim Hazledine. I teach economics at the University of Auckland. One day in late May 2009, near the nadir of the global financial crisis (GFC), I was asked to go on the student radio station to talk. "I'll bet things must be pretty frantic in your shop right now, Prof," said the interviewer, "dealing with the economic crisis in New Zealand and all."