Benno is a Research Fellow at The New Zealand Initiative with a wide range of policy interests. He has worked on several ‘once in a lifetime’, ‘generational opportunity’ type reform programs across central and local government, covering the Urban Growth Agenda, the Infrastructure Funding and Financing Act 2020, Three Waters reform, Resource Management reform, and Science, Innovation and Technology system reform.
Benno’s interest in policy was born after initially studying religion (BAHon), philosophy (MA) and psychology (GradDipSci) with a focus on consciousness, which culminated in a PhD from Victoria University of Wellington.
His subsequent policy career traced the problem definition of housing unaffordability to its roots, covering positions at The Treasury (urban planning and land markets), The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (infrastructure funding and financing) and Local Government New Zealand (three waters and constitutional underpinnings of alternative urban planning paradigms).
Most recently, he worked on how science, innovation and technology system reform could contribute to our global economic competitiveness and help turn around New Zealand’s long lasting productivity challenge.
Wellington (Thursday, 29 May 2025) – The government has viewed stronger retail grocery competition as a national priority. But zoning, consenting, and overseas investment approval processes make new entry far too difficult. Read more
The government is impatient for change in grocery retail. Minister Willis put supermarkets on notice that they may even be broken up if they do not put forward acceptable proposals. Read more
You’ve got to admire MBIE. Really. Read more
A drunkard searches for keys under a street lamp. When asked if he lost them there, he replies: "No, but the light is better here." Economists can also seek solutions to poverty, inequality and social problems in familiar places. Read more
In this episode, Oliver Hartwich interviews the New Zealand Initiative's newest recruit, Benno Blaschke, exploring his extraordinary journey from his Austrian upbringing to becoming passionate about urban economics and housing affordability in New Zealand. They discuss Benno's unique background spanning contemplative practice, academic study, and public service roles before joining the Initiative to contribute to solving housing challenges through economic frameworks rather than continuing in the bureaucracy. Read more
