Nick Clark Website v2

Nick Clark

Senior Fellow, Economics and Advocacy

Nick is a Senior Fellow at The New Zealand Initiative, focusing on local government, resource management, and economic policy.

Nick brings 30 years of policy and advocacy experience both inside and outside government. He joins us after 19 years at Federated Farmers, as the National Policy Manager. Nick managed a team of policy advisors, and led work on economic policy, including fiscal, tax, monetary, banking, competition, and overseas investment policies.

He also worked extensively on local government policy issues and has been the administrator of the Local Government Business Forum, a grouping of national business organisations interested in local government policy issues.

Email: nick.clark@nzinitiative.org.nz

Recent Work

Ryan Bridge

Newstalk ZB: Nick Clark on empowering mayors and localising councils

Nick Clark talked to Ryan Bridge on Newstalk ZB about improving local government voter turnout and council effectiveness. He argued that smaller, more localised councils with stronger mayoral powers and better accountability mechanisms could increase engagement, pointing to Switzerland's model of thousands of local government units as a potential alternative to New Zealand's consolidation approach. Read more

Ryan Bridge
Newstalk ZB
13 October, 2025
IMG 2224

Q+A with Jack Tame: Nick Clark on record-low local election turnout and the need for council reform

Nick Clark talked to Jack Tame on Q+A about the record-low voter turnout in local elections, arguing councils need stronger mayors, better funding tools, and freedom from central government interference to restore public engagement. He advocated for incentive-based funding mechanisms like GST sharing on building consents while expressing concerns about the government's proposed rates capping, warning it could lead to infrastructure deficits and higher debt. Read more

Jack Tame and Penny Hulse
TVNZ
12 October, 2025

Podcast: When tax policy goes wrong

In this episode, Eric and Nick talk to Michael (Mick) Keen, a former Deputy Director of the IMF's Fiscal Affairs Department and co-author of "Rebellion, Rascals and Revenue", about the many ways taxation can go wrong throughout history. They explore bizarre historical taxes like Britain's window tax and ship taxation, discuss New Zealand's exemplary GST system, and examine how poor tax design can lead to smuggling, rebellions, and unintended economic distortions. Read more

Dr Eric Crampton
Michael (Mick) Keen
15 September, 2025

Media release (Local Government Business Forum): Business groups call for binding referendums on major council spending

The Local Government Business Forum has today released a report calling for binding referendums on major council spending projects, giving ratepayers a way of saying yes to projects that they support. “Council rates increased an average of 12% last year and are estimated to rise another 9% this year. Read more

Dr Eric Crampton
Insights Newsletter
11 September, 2025
IMG 2164 v2

Two months to ask if kids can feed lambs?

Woolly-headed regulations about farm kids feeding small animals, collecting eggs, and watering plants are up for review, but not before two months of chewing the cud. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment is holding a targeted consultation on agricultural health and safety, including whether little Johnny can safely help Mum with light chores on the farm. Read more

Insights Newsletter
1 August, 2025
2025 07 24 OIA

Submission: Overseas Investment (National Interest Test and Other Matters) Amendment Bill

1. INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY CONCLUSION 1.1 This submission on the Overseas Investment (National Interest Test and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2025 is made by The New Zealand Initiative (the Initiative), a Wellington-based think tank supported primarily by major New Zealand businesses. Read more

Dr Bryce Wilkinson ONZM
Submission
23 July, 2025

Stay in the loop: Subscribe to updates