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

Newstalk ZB: Nick Clark's insights on AI in local government

Nick Clark was mentioned on Newstalk ZB's news segment discussing his latest research on AI's potential for local government. The segment highlighted Clark's insights on how AI could assist councillors by helping them analyse reports, identify key points, and flag inconsistencies, while emphasising that the technology would enhance rather than replace human judgement. Read more

Newstalk ZB
12 June, 2025

Podcast: Empowering local government through AI

In this episode, Oliver talks to Nick Clark about how artificial intelligence could help local government councillors make better decisions. They discuss how AI tools can help councillors understand complex reports, identify key issues, and formulate intelligent questions, ultimately empowering elected representatives who are often overwhelmed by technical information outside their expertise. Read more

Dr Oliver Hartwich
22 May, 2025
Screenshot 2025 04 24 143807

Submission: Land Transport Management (Time-of-Use Charging) Amendment Bill

1. INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY 1.1 This submission on the Land Transport Management (Time-of-Use Charging) Amendment Bill is made by The New Zealand Initiative (the Initiative), a Wellington-based think tank supported primarily by major New Zealand businesses. Read more

Dr Eric Crampton
Submission
24 April, 2025

Podcast: Rethinking NZ's three-year parliamentary cycle

In this episode, Oliver talks to Nick about his submission regarding New Zealand's proposed parliamentary term extension from three to four years. Nick supports the concept of longer terms but criticises the current proposal's complicated conditional approach, arguing instead for a straightforward extension that should also apply to local government. Read more

Dr Oliver Hartwich
24 April, 2025

Four more years?

Imagine asking a CEO to transform a struggling company but giving them just enough time to redecorate the office before facing shareholders again. This is essentially what we do with our three-year parliamentary terms. The Government's introduction of a Bill enabling a four-year term is a once in a generation opportunity for change. Read more

Insights Newsletter
28 March, 2025
2025 02 11 Submission with outline

Submission: Resource Management (Consents and Other System Changes) Amendment Bill

1. INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY 1.1 This submission on the Resource Management (Consents and Other Systems Changes) Amendment Bill is made by The New Zealand Initiative (the Initiative), a Wellington-based think tank supported primarily by major New Zealand businesses. Read more

Dr Eric Crampton
10 February, 2025

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