Oliver is the Executive Director of The New Zealand Initiative. Before joining the Initiative, he was a Research Fellow at the Centre for Independent Studies in Sydney, the Chief Economist at the Policy Exchange in London, and an advisor in the UK House of Lords.
Oliver holds a master's degree in economics and business administration and a PhD in Law from Bochum University in Germany.
Oliver is available to comment on all of the Initiative’s research areas.
Phone: +64 4 499 0790
From my native Germany to my adopted home of New Zealand, I have observed a curious phenomenon in modern politics: political leaders who enjoy far greater esteem internationally than they do closer to home. Jacinda Ardern was one such politician. Read more
Last week, French Prime Minister Michel Barnier faced parliament defiantly. Despite lacking a majority, he tried to push through controversial reforms using Article 49.3 of the Constitution – a mechanism allowing the government to bypass parliamentary votes. Read more
In this episode, Oliver and Nick discuss the fundamental problems with New Zealand's local government system, particularly how elected officials often lack real power while unelected bureaucrats and chief executives wield excessive influence. Nick's new report "Making Local Government Work" proposes five potential solutions, ranging from implementing a German-style "Super Mayor" model to giving councillors more oversight powers, with some reforms likely achievable under the current Government. Read more
Last night, 850 of New Zealand’s business leaders gathered at Auckland’s Viaduct Events Centre for the 35th Deloitte Top 200 Awards. The Awards are New Zealand’s premier celebration of corporate excellence. Read more
At this year's Deloitte Top 200 awards, Dr Oliver Hartwich received the special Judges' Award for his outstanding contributions to public policy and thought leadership in New Zealand. Watch him receive the award in the video below. Read more
Last week, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand cut the Official Cash Rate by 50 basis points to 4.25 percent. In contrast, the RBA kept Australia’s cash rate on hold at its last meeting. Read more
New Zealand is building its way out of its housing crisis. A few years ago, the island nation was synonymous with unaffordability. Read more
Angela Merkel is “fundamentally an optimist”, she tells Der Spiegel magazine in her first major interview since leaving office. One wonders why. Read more
For decades, Australian advocates for indigenous reconciliation have pointed to New Zealand’s Treaty of Waitangi as a model. Where Australia lacks a foundational agreement with its First Nations peoples, New Zealand has had one since 1840. Read more
One really ought to seek professional help for following German politics from Wellington. Like all addicts, I have a splendid rationalisation: My fortnightly column on European affairs for Newsroom requires me to stay informed about German politics. Read more
Dr Oliver Hartwich spoke to Paul Brennan on Reality Check Radio about New Zealand's dysfunctional local government system, where elected officials are often powerless against entrenched bureaucracies. He proposed adopting reforms similar to those implemented in Germany's North Rhine-Westphalia region in the 1990s, where they created an "executive mayor" position that combined the roles of mayor and chief executive, leading to more effective local governance. Read more
It all began with a selfie. Four beaming politicians captured their own optimism in the late German autumn of 2021. Read more
In this episode, marking the eve of the Berlin Wall's anniversary, New Zealand filmmaker Tony Forster joins Oliver Hartwich to share his powerful experience of witnessing its fall on November 9, 1989. He reflects on the stark contrasts between East and West Berlin at that time and how this pivotal moment reshaped his personal outlook, deepening his belief in social responsibility and the importance of emotional expression. Read more
When New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters met his Indian counterpart Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar in Australia this week, some New Zealand journalists were puzzled. Why would bilateral talks happen in a third country? Read more
In his victory speech, Donald Trump promised Americans a new “golden age”. While he had the numbers to win the election, the economic realities he faces will make delivering on his promise challenging. Read more