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 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
his week, the Government unveiled its blueprint to replace the Resource Management Act. This is not just another policy tweak – it is a game-changer for New Zealand’s economy. Read more
1. INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY 1.1 This submission on Question 12 of the Inland Revenue issues paper Taxation and the not-for-profit sector is made by The New Zealand Initiative (the Initiative), a Wellington-based think tank supported primarily by major New Zealand businesses. Read more
Almost two decades ago, I published my first journalistic article. It was a short piece on the nature of money, inspired by Roland Baader, a German economist and student of Nobel laureate Friedrich Hayek. Read more
Last week, I had the opportunity to interview Michael Pezzullo, former Secretary of the Australian Department of Home Affairs, for The New Zealand Initiative’s podcast. Pezzullo gave a stark assessment of the security challenges facing Australia and New Zealand in the Indo-Pacific region. Read more
This webinar discusses policy initiatives to strengthen vocational education pathways in New Zealand. Drawing inspiration from Germany's successful dual-training model, Josh Williams and Dr Michael Johnston discuss initiatives in secondary and tertiary education to enhance the status and quality of trades and industry training. Read more
Donald Trump’s February call with Vladimir Putin over Ukraine’s future marked the end of the post-war order. His promised visit to Moscow and Putin’s planned trip to Washington herald a new era of raw power politics. Read more
In this episode, Oliver Hartwich interviews Michael about his new research report "Trade Routes," which examines how New Zealand can improve its apprenticeship system by adopting elements of Germany's dual education model. They discuss the stark contrast between Germany's highly respected apprenticeship system (with 50% participation) and New Zealand's underdeveloped approach (with just 6% participation), along with Michael's practical recommendations for creating clearer pathways from secondary school to industry training. Read more
Geopolitics offers no shortage of distractions. Ukraine peace negotiations lurch forward then stall. Read more
In this episode, Oliver Hartwich and former Australian Department of Home Affairs Secretary Michael Pezzullo discuss growing regional security threats, with Pezzullo warning of a 10-20% chance of conflict with China while advocating for an integrated ANZAC military force. Pezzullo argues that New Zealand should reconsider its anti-nuclear stance to join AUKUS as a full partner, increase its defence spending beyond the current 1.2% of GDP, and recognise that "if Australia goes down, New Zealand is next" - emphasising that both countries need a unified approach to territorial defence in an increasingly unstable Indo-Pacific region. Read more
Wellington (Thursday, 13 March 2025) - The New Zealand Initiative will release a revealing podcast tomorrow featuring Michael Pezzullo, former Secretary of the Australian Department of Home Affairs, who makes a stark call for an integrated Australia-New Zealand military force to counter rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific region. In the wide-ranging interview with The New Zealand Initiative's Executive Director Dr Oliver Hartwich, Pezzullo makes several newsworthy statements, including: Calling for New Zealand to commit to Australia's defence through an "integrated ANZAC force" with combined command structures and joint units specifically for territorial defence Suggesting New Zealand reconsider its anti-nuclear stance to join the AUKUS security pact as a full partner Warning of a "10 to 20 percent chance" of conflict with China, which he describes as high enough that both countries should make serious preparations "The defence of New Zealand actually starts at the outer edge of the Australian territorial sphere," Pezzullo states in the interview. Read more
“On April 2nd, reciprocal tariffs kick in,” declared President Donald Trump in his recent address to Congress. With these words, he signalled not merely a policy shift but the end of globalisation as we have known it. Read more
If you read this as we send out this newsletter, we are just preparing to meet with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation visiting Wellington for their biennial Article IV consultation. The IMF conducts these comprehensive economic assessments of its member countries every two years. Read more
In this episode, Oliver interviews Jemma Stevenson, a new economist at The New Zealand Initiative, about her background and current research on government inefficiency. Jemma is working on a sequel to the Initiative's research on "Cabinet Congestion," examining whether New Zealand's complex government structure of 81 portfolios and 28 ministers leads to increased spending compared to more streamlined systems like Norway's. Read more
Dr Oliver Hartwich was featured in Newstalk ZB's news segments on Adrian Orr's resignation as Governor of RBNZ. Listen below. Read more
This is a fascinating journey into the art of learning with Professor Barbara Oakley, the brilliant mind behind the popular online course "Learning How to Learn" and New York Times bestselling author, as she joins us as our new Senior Fellow. Over the next 5 months, Barbara will embark on an exciting mission across New Zealand, collaborating directly with Primary and Secondary schools to transform how teachers approach education, particularly in mathematics. Read more
