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
A new broom sweeps clean. For Chris Hipkins, New Zealand’s new Prime Minister, this saying could not be more apt. Read more
Considering Chris Hipkins’ reputation as a policy wonk, this week’s ‘bonfire of policies’ is quite remarkable. Commentators have interpreted the Prime Minister’s clean-up as a dumping of unpopular policies ahead of the election. Read more
In this week's podcast we are diving into the much-anticipated policy shift announced by the country's new Prime Minister. The speculation has been building for months, with many wondering what policies will be scrapped and which ones will remain. Read more
A lift in the minimum wage is set to have a domino effect. The Government has announced the minimum wage will rise by $1.50 to $22.70 from April. Read more
It is hard enough to understand the Germans in the best of times. Yet, in these times of crisis and war, even a native speaker may find it difficult to comprehend them. Read more
FIRST PUBLISHED OCT 31, 2022 Updated Jan 19, 2023 It is tempting to look at the usual economic indicators when evaluating a government’s performance at the end of a Prime Minister’s run ... employment, growth, inflation, and maybe the exchange rate. Read more
In May 1945, Prime Minister Winston Churchill led Britain to victory. He was celebrated as a hero, but only two months later, the Brits elected a new Parliament and a new Prime Minister, Clement Attlee. Read more
As the year comes to a close, it is natural to reflect on both the good and the bad of the past twelve months. This year has been tough, with wars, inflation, and the fallout from the pandemic. Read more
The first principle of medicine is “do no harm”. It should be the first principle of economic policy too, especially heading into an election year. Read more
Mike Hosking discusses Oliver Hartwich's The Australian column about the transparency, honesty, and openness of New Zealand's government. Read more
Jacinda Ardern is under fire for refusing to be held accountable on multiple controversies. Recent polling has showed a significant drop in support for New Zealand’s left-wing Prime Minister. Read more
In 2017, when Jacinda Ardern became New Zealand’s Prime Minister, she set out to transform policy-making. Her administration was meant to be the most open, honest, and transparent in history. Read more
At the risk of losing a few readers in this first paragraph, let’s start with a quote by a lawyer. To make it worse: by a German judge. Read more
Oliver Hartwich joins Matthew Hooton and Damien Grant on The Working Groups Weekly Political Podcast hosted by Martyn Bradbury.
They discuss a range of issues including:
Issue 1 – New Zealand's manufactured recession
Issue 2 – The tough on crime rhetoric
Issue 3 – Three Waters entrenchment
Issue 4 – National to leave top tax rate
Read more
There are years in which little happens. Then there are years in which everything seems to happen at once. Read more