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
If you believe last week’s hysterical headlines from Germany, you might think the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) is about to take power in Europe’s largest economy. The reality is more complicated. Read more
Dr Oliver Hartwich spoke on The Platform's 'Free Speech Fridays' with Sean Plunket and Mark Champion on political controversy, HRC leadership and institutional changes. The discussion covered ministerial remarks, Steven Rainbow's Holocaust memorial speech, changes to public appointments including the Waitangi Tribunal, and media coverage of Treaty principles bill submissions. Read more
“There’s always a reason to say no, but if we keep saying no, we’ll keep going nowhere.” With these words in his ‘State of the Nation’ speech last week, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon diagnosed a critical barrier to New Zealand’s economic growth: a culture of negativity and excessive caution. Only a few days later, his government provided the perfect test case for Luxon’s diagnosis. Read more
In this episode, James, Eric and Oliver critique Dame Anne Salmond's Newsroom article that characterises the proposed Regulatory Standards Bill as part of a broader neoliberal agenda to undermine democracy in New Zealand. They challenge both Salmond's immediate criticisms of the bill (which they argue misrepresents its regulatory quality focus) and her broader historical argument linking classical liberal organisations like the Mont Pelerin Society to anti-democratic movements, arguing instead that classical liberalism has historically stood against totalitarianism and for democratic values. Read more
In this episode, Oliver talks to Bryce about the Regulatory Standards Bill, which aims to prevent laws and regulations that would make New Zealanders worse off. Bryce explains that while there's currently a discussion document out for public feedback from the Ministry of Regulation, some recent criticisms misunderstand what's being suggested. Read more
Dr Oliver Hartwich was interviewed on Newstalk ZB about Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's announcement of Invest New Zealand, a new foreign investment agency modeled after Ireland's successful IDA Ireland model. He emphasised that while legislative changes could happen quickly, New Zealand needs to shift its mindset from being overly cautious about foreign investment to actively welcoming it, noting how Ireland transformed itself by embracing such investments for economic growth. Read more
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s State of the Nation speech yesterday presents a clear shift towards economic growth. While familiar aspirational rhetoric featured prominently, his initiatives deserve support. Read more
Democracy rarely dies suddenly. It often erodes slowly as previously unthinkable developments become normalised, one bit at a time. Read more
When Newsroom’s editor Jonathan Milne invited me to write one of two special pieces for the summer break, I faced quite the conundrum. My options were to review a work of non-fiction or write a column about hope and optimism for 2025. Read more
We can only hope that New Zealand’s politicians had a good break over the summer because 2025 promises to be a hell of a ride. If the government thought last year was tough, this year will be even more demanding. Read more
If one word could sum up 2024, “sobering” might be it. This week’s final economic data for the year – from Treasury’s half-year update to yesterday’s GDP numbers – reads like the opposite of a Christmas wish list. Read more
In this episode, Oliver, Eric and Michael reflect on New Zealand's key policy achievements in 2024, including education reform, housing policy changes, and foreign direct investment liberalisation, while discussing the significant economic challenges facing the country. They explore Ireland's successful foreign investment strategy, necessary reforms to address structural deficits, and New Zealand's position in international trade, ending with optimism about education improvements planned for 2025. Read more
Here is a simple business scenario: You operate ferries across Cook Strait, between New Zealand’s North and South Islands. Your vessels are ageing and need replacement. Read more
When Javier Milei was elected president of Argentina in December 2023, the world’s media competed to paint the darkest picture possible. The Guardian warned of “a victory that would undo 40 years of democracy.” The Nation warned of “Argentina’s Chainsaw Massacre.” Deutsche Welle declared Argentina would become “isolated in terms of foreign policy.” Curiously, many of these voices keep urging us to give socialism just one more chance. Read more
A crucial discussion about transforming our local government system. The New Zealand Initiative’s new research reveals why councils struggle to deliver for their communities - and more importantly, how this can be fixed. Read more