On Thursday, 4 June Minister of Education Hekia Parata will launch our new report. The report investigates a programme introduced to New Zealand primary schools 15 years ago that changed the way maths is taught, and tracks maths achievement over that time. Read more
In her previous role as Minister for Social Development, Hon Paula Bennett pioneered the investment approach in social welfare. Following National’s re-election she is pursuing an equally ambitious and innovative reform agenda in her new portfolios. Read more
Meredith Connell, together with the New Zealand Centre of International Economic Law and The New Zealand Initiative, invites you to a discussion with Gary Born. Gary Born is widely regarded as the world’s preeminent authority on international commercial arbitration and international litigation. Read more
Discussing The New Zealand Initiative’s latest publication on economic growth. We will have three Members of Parliament to join us for a thought-provoking event. Read more
Join us on Monday, 23 March, for the launch of From Red Tape to Green Gold, when research fellow Jason Krupp will outline the policy changes needed to boost mining output and bolster environmental protections. As a country with one of the highest natural capital endowments per person in the world, New Zealand is not just sitting on a gold mine, but oilfields, iron ore deposits, high grade coking coal seams, and numerous other industrial minerals. Read more
The papers are full of quantitative easing and exchange rate volatility. But there are much bigger changes underway in the Asia-Pacific economies. Read more
Our Retreat is the chance to discuss social and economic issues with members and bring those issues to the attention of New Zealand’s leading politicians. Please contact Chelsy at chelsy.blair@nzinitiative.org.nz for further information. Read more
New Zealand is in good fiscal shape and the budget on track back to surplus. However, demographic change means we cannot afford to be complacent. Read more
Nick Smith won the Tasman seat in 1990 and 1993, and following the introduction of MMP, Nelson in 1996, 1999, 2002, 2005, 2008, 2011 and 2014 despite both having a long previous history as Labour areas. In 2014, he secured exactly 20,000 votes - increasing his majority to 7,605 while National secured its highest ever party vote in Nelson with 16,904 votes. Read more
On 9 November 1989, world history was made. The fall of the Berlin Wall ended decades of German division, it brought the Cold War to an end, and it even triggered US political scientist Francis Fukuyama to proclaim “the end of history”. Read more
The Minister of Finance will outline his perspective on the outcome of the election and the agenda for the new government. About the speaker he Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance (roles he has held since 2008) and the Minister Responsible for Housing New Zealand Corporation. Read more
Come along and listen to some of New Zealand’s top university debaters battle over the moot: Commemorations of past wars are nationalistic exercises in war glorification. We'll have panellists Stephen Franks of Franks Ogilvie and Executive Director of The New Zealand Initiative Dr Oliver Hartwich. Read more
Come along and listen to some of New Zealand’s top university debaters battle it out with the moot: Should New Zealand tie MPs and Ministers' salaries to a multiple of the average national income? We will have panellists political commentator and blogger David Farrar and Jordan Williams, Executive Director of The Taxpayers' Union. Read more
Come along and listen to some of New Zealand’s top university debaters battle it out with the moot: Progressive tax rates are unfair. We will have panellists Julian Darby of Russell Investments and Roger Partridge, Chairman of The New Zealand Initiative. Read more
In recent decades, urban planners have been inventing all sorts of abstract objectives to justify their plans for our future cities: smart growth, liveability, and sustainability are among the most recent fads. There is nothing wrong, of course, for a city to be smart, liveable, or sustainable. Read more