The Platform: Dr Oliver Hartwich on why paying Kiwis to have babies is unlikely to work
Dr Oliver Hartwich
4 August, 2026
Dr Oliver Hartwich talked to Leah Panapa on The Platform about New Zealand's falling fertility rate and NZ First's proposal to pay families $15,000 for each child.
Dr Hartwich argued that baby bonuses overseas have mostly been windfall payments for parents who wanted children anyway, and that making housing more affordable would do far more to help Kiwis start bigger families. Watch below.