Our Executive Director, Dr Oliver Hartwich, talks to Radio New Zealand about maths in schools, and our recent research which found that one in three New Zealand primary school teachers could not add simple fractions. Read more
Our Head of Research, Dr Eric Crampton, appeared on Radio New Zealand to talk about the housing crisis and what steps should be taken to relive pressure on the housing market. Read more
Wellington (20 June 2016): The New Zealand Initiative has welcomed the launch of LGNZ’s Excellence Programme, saying the introduction of a local government performance benchmark was overdue. The programme aims to independently rate participating councils on four criteria, using a simple ranking system. Read more
Our Executive Director, Dr Oliver Hartwich, talks to ABC Radio about the possibility of the UK voting to leave the European Union, following news that German government bond yields have turned into negative territory. Investors are now paying the German government to hold their money, fearing that the UK will opt for Brexit. Read more
Our Head of Research, Dr Eric Crampton, talks to Radio New Zealand about how e-cigarettes could be used as a smoking cessation device for smokers who are looking to quit the habit. Read more
Our Executive Director, Dr Oliver Hartwich, joins Paul Henry to discuss the Government's announced Housing Policy Statement. Read more
Wellington (2 June 2016): The government’s draft national policy statement (NPS) on urban development, while a step in the right direction, will not fix Auckland’s housing crisis because it ignores infrastructure, according to The New Zealand Initiative. Building and Housing Minister Nick Smith today launched draft policy guidance under the Resource Management Act, which looks to force councils to zone more land for development when house prices breach a certain affordability threshold. Read more
Our Head of Research, Dr Eric Crampton, talks to Radio New Zealand about the housing crisis, and why Auckland Council needs to release more land for development. Read more
Our Research Fellow, Jason Krupp, discussed with Paul Henry the proposals from across the political spectrum to scrap Auckland's urban boundary in order to take pressure off high land prices. CLICK HERE to watch the video. Read more
Wellington (19 May 2016): Wellington’s historic buildings help make Wellington a wonderful city. But they also pose a deadly threat in case of an earthquake. Read more
Wellington (18 May 2016): The New Zealand Initiative has welcomed calls to scrap Auckland’s urban growth boundary, saying the evidence unambiguously shows that these sorts of policies artificially push the costs of housing up. This comes after Labour Housing Spokesman Phil Twyford today said his party would abolish Auckland’s city limits should it be voted into government. Read more
Wellington (12 May 2016): If the Government is committed to the goal of having a smoke-free New Zealand by 2025, a thorough debate about the regulations of e-cigarettes needs to be held, says The New Zealand Initiative. The Health of the State report, released by The New Zealand Initiative in April, looks at public health and lifestyle regulations. Read more
Our Executive Director, Dr Oliver Hartwich, talks to Guyon Espiner on Radio New Zealand about whether or not proposed taxes on sugar would be effective. Read more