New Zealand faces a significant challenge: building essential smaller scale infrastructure assets like schools, medical facilities and social housing. These initiatives may not be as grand as the likes of City Rail Link and other mega-projects, but they are equally (if not more) vital for our communities. Read more
Michael Laws talks to Dr Oliver Hartwich on The Platform about the implications of climate change litigation for New Zealand. Watch below
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Never lead the Titans to revolt against the Olympian gods. It can cause a bit of back pain. Read more
On Newstalk ZB, Mike Hosking discusses Dr Eric Crampton's latest column in Newsroom about the Fair Digital Use Bargaining Bill. Listen below. Read more
Oliver talks to Professor Francis Greene from the University of Edinburgh Business School about entrepreneurship. They have a fascinating conversation about entrepreneurship as an idea, as a function and as a part of economics. Read more
‘Hard cases make bad law’ is a common legal adage. It means the more worthy a cause, the more tempting it will be for a court to stretch the law to make it fit. Read more
The World Justice Project ranks New Zealand 7th out of 142 countries on its ‘Rule of Law Index’, narrowly ahead of Australia’s 13th place. However, Australia still has hope – if only because of a recent decision by the Supreme Court of New Zealand. Read more
Kerre Woodham talks about the Retirement Commissioner's report and NZ Super on Newstalk ZB and mentions The New Zealand Initiative. Listen below. Read more
Sean Plunket talks to Dr Eric Crampton about his latest Newsroom article about the potential consequences of NZ's Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill. Watch below. Read more
John MacDonald raises the topic of NZ Super on Newstalk ZB and talks about Dr Eric Crampton's opinion on it. Listen below. Read more
The classic Simpsons “Monorail” episode wasn’t just a cautionary tale about local council megaprojects gone wrong. Monorail salesman Lyle Lanley told the good people of Springfield that he’d “sold monorails to Brockway, Ogdenville, and North Haverbrook. Read more
It might still be a longshot. But an interesting thread ran through this year’s Waitangi speeches and interviews. Read more
This week, Eric talks to Marko Garlick and Eleanor West, formerly of Generation Zero and now co-ordinating City for People, about the Independent Hearing Panel's process and review of Wellington’s District Plan. They also discuss the research on housing affordability and zoning, and how Houston has avoided letting local objections block wider development. Read more
Last Friday, Treasury “pro-actively” published its November 2023 Briefings for the Incoming Government. One was on the economic and fiscal context. Read more
In a welcome development, Winston Peters and Judith Collins flew to Australia last week to discuss joint foreign policy concerns. The purpose of their trip was to meet with their Australian foreign and defence minister counterparts. Read more