constitution

This is fairly important

Voltaire wrote that one great use of words is to hide our thoughts. I remembered this when Grant Robertson said the tax working group would improve “fairness” in the tax system. Read more

Richard Baker
Insights Newsletter
1 December, 2017
Rec fishing

Future of recreational fisheries

Increasingly, we are hearing recreational fishers are frustrated about the depletion of some fisheries compared with what they experienced in the past. Also, tensions and conflicts between recreational, commercial and customary fishers are intensifying as they compete for limited fisheries resources. Read more

Dr Randall Bess
Insights Newsletter
1 December, 2017
ParliamentBeehive

Labour should not ditch National's welfare measure

Imagine if the Government only saw us as dollar signs, where every government service we use increases that number and the taxes we pay reduce it. And the Government's only responsibility was to decrease those dollar signs looming over our heads. Read more

NZ Herald
29 November, 2017

Media release: Government must address the cycle of disadvantage

Wellington (28 November 2017): New Zealand’s welfare state must get much better at helping people to realise their potential to lead meaningful and fulfilling lives. That is the key message in the report Welfare, Work and Wellbeing: From Benefits to Better Lives released today by The New Zealand Initiative. Read more

Media release
28 November, 2017
hobo 315962 640

'Cycle of disadvantage' blamed for high numbers claiming benefits

Mike Hosking interviews Bryce Wilkinson about his new report 'Welfare, Work and Wellbeing: From Benefits to Better Lives.' The report shows 10 per cent of our working age population are on a main welfare benefit, compared with just two per cent in the 1970's. Bryce Wilkinson explains it is definitely associated with a big growth in sole parent families. Read more

Dr Bryce Wilkinson ONZM
Mike Hosking Breakfast - Newstalk ZB
28 November, 2017
wineglass

Kiwis optimistic about 2018

A new survey shows New Zealanders are very optimistic about 2018. The Roy Morgan survey shows 53% of New Zealanders think it will be better than 2017 and that compares with Australia where just 31% think next year will be be an improvement on this one. Read more

Dr Eric Crampton
Sunday Morning Radio New Zealand
26 November, 2017
Political drama

Political amateur dramatics - a UK perspective

So far in this Parliament, our fresh-faced new ministers have succumbed to a bit of over-exuberance on GST reform, some misguided Vietnamese-whispers, and some contorting parliamentary questions. But if political amateur dramatics is what you are after there has been little to see here, despite our government’s relative inexperience. Read more

Briar Lipson
Insights Newsletter
24 November, 2017

Surge in NZTA staff earning over $100k

Research Fellow Sam Warburton joins Guyon Espiner on Morning Report to discuss the dramatic increase in staff earning over $100,000 at the NZTA. In the 2015/16 financial year the number of people at NZTA earning more that figure increased from 418 to 555 people. Read more

Radio New Zealand
22 November, 2017

Six-figure salaries balloon at Transport Agency

Six-figure salaries at the New Zealand Transport Agency have increased by a third. Our Research Fellow, Sam Warburton, talks to John Campbell about why there needs to be greater transparency about these decisions. Read more

Radio New Zealand Checkpoint
21 November, 2017

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