Swings and roundabouts in transport spending
Everything in moderation. In the constantly-changing world of pop-health stories it is hard to know whether that axiom remains good health advice. Read more
4 September, 2017
The Outside of the Asylum: A New Zealander’s guide to the world out there
Chief Economist Dr Eric Crampton’s essay, The Outside of the Asylum is a lighthearted take and it makes a serious point. Regardless of election year shenanigans, New Zealand gets a lot of things right that other countries screw up. Read more
Dr Eric Crampton
2 September, 2017
Media release: We don't know how lucky we are in this country
This year’s election campaign has been just a little bit crazy. But New Zealand remains the world’s last sane place, says The New Zealand Initiative. Read more
2 September, 2017
Economically Speaking: It's about greater productivity - Stupid
Imagine if no one had to pay for anything. Wouldn’t that be nice? Read more
Dr Bryce Wilkinson ONZM
1 September, 2017
Acta non verba*
Quidquid agis prudenter agas et respice finem. Whatever you do, do it wisely and consider the end, a famous Latin proverb reminds us. Read more
Dr Oliver Hartwich
1 September, 2017
What is wrong with our regulatory institutions?
To get the right answers you have to ask the right questions. If you do not, chances are you will not discover everything you need to know. Read more
Roger Partridge
1 September, 2017
Destroying the bicycle books
The thing I miss least about being in academia is the administration. I don’t mean faculty governance – it is important that academics be involved in that lest everything be taken over by the administrators. Read more
Dr Eric Crampton
1 September, 2017
Media release: North Island to share its views on the future of recreational fishing
What does the future hold for recreational fishing? That is the central question that will be asked at a series of upcoming public meetings in the North Island, hosted by The New Zealand Initiative. Read more
1 September, 2017
National is literally paying people to make babies
You read it here first folks: we are one election bribe away from paying couples to procreate. Forget what you might have heard about personal responsibility and that you shouldn't have children you can't afford. Read more
30 August, 2017
Next Generation Debates 2017 Wellington Grand Final
The Next Generation Debates are organised by the New Zealand Initiative and supported by the Friedlander Foundation. This annual national debating tournament is designed to encourage young people to think and talk about some of the important public policy issues facing New Zealand. Read more
30 August, 2017
Video: Hopes for the future of New Zealand's recreational fishing
In this short video, Sir Mark Solomon, Chris McKenzie, Geoff Rowling, Margaret Wind and the Initiative's Dr Randall Bess discuss their hopes for the future of New Zealand's fishing experience and how we can learn from Western Australia - who have turned their recreational fisheries around. For more information on our Fisheries Project, and The Future of Recreational Fishing public meetings happening around the country in August and September, click here. Read more
28 August, 2017
Economically speaking: Cursed policy wishes
Our executive director at the New Zealand Initiative, Oliver Hartwich, has always had a strange antique monkey’s paw on his desk. I never thought much of it – perhaps a bit creepy but maybe it’s normal for Germans. Read more
Dr Eric Crampton
25 August, 2017
NCEA: A question of trust
Last time you booked a hotel or restaurant, you may well have checked it out on TripAdvisor first. Whatever your price bracket, if a place was rated below about a three out of five, then the chances are you’ll have discounted it. Read more
Briar Lipson
25 August, 2017
Smashed avocados
Nearly a decade ago, I first encountered millennials’ strange fascination with avocados. A younger colleague in Sydney often prepared her office lunch with fresh avocado, spread thick across a slice of bread. Read more
Dr Oliver Hartwich
25 August, 2017
Two RONS don’t make a right
A hard task for government is getting the books in order after a recession. A harder task is choosing how best to distribute tax revenue once stability is restored. Read more
25 August, 2017