Two months ago, the world witnessed something of a horror, well, at least in my mind: The moment the Donald Trump became the new leader of the free world. When I contemplate on the moments before and after that day, I can’t help but think of Shakespeare’s quip: “Though this be madness, yet there is method in’t”. Read more
Manifesto 20217: What the next New Zealand government should do, spells out what The New Zealand Initiative expects the next government to tackle after the 2017 General Election. It is immaterial to us which parties form the government. Read more
Wellington (3 April 2017): Election years should be times in which the country debates policies and decides on its future. But to make this happen, voters need to be informed about the challenges New Zealand faces – and the choices we have. Read more
The New Zealand Initiative's Executive Director Dr Oliver Hartwich discusses Manifesto 2017, the housing crisis and education on The AM Show.
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Sometimes it is possible to want something too much. It can cloud your judgment and lead to decisions you will later regret. Read more
A few years ago, British schools got worried about their bad students. Not so much about the fact they were not learning enough. Read more
Last week a joint Labour/Green statement proposed a fiscal agency to keep a Labour/Green coalition government honest. Now where would they get a crazy idea like that? Read more
Economist Alex Tabarrok says prices are a signal wrapped in an incentive. Prices tell us about relative scarcity and provide an incentive to conserve on scarce things. Read more
Wellington (29 March 2017): The Productivity Commission’s latest report underscores the importance of a fit-for-purpose planning system, and just how far the current arrangements are from this ideal state, says The New Zealand Initiative. The Better Urban Planning report details how the current planning framework, principally the Resource Management Act 1991, has failed to achieve the economic flexibility and environmental protections it set out to achieve. Read more
Wellington (29 March 2017): Today’s announcement that the Government proposes to legalise nicotine e-cigarettes is welcomed by The New Zealand Initiative. The Initiative’s research into e-cigarettes has found that some public health studies were not only making false scientific claims, but were doing more harm than good by discouraging smokers to make the switch to a less harmful product. Read more
Water, water, everywhere – or so it has seemed. In the past few weeks we have had a deluge of controversies over water. Read more
Before she became British Prime Minister, Theresa May announced that “Brexit means Brexit.” Ever since, we have been wondering what she meant. It is now nine months after the Brexit referendum. Read more
Einstein once said that we cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them. The thinking behind the management of New Zealand’s recreational fisheries is a case in point. Read more
I’m a fan of classic episodes of The Simpsons. In Cape Feare, Sideshow Bob sneaks a ride under the Simpsons’ car, with murderous intent. Read more