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They seem unable to help themselves. And it’s probably our fault. Read more
Dr Oliver Hartwich debated Robert MacCulloch on The Platform over claims that the New Zealand Initiative has "captured" the National government and is controlling fiscal policy. Dr Hartwich defended the Initiative, stating they have minimal contact with government ministers and would have pursued different policies if they truly had influence, particularly opposing last year's tax cuts in favour of budget consolidation and deficit reduction. Read more
Dr Eric Crampton told Kerre Woodham on Newstalk ZB that New Zealand’s 0.9% economic contraction reflects the Reserve Bank “going incredibly overboard” in 2020–21 and losing credibility on inflation, making today’s correction unavoidable. He criticised government claims of restraint, noting budgets remain “incredibly stimulatory” with “massive structural deficits,” and argued that if spending had returned to 2019 wellbeing-budget levels, the Bank would have had far more room to cut interest rates. Read more
Imagine that your family spent twice as much as it earned last month. Around the kitchen table the mood would be grim and the bank’s patience likely wearing thin. Read more
Wellington (Tuesday, 16 September 2025) – The New Zealand Initiative welcomes the Government’s decision to strengthen the governance of the Commerce Commission, describing it as an important step towards world-class regulatory practice. The Initiative’s 2018 report Who Guards the Guards? Read more
In this episode, Eric and Nick talk to Michael (Mick) Keen, a former Deputy Director of the IMF's Fiscal Affairs Department and co-author of "Rebellion, Rascals and Revenue", about the many ways taxation can go wrong throughout history. They explore bizarre historical taxes like Britain's window tax and ship taxation, discuss New Zealand's exemplary GST system, and examine how poor tax design can lead to smuggling, rebellions, and unintended economic distortions. Read more
More than half of New Zealanders think the country is going in the wrong direction. Trust in Parliament, the courts and the Reserve Bank has fallen sharply since 2021. Read more
Every day, New Zealand workers clock longer hours than their peers in most developed nations yet produce far less value per hour worked. This productivity paradox has haunted our economy for decades, condemning workers to lower wages and longer working days. Read more
The United Nations Environmental Programme’s latest Emissions Gap Report was called “No more hot air … please!” Yesterday, I joined a panel at the Climate Change & Business Conference to talk about New Zealand’s Nationally Determined Contribution – our NDC. Under the Paris Agreement, countries must produce targets for emission reductions, set policies consistent with their targets, and report on their progress. Read more
In November 2023, National, Act, and New Zealand First announced the coalition agreements that formed their government. One item stood out, at least for me. Read more