The New Zealand Initiative: Recent Episodes
The New Zealand Initiative
In this episode, Oliver talks with Dr Sarah Irving-Stonebraker, associate professor of history at the Australian Catholic University, about why the West has largely lost the ability to think meaningfully about its own past. She calls this the ahistoric age and argues that the statues we topple and the national days we fight over are evidence of it rather than signs of real engagement with history.
In this episode, Oliver talks with John Howard, senior fellow at the New Zealand Initiative, about why he sees no negotiated settlement over Iran in the next 30 to 60 days, and what prolonged disruption in the Strait of Hormuz exposes about New Zealand's fuel and fertiliser supply.They also ask whether the increase in defence spending from 1.1 to 2 per cent of GDP is being converted into actual hardware and personnel, and assess Defence Minister Chris Penk's opening months in the job, including his $300 million announcement on attack drones.
In this episode, Michael talks with Dr Helen Walls, who served on the ministerial advisory group on literacy and numeracy. Helen is generally supportive of New Zealand's primary literacy reforms but warns that pre-planned programmes, overuse of decodable books, slideshow-led lessons and pedantic grammar teaching can crowd out meaningful reading and writing. She argues that handwriting and knowledge-rich teaching will do most to narrow the educational gap between richer and poorer children.
In this episode, Eric talks with Adam Jarvis, an Emergent Ventures fellow, about what happened when Anthropic held back the public release of its most powerful AI model, Mythos, and the US government then effectively banned non-US citizens from using the version it released instead, Fable. Adam argues that New Zealand is unusually well placed to host hyperscaler data centres, and that the binding constraint is not power or bandwidth but the country's inability to give investors a fast and certain answer.
In this episode, Michael talks with Oliver Hartwich, Executive Director of the New Zealand Initiative, about two new reports, New Zealand by Comparison and New Zealand by Numbers, which chart how New Zealand measures up against 28 other countries and how it has changed over recent decades. They discuss why a country that attracts migrants from around the world keeps losing so many of its own people, how Australia matches New Zealand on almost everything but the economy, the Eastern European economies closing in, and wellbeing rankings that still sit near the top of the world but are slipping.
In this episode, Michael talks with Doug Blackmur, former chief executive of NZQA, about the qualification model developed in the late 1990s and how it became NCEA.Their conversation ranges across the changes the model underwent, grade inflation in schools and universities, the argument for moving assessment to independent bodies, and the new system set to replace NCEA.
In this episode, Michael talks with Ben Stallworthy about the war in Ukraine and what it reveals about the changing character of modern warfare, from the near disappearance of tanks and armoured vehicles to the rise of drone swarms and the first signs of drone-versus-human combat.They discuss Ukraine's strategy of trading ground to grind down Russian resources and pressure Vladimir Putin, the strikes on Russian oil, semiconductors and the supply routes into Crimea, and what the conflict means for a rearming Europe and the wider contest between autocracies and liberal democracies.
In this episode, Oliver talks with retired Major General John Howard about a crowded few weeks in global security, from the NATO summit in Türkiye and Trump's renewed comments about Greenland to Russian pressure on Poland's border. They focus on what China's submarine-launched ballistic missile demonstration on 6 July and Australia's new security agreement with Fiji mean for New Zealand, and why our national security system is not moving at the speed of relevance.
In this episode, Oliver talks with Michelle Palmer, Executive Director of the Retirement Villages Association, about the retirement village business model and the debate over how quickly operators should repay residents and their estates once a unit is vacated.They discuss the Consumer New Zealand petition, the Government's proposed 12-month repayment rule, and why applying changes retrospectively to existing contracts could raise costs for residents and put pressure on smaller operators.
In this episode, Oliver talks with Nick Clark about the Government's Head Start process, which asks councils to put forward their own reorganisation proposals or have changes imposed on them. Nick draws on his report Head Start Done Right to question whether the amalgamation the process points towards would deliver the efficiencies the Government expects, and argues instead for subsidiarity, keeping decisions at the most local level rather than consolidating them upwards.
In this episode, Jamuel talks with Oliver Hartwich about his report Half a Turnaround, which examines how ACC's outstanding claims liability more than doubled over a decade as more injured New Zealanders became stuck on long-term support.Oliver argues that ACC has halted the financial deterioration through tighter claim decisions, not yet through proven gains in rehabilitation, and sets out reforms including a 28-day rehabilitation guarantee to restore the scheme's original promise of getting injured people back to work.
In this episode, Oliver talks with retired Major General John Howard about his recent trip to Washington and what the conflict centred on Iran and the Strait of Hormuz reveals about American power and the international order. They then turn to New Zealand, where Howard argues the crisis exposed serious gaps in fuel resilience and intelligence, and a public service that struggled to match ministers' urgency.
New Zealand spends more on infrastructure than almost any developed country, yet still cannot build the pipes and roads new housing needs. Why?Oliver Hartwich and Benno Blaschke trace an idea the Initiative has followed for over a decade. It began in 2013 with a proposal drawn from how other countries fund the infrastructure needed to connect new suburbs to cities: let the people who move in pay for it, rather than loading the upfront cost onto existing ratepayers. At the time it seemed radical. Then the Initiative discovered New Zealand had done exactly this for most of the twentieth century. Communities could raise their own debt and build what they needed, without asking central government for money or permission, and funded more than half the country's local infrastructure that way, before the system was dismantled in the 1990s.The Infrastructure Funding and Financing Act 2020 began rebuilding it, but the government still sits at the centre, and six years on only three projects have used it. Benno sets out a ten to fifteen year pathway to developing institutions robust enough that communities can choose to fund their own growth, carry the risk themselves, and build without waiting on councils or central government for permission. When communities can stand on their own feet, the government can step back. The result would take the burden off ratepayers and taxpayers, and give a more responsive planning system the infrastructure it needs to make housing affordable.
In this episode, Eric talks with Jillaine Heather, Chief Executive of the Free Speech Union, about the Government's plans for an under-16 social media ban and the universal age verification that may come with it. They examine why the Department of Internal Affairs appears to be building delivery machinery ahead of any legislation, what Australia and the UK reveal about compliance and scope creep, and why policy aimed at online harms could create serious risks for privacy and free speech.
In this episode, Eric talks with Prof Chris Berg from RMIT University about the Australian regulatory ideas New Zealand has considered importing, from the news media bargaining regime to the under-16 social media ban and prescription-only vaping. They discuss how policies sold as protecting journalism, children or public health can instead create rent-seeking, surveillance, black markets and unworkable rules.
In this episode, Oliver talks with Eric about Budget 2026, which brings the forecast surplus forward a year but rests on a series of lucky breaks, from oil prices falling to fiscal discipline surviving the election and coalition negotiations. They weigh what is driving spending well above 2019 levels, the case for superannuation reform, council incentives to go for growth, the shrinking public service, and why Treasury's tobacco and alcohol excise forecasts keep going wrong.
In this episode, Eric talks with Dr Benno Blaschke and Chris Parker about why our current approach to housing supply, which is focused on housing targets and delivered through “predict and provide”, has consistently failed.The explore what a better system could look like by discussing Benno's proposed alternative, where an independent panel would use price-based indicators to evaluate council plans against the conditions of competitive urban land markets. These assessments would inform plans as they are designed to help communities and planners get the economics of their plans right. Ongoing annual monitoring further enables them to keep thriving.After all, the reason why cities exist is the economic opportunity they offer people through their deep labour markets. This means that cities need to keep growing and offer people more value than it costs them to live in that city to remain productive and attractive places to live.
In this episode, Oliver talks with senior fellow John Howard about mounting geopolitical instability, from Iran and the Strait of Hormuz to Trump's visit to Beijing and the growing pressure on Taiwan. They discuss what these crises mean for New Zealand's energy security, political leadership, European security, business risk, and the need for more serious strategic thinking.
In this episode, Oliver talks with Roger Partridge about the Government’s decision to legislate to stop the Smith v Fonterra climate change case. They discuss why Parliament was right to step in after the Supreme Court reinstated a claim the Court of Appeal had unanimously struck out, the causation problems at the heart of the case, and why media claims of an attack on judicial independence get New Zealand’s constitutional order backwards.
In this episode, Michael talks to Oliver Hartwich about his new satirical novella The Martian Audit, in which two alien auditors arrive in New Zealand to assess it for invasion, only to find themselves defeated not by weapons but by the country's regulation and bureaucracy. There are no villains, just a country full of friendly people trapped in systems that don't work, from leaky homes and hospital waiting rooms to view shafts you can't legally stop to admire.
In this episode, Michael and James talk with Sarah McLaughlin from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. They discuss attacks on free speech internationally, with governments from Washington to Beijing using deportation powers, financial leverage, and anti-terror laws to silence critics. They analyse the censorship impulse across the political spectrum, the threat of social media age bans to internet anonymity, and the failure of even strong legal protections to protect free speech fail when citizens fail to defend their own rights.
The guns have paused in the US-Iran conflict but Oliver Hartwich and John Howard argue New Zealand should take little comfort from that.All parties are struggling to find an off-ramp, damage to Qatar's refineries alone means a two-to-three-year rebuild, and New Zealand still lacks the energy strategy promised in 2024. Singapore, a city-state the size of Lake Taupō, has built the fuel resilience we have not.
Bob Davies joined the New Zealand Army at 16 and served 31 years, rising to Sergeant Major of the Army. He deployed to Vietnam in 1968, took shrapnel wounds, caught malaria twice, and was exposed to Agent Orange.His infant son Geoffrey, born with spina bifida linked to that exposure, lived three days. Bob used his compensation to establish the Geoffrey Davies Memorial Prize at Victoria University of Wellington.On Anzac Day, Bob talks to Oliver Hartwich about what service cost him and why New Zealand's honours system fails its soldiers. Bob makes the case that New Zealand recognises its military personnel far less than comparable nations, and the numbers he cites are damning.
In this episode, Michael speaks with Professor Elizabeth Rata about the history of New Zealand's school system. The conversation challenges the contemporary narrative of 19th-century schools as authoritarian and oppressive. They discuss ways in which teaching was knowledge-rich and aligned with what we now understand from the science of learning before late 20th-century ideological shifts reshaped education, sidelining knowledge and teacher expertise.
In this episode, Michael talks to Lynda Knight, principal of Glenview School in Porirua, about how understanding the neuroscience of stress and trauma transformed her school's approach to dysregulated behaviour. They discuss why a felt sense of safety, strong relational connections and teacher self-regulation are essential foundations for learning, and what schools and policymakers can do to better support children experiencing stress and trauma.
, examining the friction between New Zealand's elected government and its permanent public service. They explore how the appointment of chief executives can undermine ministerial control, and why Germany's model of political appointments with institutional safeguards offers a promising alternative.
In this episode, Oliver speaks with retired Major General John Howard about the escalating Middle East conflict, unpacking the military realities behind the United States' shifting approach and the growing role of global powers like China and Russia. They explore what disruption in the Strait of Hormuz means for energy markets and why New Zealand may be more exposed to fuel and supply shocks than it realises.
In this episode, Eric talks with Andreas Heuser, partner at Heuser Whittington and lead economist on the government's fuel security study, about why the price system is New Zealand's best tool for managing fuel scarcity in the wake of the Strait of Hormuz closure. They discuss why calls for rationing are misguided, what the Marsden Point decision got right, and how the existing tax and transfer system can address the real pain households are facing.
In this episode, Nick and Benno discuss whether New Zealand's proposed planning reforms can actually deliver housing affordability or fail to escape the gravitational pull of the status quo. They unpack how our current planning system and the rules it makes are an extractive institution: one that concentrates decision-making power over land use in the hands of a few, beholden to a privileged group of incumbents. The result is artificial scarcity that inflates land prices across entire cities, driving up house prices and rents. They introduce competitive urban land markets as the countervailing force: a more inclusive institution that respects people's right to use land to meet society's needs and empowers the citizenry to participate in land and development markets.The Planning Bill does mark a genuine milestone: for the first time, competitive urban land markets appears as an explicit goal of the planning system. But we need to clarify what that means and provide the basic elements needed for that goal to bite: a definition, independent monitoring to assess whether land markets are actually competitive, and a requirement that the planning system respond when they are not. Without these, the new goal risks being captured by a planning and legal system that continues to do what it already knows how to do: predict and provide for scarcity.
In this episode, Michael talks with Dr James Kierstead about the pressures on academics to align with universities’ institutional priorities, including expectations to incorporate Māori and Pasifika perspectives in all teaching programmes. The discussion raises questions about academic freedom, institutional neutrality, and accountability, illustrated by the circumstances surrounding Dr Kierstead’s redundancy from Victoria University of Wellington.
Renowned urbanist Alain Bertaud has spent six decades studying cities: from working as a young draftsman in Chandigarh in 1963 to advising governments worldwide on urban land markets. His book Order Without Design has become a touchstone for New Zealand's housing reforms, cited by ministers on both sides of the aisle. In this episode, Eric and Benno are joined by Bertaud and Salim Furth of the Mercatus Centre to discuss why cities are labour markets first and infrastructure projects second, what happens when planners try to control things they cannot predict, why monitoring land prices may be the single most important thing a planning department can do, and how to make sure infrastructure investment and delivery serves the spontaneous order rather than the other way around. As both guests note, New Zealand has worked through so many of the foundational policy questions that the debate is now at the frontier: how to finance and deliver infrastructure under genuine uncertainty, in a system that lets cities grow flexibly. These are problems you only get to when the earlier questions have been answered well. The world is watching.
In this episode, Oliver Hartwich and Eric Crampton are joined by retired Major General John Howard to assess the Iran conflict three weeks on, covering how it has escalated, what the odds of de-escalation look like, and whether a US ground invasion or ceasefire is realistic. They also explore the wider global picture, from China's posture around Taiwan to Ukraine's worsening position, and what it all means for New Zealand's fuel security, energy resilience, and national preparedness.
In this episode, Nick talks with Bryce about the government’s proposed replacement of the Resource Management Act and what it means for property rights. Bryce argues the bills fall short of the government’s stated commitment to property rights, lacking the economic disciplines needed to ensure regulation delivers net benefits for New Zealanders.
In this episode, Oliver talks to retired Major General John Howard about the first week of US–Israel strikes on Iran — what the opening strikes reveal, how Iran is responding, and why the risk of escalation remains real. They then zoom out to the global ripple effects (Russia and Ukraine, China and Taiwan, NATO cohesion) and the practical consequences for New Zealand, from fuel and supply-chain disruption to the need for more proactive national security planning.
In this episode, Oliver talks to Roger Partridge about his new report, Renovating the Nation, which proposes selling around $25 billion worth of government-owned commercial assets and reinvesting the proceeds into critical public infrastructure.Drawing on the success of New South Wales's asset recycling programme, Roger argues the Crown has too much capital tied up in businesses it doesn't need to own, and that ring-fencing sale proceeds in an independently governed fund could deliver the roads, hospitals, and public transport New Zealand desperately needs.
In this episode, Eric Crampton talks to Nick Clark about New Zealand's long and troubled history with the Resource Management Act — and whether the Government's 744-page replacement really fixes it. They examine the missing property rights protections, the absence of robust cost-benefit analysis, and the fail-safes needed to ensure the new framework delivers better outcomes for New Zealanders.
In this episode, Oliver talks to retired Major General John Howard about escalating US–Iran tensions, what 'phase zero' military build-up signals, and the pathways from diplomacy to potential strikes. With New Zealand holding, as Howard notes, around 14 days of fuel reserves, they explain why disruption in the Strait of Hormuz matters, and why energy security and national resilience deserve far greater urgency.
In this episode, Oliver Hartwich speaks with retired Major General John Howard, whose 40-year military career included a senior executive role at the US Defense Intelligence Agency. Howard explains New Zealand is strategically underprepared for a more contested world, lacking clear national security and intelligence strategies, modern capability and sustained investment to protect a trading nation's interests.
In this episode, Michael Johnston speaks with Kaaryn Cater of MindWise Connection about sensitivity – a temperamental trait that makes some people more affected by their environment.They explore why open-plan classrooms can overwhelm highly sensitive children, how social cues and sensory stimuli shape learning, and practical strategies teachers and workplaces can use to reduce overload and better support highly sensitive people.
In this episode, Michael talks to demographer Marion Burkimsher about New Zealand's falling fertility rate and looming population decline. They explore whether immigration can fill the gap as birth rates drop, the psychological implications of ageing societies and what might actually help young people form families - from affordable housing to healthier relationships and realistic expectations about parenthood.
In this episode, Eric and Oliver talk about New Zealand's negotiations with the United States over rare earth minerals, following a 180-day ultimatum from America requiring allied nations to sign mineral access deals or face tariffs. They discuss the complications revealed in Australia's similar agreement, the implications for New Zealand's mining regulations and international relationships, and how this pressure from the US represents a fundamental shift away from the traditional rules-based international order.
In this episode, Michael and Stephanie are joined by former Chief Justice of Australia Robert French to examine academic freedom and freedom of expression in universities. French reflects on the model code he developed in 2019 for Australian universities and explains why the real threat to free speech often lies in vague codes of conduct rather than controversial speakers.They discuss the difference between free speech and academic freedom, the limits universities can legitimately place on expression, and the case for institutional neutrality.
mc_eid=f6d1114f29Listen to part 1 of this series, 'Clarity Emerging from the Mists', here:https://www.nzinitiative.org.nz/reports-and-media/podcasts/podcast-housing-affordability-nz-at-the-global-policy-frontier-part-1-clarity-emerging-from-the-mists/Listen to part 2 of this series, ‘From Heresy to Reform’ (with Phil Twyford), here: https://www.nzinitiative.org.nz/reports-and-media/podcasts/podcast-housing-affordability-nz-at-the-global-policy-frontier-part-2-from-heresy-to-reform/
In this episode, Oliver and Michael reflect on a packed 2025 that brought major policy wins in education, housing, and regulation, while looking ahead to the bigger picture challenges shaping 2026.They cover everything from the Initiative’s Dutch delegation and Prof Barbara Oakley’s visit, to the dramatic early gains in literacy and numeracy under Minister Erica Stanford, the new Resource Management Act, and the work ahead on AI, demographic change, and political polarisation.
In this episode, Oliver, Nick and Bryce talk about the Fast Track Approvals Amendment Bill, focusing on the use of Henry VIII clauses that allow ministers to amend legislation without full parliamentary scrutiny. The discussion examines why these powers have typically been used only in genuine emergencies, how their application in planning reform raises constitutional questions, and why the Initiative recommends clearer limits and stronger sunset provisions to protect democratic processes.
In this episode, Eric, Nick and Benno talk about the Government's proposal to abolish regional councillors while retaining regional councils, shifting governance to new Combined Territories Boards made up of local mayors. They explore how this reform creates space for mayors to rethink regional governance through a function-by-function approach, potentially establishing purpose-built agencies for issues like water catchments and transport that cross council boundaries.
This episode traces how Competitive Urban Land Markets (CLM) made the leap from dissident economic insight to the organising principle of New Zealand's housing reform agenda. Hon Phil Twyford reflects on his time as an Opposition MP, where he absorbed CLM's logic, underwent an intellectual shift inside Labour, and worked with a small circle of economists to translate competition and abundance into a language government could act upon.Once in Cabinet, Twyford and aligned thinkers became the policy entrepreneurs who embedded CLM in the Urban Growth Agenda (UGA). For officials trained in planning orthodoxy, this proved a conceptual shock. Ministers often found themselves teaching the system—literally sketching the framework on whiteboards—as economic reasoning clashed with established planning culture.The episode revisits the structural wins that followed: wins Twyford now reflects on as the most meaningful work of his ministerial career. A small policy network, spearheaded by Twyford's political courage, pressed ahead of global academic thinking to articulate a practical blueprint for restoring housing affordability. This work helped position New Zealand at the frontier of global housing policy.What emerges is a portrait of policy entrepreneurship: an emotional and political journey where leadership, economic clarity, and persistence pushed the boundaries of what a small country can achieve. By the close, the broader arc comes into view—including the cross-party consensus highlighted by Sir Bill English—showing how a once-heretical idea became a bipartisan reform movement.Related links:• Watch the Sholly Angel’s Making Room for Urban Expansion video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQkuoPFq3PM• To read the reports by the Urban Land Markets Group visit this link the first paper (“A New Paradigm for Urban Planning”): https://www.auckland.ac.nz/assets/business/about/our-research/research-institutes-and-centres/Economic-Policy-Centre--EPC-/USEPP002.pdfVisit this link for the second paper (“How We Supply Infrastructure Makes Housing Unaffordable: Introducing a New Approach to Funding and Financing our Cities”): https://www.auckland.ac.nz/assets/business/about/our-research/research-institutes-and-centres/Economic-Policy-Centre--EPC-/USEPP003.pdf
, which examines how Germany prevents such debts from building up through automatic insolvency triggers. Oliver explains how a New Zealand-adapted version — requiring directors to act within a set timeframe after missing tax payments — could stop phoenix behaviour and reduce the $700 million in corporate taxes written off each year.Read Oliver's research note here: https://www.nzinitiative.org.nz/responsibility-before-ruin-a-pre-emptive-fix-for-nzs-phoenix-problem/
In this episode, Oliver talks to James Kierstead and Damien Grant about James's departure from New Zealand after 12 years, reflecting on his journey from academia to policy research and his observations of New Zealand's cultural and political shifts since 2013. They discuss the challenges facing New Zealand universities, including grade inflation and administrative bloat, alongside broader themes of democracy, academic freedom, and the tension between New Zealand's liberal traditions and parochial tendencies.
with Rt Hon Sir Bill English here: https://www.treasury.govt.nz/sites/default/files/2019-01/oia-20180476.pdf
In this episode, Michael talks to Sir Ian Taylor, founder of Animation Research, about what schools should prioritise in a rapidly changing world. The conversation explores whether traditional literacy still matters when machines can read, and whether curiosity-driven learning or knowledge-rich curricula better equip students for critical thinking in an unpredictable future.
In this episode, Michael talks with Sir Nick Gibb, who served as England’s Minister for Schools for a decade, about the evidence-based reforms that transformed English education through systematic phonics, a knowledge-rich curriculum, and structured maths teaching. They explore how progressive education ideology led to England’s earlier decline in international rankings, the cognitive science underpinning effective teaching, and New Zealand’s promising early results from adopting similar reforms.
on the Initiative's website here: https://www.nzinitiative.org.nz/owning-less-to-achieve-more/
In this episode, Oliver talks to Michael Johnston about New Zealand's productivity paradox and why the country underperforms economically despite having strong institutions.They discuss lessons from small European countries like Switzerland, Ireland, Denmark, and the Netherlands, exploring how factors like decentralisation, foreign direct investment, trade integration, and national culture could help improve New Zealand's economic performance.
In this episode, Oliver talks to Eric Crampton, the New Zealand Initiative's chief economist, about his latest report Building Nations examining Canadian First Nations' experiences with autonomous land development and what New Zealand might learn from them. They discuss how Canadian reserves transformed from heavily regulated, impoverished areas into thriving self-governing communities that are now solving urban housing crises through major development projects like the Squamish Nation's apartment towers in downtown Vancouver.Read our report "Building Nations: What Canada’s First Nations can teach us about devolution and development" here: https://www.nzinitiative.org.nz/reports/building-nations-what-canadas-first-nations-can-teach-us-about-devolution-and-development/
In this episode, James talks to Craig Mellare and Abdul Razeed, senior lecturers at the University of Sydney Business School, about their empirical study on grade inflation in Australian higher education. They discuss findings showing that grades have risen significantly over the past decade despite no improvement in student ability, and explore the institutional pressures driving this phenomenon including student evaluation systems, time constraints on academic staff, and the need to manage student appeals and expectations.
In this episode, Oliver talks to Sam Andrews, Chief Strategy Officer at Bastion Security, about New Zealand’s cybersecurity landscape and the evolving threats facing organisations. They explore how AI is reshaping both attacks and defences, the strengths and weaknesses of New Zealand’s regulatory framework, and why building resilience is just as vital as strong security.
In this episode, James Kierstead talks with Sarah McLaughlin, Senior Scholar, Global Expression at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), about her forthcoming book Authoritarians in the Academy. They explore how authoritarian governments, particularly China, pressure universities abroad through funding ties, partnerships, and intimidation of students and scholars. The conversation covers cases from New Zealand and Australia, including cancelled Tiananmen Square events and harassment of pro-democracy students, as well as the investigation of China scholar Anne-Marie Brady. Sarah and James also discuss the role of Confucius Institutes and student groups, the influence of regimes such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar, and broader threats to free expression including religious censorship laws and new restrictions on campus speech in the United States and parts of Europe.
In this episode, Eric and Nick talk to Michael 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.
In this episode, Oliver talks to Stephen Crosswell, a partner at Baker and McKenzie in Hong Kong, the world’s strongest law firm brand. He is chair of the firm’s Asia-Pacific Antitrust & Competition Group and one of Hong Kong’s leading trial lawyers, admitted to practise in five countries. Stephen has seen first-hand how law shapes innovation, and he joins Oliver to explore what history, from Roman law to Adam Smith and the Industrial Revolution, can reveal about the forces driving change today.Their conversation centres on Stephen’s paper "The Common Law and Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations", which asks whether the legal system we have makes a difference to whether our societies can innovate, prosper, and deliver material improvements to our quality of life. They consider why common law’s flexibility may provide a stronger foundation than sweeping regulation for addressing the challenges of artificial intelligence and digital platforms.
In this episode, Oliver talks to Roger Partridge about his new report "Unscrambling Government," which proposes consolidating New Zealand's extraordinarily complex government structure from 81 ministerial portfolios, 28 ministers, and 43 departments down to a more manageable 15-20 portfolios with corresponding departmental consolidation. They discuss how New Zealand's fragmented ministerial system creates accountability problems, increases fiscal costs, and hampers effective decision-making on critical issues like housing affordability, comparing unfavourably to other small advanced economies that operate with far simpler structures.Read the report here: https://www.nzinitiative.org.nz/unscrambling-government-less-confusion-more-efficiency/
In this episode, Oliver talks to Eric Crampton and Benno Blaschke about the New Zealand government’s supermarket competition reforms, which closely reflect The New Zealand Initiative’s policy framework—a major policy win that saw their research inform the Minister of Finance’s approach. They explain how their practical policy document shifted government thinking away from heavy-handed breakups and toward tackling the real structural barriers in planning and regulation.
In this episode, Oliver talks to James Keirstead about his latest research report "Amazing Grades" which provides the first systematic analysis of grade inflation across all New Zealand universities. They discuss how A-grades have increased by 13 percentage points over two decades, reaching 35% of all grades awarded, and explore potential solutions including statistical moderation systems and national examinations to restore meaningful academic standards.You can read Dr Kierstead's report "Amazing Grades: Grade Inflation at New Zealand Universities" here: https://www.nzinitiative.org.nz/amazing-grades-grade-inflation-at-new-zealand-universities/
In this episode, Benno Blaschke talks to Oliver Hartwich about the recent Trump-Putin meeting in Anchorage, Alaska, where Trump appeared to abandon the Western position of seeking a ceasefire first in favour of Putin's demand for an immediate "peace deal" that would cement Russian territorial gains. They discuss the troubling implications of Trump applauding Putin on arrival, the bizarre shared ride in the presidential limousine, and how this summit signals a dangerous shift from rules-based international order to great power politics that could embolden other territorial aggressors, particularly China.
In this episode, Eric talks to Ben Hamlin, Barrister at Clifton Chambers, about new Commerce Commission guidelines on occupational regulation and how professional licencing systems can restrict competition and increase prices for consumers. They discuss how government-created licencing boards often operate like cartels by limiting who can enter professions, and how the Commission's new guidance aims to prevent these anti-competitive practices.Related links:• Cabinet Office Circular CO (99) 6: Policy framework for occupational regulation. - https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/publications/co-99-6-policy-framework-occupational-regulation• Commerce Commission. 2025. Occupational regulation guidelines. - https://comcom.govt.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0032/367556/Occupational-Regulations-Guidelines-July-2025.pdf
In this episode, Oliver talks to Adelle Keely, Chief Executive of Acumen, about the Initiative's delegation to the Netherlands. They explore the country's remarkable approach to challenges, uncovering how Dutch culture of collaboration, technological innovation, and pragmatic problem-solving offers profound insights for New Zealand's future development and national thinking.
In this episode, Oliver Hartwich talks to Michael Johnston about the government’s proposal to replace New Zealand’s National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) after more than two decades. They discuss how the current system, with its fragmented assessments and focus on collecting credits, has weakened learning. Michael explains how the proposed changes aim to create a clear, curriculum‑aligned qualification framework and open better pathways for both academic and vocational students.
In this episode, Oliver talks to Professor Barbara Oakley about her six-month stint as a visiting senior fellow at The New Zealand Initiative, marking her farewell to her time here in New Zealand. Reflecting on her work here, Barbara shares insights into education, discussing the challenges of student-centred learning, her work with the Initiative, and the video project she's created with Michael Johnston to help transform teaching approaches.
In this final episode of their three-part series, Dr Eric Crampton, Dr Benno Blaschke and Dr Stuart Donovan critically examine the government's housing discussion document, assessing its potential to create more competitive urban land markets.They explore whether the proposed reforms genuinely move towards a more responsive and dynamic urban development system or remain trapped in existing planning paradigms.
In this second episode of their three-part series on New Zealand's housing crisis, Eric Crampton continues the discussion with Stu Donovan and Benno Blaschke, exploring what competitive urban land markets could look like.Building on their previous exploration of how New Zealand's housing became dysfunctional, they now examine the ideal alternative to the current system, detailing how a more responsive urban environment could address the structural issues discussed in Part 1.
In this episode, Eric Crampton talks to Benno Blaschke and Stu Donovan (Senior Fellow at Motu) about the complex history of New Zealand's housing crisis, exploring the first part of a three-part series on housing dysfunction. They delve into the underlying causes of housing unaffordability, exploring how urban planning policies, council incentives, and infrastructure constraints have contributed to limited housing supply in major cities like Auckland.
In this episode, Oliver talks to Associate Professor Darwyyn Deyo about her research journey from using popular fiction like Harry Potter to teach economics concepts to her main work on occupational licensing regulations. They discuss what occupational licensing actually involves, how New Zealand's lighter approach compares to the much more extensive system in the United States, and examine whether these regulations truly protect the public or create unnecessary barriers to work.
In this episode, James talks to Professor Ian Pace from City, Saint George's University of London about academic freedom, discussing the challenges facing universities, including political pressures, institutional neutrality, and the need for legislation to protect free speech and critical inquiry in academic settings.The conversation explores recent developments in academic freedom legislation in the UK and New Zealand, examining how universities are navigating complex issues of free speech, institutional policies, and the potential risks of political conformity in higher education.
In this episode, Eric talks to Tom Mungham, the former Chief Executive Officer and Registrar of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, about gambling regulation. Drawing from Ontario's successful experience with online gambling regulation, they explore how New Zealand can learn from and adapt international best practices to create a robust, consumer-friendly regulatory framework that protects both players and market interests.
In this episode, Eric talks to Benno Blaschke about his groundbreaking report proposing a fast-track supermarket entry and expansion omnibus bill that could revolutionise New Zealand's grocery market.They discuss the regulatory barriers preventing new supermarket chains from entering the market and explore a legislative framework that would streamline planning and consenting processes to enable new grocery retailers to establish multiple stores across the country.You can read the research note "Fast-Track Supermarket Entry and Expansion Bill" here: https://www.nzinitiative.org.nz/fast-track-supermarket-entry-and-expansion-omnibus-bill/
In this episode, Oliver talks to Nick Clark about how artificial intelligence could help local government councillors make better decisions.They discuss how AI tools can help councillors understand complex reports, identify key issues, and formulate intelligent questions, ultimately empowering elected representatives who are often overwhelmed by technical information outside their expertise.
In this episode, Michael and James discuss institutional neutrality in universities, examining how the Education and Training Act Amendment Bill addresses universities' ability to take official positions on political matters.They analyse Otago University's draft statement on institutional neutrality, exploring the distinction between universities "taking positions" versus "making statements" on controversial issues, and consider how the legislation could be improved to better protect academic freedom.
In this episode, James and Michael discuss how the Education Training Amendment Bill transforms school governance in New Zealand. They examine the bill's shift to make student learning the paramount objective for school boards, new requirements to address truancy through attendance management plans, and enhanced assessment standards to improve educational outcomes.
In this episode, Oliver interviews Scott Scoullar, Chief Executive of Summerset, about New Zealand's looming aged care crisis with a projected shortfall of 7,000-8,000 beds by 2030 despite increasing elderly demographics. They discuss how retirement villages provide cost-effective care solutions, the regulatory hurdles of building new facilities, and the urgent need for better dialogue between the aged care sector and government policymakers.
In this episode, Oliver talks to Nick about his submission regarding New Zealand's proposed parliamentary term extension from three to four years. Nick supports the concept of longer terms but criticises the current proposal's complicated conditional approach, arguing instead for a straightforward extension that should also apply to local government.
In this episode, Eric discusses credit card interchange fees with NERA's James Mellsop, who argues that the Commerce Commission's proposed regulation capping these fees could harm competition and innovation despite aiming to benefit consumers. They express concern that the Commission's narrow focus on allocative efficiency overlooks the dynamic benefits of interchange fees in financing innovation and new market entrants, potentially undermining the Commission's own goals of increasing competition in the banking sector.
In this podcast, Michael and James critique proposed amendments to New Zealand's Education and Training Act that aim to protect academic freedom in universities, arguing the legislation lacks meaningful enforcement mechanisms to hold institutions accountable.They discuss potential improvements including a "free speech czar," legal recourse for violations, and eliminating loopholes that allow universities to restrict controversial speech through other institutional policies.
In this episode, Oliver Hartwich interviews the New Zealand Initiative's newest recruit, Benno Blaschke, exploring his extraordinary journey from his Austrian upbringing to becoming passionate about urban economics and housing affordability in New Zealand. They discuss Benno's unique background spanning contemplative practice, academic study, and public service roles before joining the Initiative to contribute to solving housing challenges through economic frameworks rather than continuing in the bureaucracy.
In this episode, Oliver Hartwich interviews Dr Prabani Wood, who has worked as a GP in New Zealand for 15 years and discusses her report "The Heart of Healthcare," advocating for greater recognition of primary care's value in New Zealand's healthcare system. Dr Wood explains how continuous GP-patient relationships improve health outcomes and reduce costs, while highlighting challenges facing general practice including the inadequate capitation funding model and antiquated systems.
In this episode, Michael Johnston interviews Katherine Hall, Executive Director of ConCOVE (Construction and Infrastructure Centre of Vocational Excellence), about the challenges facing vocational education and apprenticeships in New Zealand. They discuss systemic issues including poor completion rates, funding problems, and cultural stigma compared to university pathways, along with potential solutions inspired by Germany's dual training system.
In this episode, Michael talks to Professor Barbara Oakley, a McGraw Prize recipient, New York Times bestselling author and creater of the world's largest Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) with over 5 million students.They discuss evidence-based approaches to mathematics education and the problems with constructivist teaching methods, while outlining their mission to support New Zealand's new knowledge-rich curriculum through workshops for teachers across the country.
In this episode, Eric talks to Patrick Phelps, Manager at Minerals West Coast, about the complex challenges of rural council governance including infrastructure costs, heritage regulations, and voter apathy. They discuss how small towns struggle with funding vital services across widely dispersed communities while managing political incentives that often lead to misplaced priorities and wasteful spending.
In this episode, Oliver Hartwich interviews Michael about his new research report "Trade Routes," which examines how New Zealand can improve its apprenticeship system by adopting elements of Germany's dual education model.They discuss the stark contrast between Germany's highly respected apprenticeship system (with 50% participation) and New Zealand's underdeveloped approach (with just 6% participation), along with Michael's practical recommendations for creating clearer pathways from secondary school to industry training.Read Michael's report "Trade Routes: Charting New Pathways from Secondary School to Industry Training" on The New Zealand Initiative website at www.nzinitiative.org.nz
In this episode, Oliver Hartwich and former Australian Department of Home Affairs Secretary Michael Pezzullo discuss growing regional security threats, with Pezzullo warning of a 10-20% chance of conflict with China while advocating for an integrated ANZAC military force.Pezzullo argues that New Zealand should reconsider its anti-nuclear stance to join AUKUS as a full partner, increase its defence spending beyond the current 1.2% of GDP, and recognise that "if Australia goes down, New Zealand is next" - emphasising that both countries need a unified approach to territorial defence in an increasingly unstable Indo-Pacific region.
In this episode, Oliver interviews Jemma Stevenson, a new economist at The New Zealand Initiative, about her background and current research on government inefficiency.Jemma is working on a sequel to the Initiative's research on "Cabinet Congestion," examining whether New Zealand's complex government structure of 81 portfolios and 28 ministers leads to increased spending compared to more streamlined systems like Norway's.
In this episode, Oliver talks to Bryce about his new report "The People's Portfolio", which examines New Zealand's $571 billion in Crown-owned assets and makes the case for privatising many of them to improve economic efficiency rather than simply raising funds.They discuss how current government ownership of these assets is actually costing taxpayers money, the historical success of privatisations like Telecom, and the challenges of implementing a politically viable privatisation strategy.You can read the research report "The People's Portfolio: A $571 Billion Question" on The New Zealand Initiative website www.nzinitiative.org.nz
In this episode, Eric talks to Marko Garlick about how New Zealand's local government planning and zoning regulations create anti-competitive conditions in the retail sector, particularly for supermarkets. They explore specific examples of bizarre regulatory barriers to market entry and discuss potential solutions to enable more competition, such as national policy statements and amendments to the Commerce Act.
In this episode, Michael and Oliver sound the alarm about the transformation of global power following a February 2025 phone call between Presidents Trump and Putin, where the US reportedly conceded to Russia's demands over Ukraine without consulting European allies. They examine what they see as the collapse of the post-WWII liberal democratic order and its dire implications for Europe, the Pacific region, and New Zealand's future in an increasingly unstable world.
In this episode, James and Michael talk to Stephanie Martin from the Free Speech Union (and also the New Zealand Initiative) about a Law Commission consultation paper on hate crime legislation.The discussion examines the shift from treating hate as an aggravating factor in sentencing to creating specific hate crime offenses, while exploring philosophical questions about hate motivation and concerns about free speech implications.
In this episode, James, Eric and Oliver critique Dame Anne Salmond's Newsroom article that characterises the proposed Regulatory Standards Bill as part of a broader neoliberal agenda to undermine democracy in New Zealand. They challenge both Salmond's immediate criticisms of the bill (which they argue misrepresents its regulatory quality focus) and her broader historical argument linking classical liberal organisations like the Mont Pelerin Society to anti-democratic movements, arguing instead that classical liberalism has historically stood against totalitarianism and for democratic values.
In this episode, Oliver talks to Bryce about the Regulatory Standards Bill, which aims to prevent laws and regulations that would make New Zealanders worse off. Bryce explains that while there's currently a discussion document out for public feedback from the Ministry of Regulation, some recent criticisms misunderstand what's being suggested.
In this episode, Oliver, Eric and Michael reflect on New Zealand's key policy achievements in 2024, including education reform, housing policy changes, and foreign direct investment liberalisation, while discussing the significant economic challenges facing the country.They explore Ireland's successful foreign investment strategy, necessary reforms to address structural deficits, and New Zealand's position in international trade, ending with optimism about education improvements planned for 2025.
In this episode, Eric talks to Chief Derek Epp of the Ch'iyáqtel (Tzeachten) First Nation about how his community gained extensive autonomy through Canada's First Nations fiscal institutions, enabling them to control their own zoning, development, and taxation.Chief Epp explains how this framework helped his 750-member band transform from 90% federal dependency to 90% own-source revenue, manage 900 acres serving thousands of non-indigenous residents, restore traditional practices like fish weirs, and become a valued development partner to neighbouring municipalities.
In this episode, Michael talks to Travis Brown, a filmmaker who explores how different ideologies can lead to polarisation and dogmatic thinking, drawing from his own experiences in both fundamentalist Christian and leftist circles.The two discuss how growing political division threatens democracy and examine Brown's doco "When in Doubt," which demonstrates how embracing doubt and curiosity can lead to better understanding between people with opposing views, even if they don't ultimately change their minds.
In this episode, Oliver and Nick discuss the fundamental problems with New Zealand's local government system, particularly how elected officials often lack real power while unelected bureaucrats and chief executives wield excessive influence.Nick's new report "Making Local Government Work" proposes five potential solutions, ranging from implementing a German-style "Super Mayor" model to giving councillors more oversight powers, with some reforms likely achievable under the current Government.Read Nick's new report here: www.nzinitiative.org.nz/making-local-government-work
In this episode, Eric talks to Elizabeth Heeg from the Forest Owners Association about New Zealand's new restrictions on forestry in the Emissions Trading Scheme.They discuss why using ETS controls to address local forestry concerns is problematic, examining implementation challenges and arguing that these issues would be better handled through local land use planning.
In this podcast episode, Eric and Bryce discuss the history of regulatory reform efforts in New Zealand since 2001, focusing on the development of the Regulatory Standards Bill and its original mechanism of court declarations of inconsistency.They explore how diminished trust in courts' interpretations of laws has complicated this approach today, while also examining why past attempts to ensure good regulatory quality have faced challenges.
In this episode, Eric and Michael discuss Australia's proposed law to ban social media for under-16s, examining how age verification would likely require government ID and create serious privacy risks as platforms would need to store this sensitive data. While acknowledging concerns about social media's impact on young people, they argue the Australian approach could enable government surveillance, compromise online anonymity, and create technical challenges that would either be easily circumvented or impose heavy costs on legitimate users.
In this episode, Eric talks to Dr Dylan Mordaunt, a clinician and visiting fellow at Victoria University, about healthcare policy and regulation in New Zealand, sparked by a recent Niskanen Centre report highlighting how supply constraints affect healthcare delivery.They explore various regulatory barriers affecting medical practitioners, scope of practice limitations, and access to medicines, while discussing how to balance public safety with increasing healthcare accessibility and capacity.Read the Niskansen report here: https://www.niskanencenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Health-care-abundance-FINAL-3.pdfhttps://www.nzinitiative.org.nz
In this episode, marking the eve of the Berlin Wall's anniversary, New Zealand filmmaker Tony Forster joins Oliver to share his powerful experience of witnessing its fall on November 9, 1989. He reflects on the stark contrasts between East and West Berlin at that time and how this pivotal moment reshaped his personal outlook, deepening his belief in social responsibility and the importance of emotional expression.To watch Tony Forster's documentary please visit: https://vimeo.com/video/187622046The password to view the video is: AABDec2016
In this episode, Michael and James talk to Oxford theologian Nigel Biggar as he discusses his experiences with academic cancel culture and argues that while the British Empire had significant flaws, it also helped spread important liberal values and institutions throughout the world.The conversation then delves into how modern universities are struggling with free speech and academic discourse, suggesting that a combination of institutional cowardice, loss of religious frameworks, and generational disconnection from historical threats to democracy has led to current campus tensions around controversial topics.
In this episode, Michael talks to Stephanie Martin about the concerning state of academic freedom policies being developed by New Zealand universities.They examine how several universities' draft policies might actually restrict rather than protect academic freedom, with particular attention to the University of Auckland's Senate recently rejecting their proposed policy, whilst highlighting the need for better legislative guidance and cultural change to protect open discourse in academia.
In this episode, Dr Eric Crampton and Prof Steven Hamilton explore why New Zealand and Australia's COVID responses shared similar successes and failures despite their different paths. Their conversation draws from Hamilton's new book "Australia's Pandemic Exceptionalism: How we crushed the curve but lost the race," examining how both countries excelled at initial elimination and wage subsidies but stumbled with testing regulations and vaccine procurement, ultimately revealing important lessons about institutional capacity and adaptable policy responses for future pandemics.
In this episode, Oliver and Nick talk to Oliver Wittke, former mayor of Gelsenkirchen. They discuss a significant local government reform in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, that could offer valuable insights for New Zealand's current system. The German state transitioned from a model similar to New Zealand's current setup - with separate mayor and chief executive roles - to a unified, directly elected mayoral position with executive powers, a change that has been widely regarded as successful and could inform potential reforms in New Zealand's local government structure.
In this episode, Oliver talks to Roger and Richard Ekins. They discuss concerns about judicial overreach by New Zealand's Supreme Court, as outlined Roger's latest research report for the New Zealand Initiative. They argue that the court is effectively making law rather than interpreting it, and they propose several legislative measures to reassert parliamentary authority and maintain the proper constitutional balance between Parliament and the courts.
In this episode, Michael talks to Rachel Cooper, a Resource Teacher for Learning and Behaviour, about the complex challenges facing New Zealand's education system.The conversation covers a wide range of interconnected issues, from classroom behaviour and learning difficulties to teacher training, school governance, and the impact of societal changes on education, while also exploring potential solutions to improve the quality of education and support for students.
In this episode, Michael talks to James about his recent report about the state of academic freedom in New Zealand universities, highlighting concerns about censorship, institutional bias, and self-censorship among academics.Their conversation explores the causes of these issues, including commercialisation of universities and the influence of progressive politics, and proposes recommendations such as new legislation, annual audits, and better training for administrators to protect and strengthen academic freedom.To read James' report, "Unpopular Opinons: Academic Freedom in New Zealand", visit: https://www.nzinitiative.org.nz/unpopular-opinions-academic-freedom-in-new-zealand/
In this episode, Oliver talks to special guest US broadcaster and historian Alexander Heffner, the host of The Open Mind on PBS. They talk about the current state of American politics and media, focusing on the 2024 presidential election and the decline of intellectual discourse in public debate. They explore various aspects of the campaign between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, the erosion of civil political discourse, and broader trends in American democracy, with Heffner providing insights from his experience as host of The Open Mind
In this episode, Eric and Ben Hamlin, Barrister at Clifton Chambers, explore how government policies and regulations can unintentionally stifle competition in New Zealand, affecting everything from healthcare to supermarkets. They discuss the challenges posed by current laws, particularly the 'Crown exception' in competition law, and propose reforms aimed at creating a more competitive economy, including regular reviews of competition restrictions and greater justification for government-imposed market limitations.
In this episode, James and Dr Nick Matzke discuss recent changes at the University of Auckland, including a push to cut some existing courses and a special University Senate meeting where a vote was held on a motion to pause the Curriculum Framework Transformation for further discussion.Dr Nick Matzke, a biogeography professor, provides insights into the tensions between incorporating mātauranga Māori and maintaining scientific rigour in university curricula, while also addressing broader issues of academic freedom and faculty governance.
In this episode, Oliver, Michael and Eric discuss the recent elections in two eastern German states, Thuringia and Saxony, where far-right and populist parties like the AfD and BSW gained significant ground, while traditional mainstream parties performed poorly. They explore the reasons behind this political shift, including frustrations with immigration policies, economic challenges, and nostalgia for the former East Germany, while also examining the broader implications for German politics and drawing lessons for other democracies about the dangers of ignoring citizens' legitimate concerns.
In this episode, Oliver and Damian Grant discuss the challenges facing liberal democracies, inspired by Anne Applebaum's books "Twilight of Democracy" and "Autocracy Inc."They explore the rise of populism, the influence of autocratic regimes, political polarisation, and the erosion of democratic norms in various countries, while also relating these global trends to the New Zealand context.This episode was originally published on Damien's own podcast "Different Matters" which you can subscribe to here: https://www.differentmatters.co.nz
In this episode, Michael and Oliver explore the growing support for alternative political parties in former East German states and its potential impact on German federal politics, particularly regarding foreign policy and international relations.They discuss historical and social factors contributing to this trend, while also examining how these changes in Germany could affect global democratic systems and drawing parallels to challenges facing other liberal democracies, including New Zealand.Oliver also mentions his recent Newsroom article, "Voter anger threatens to bury Germany’s traditional party-political system", which you can read here:https://www.nzinitiative.org.nz/reports-and-media/opinion/voter-anger-threatens-to-bury-germanys-traditional-party-political-system/
In this podcast episode, Oliver interviews Max Salmon about the findings of a recent survey of New Zealand local government officials, detailed in his latest research note called "The Pulse of Local Government."The survey reveals that local councils generally desire more autonomy from central government, feel financial pressures from population growth, and support localism, but also highlights some contradictions in their views on amalgamation and their relationship with ratepayers.You can read Max Salmon's research note "The Pulse of Local Government" on The New Zealand Initiative's website at https://www.nzinitiative.org.nz/the-pulse-of-local-government/
In this episode, Eric Crampton and Sarah Hogan, Deputy Chief Executive at NZIER, discuss a new report estimating the social costs of alcohol in New Zealand at $9 billion, with a focus on how such figures are calculated and used in policymaking. They explore the challenges of accurately attributing costs to alcohol, debate the effectiveness of targeted interventions versus broad policies, and emphasize the importance of addressing first-order problems like fetal alcohol spectrum disorder while ensuring cost-effective approaches to reducing alcohol-related harms.
In this episode, Nick discusses his latest research note on revenue sharing between central and local government.The main idea is to provide financial incentives for local councils to be more supportive of housing development, potentially addressing New Zealand's housing crisis by aligning the interests of central and local governments.Nick's research note "'Revenue share' for housing" is available on The New Zealand Initiative's website here: https://www.nzinitiative.org.nz/revenue-share-for-housing/
This episode features Michael, with Oliver, responding to and critiquing statements made by Prof Peter O'Connor on RNZ about education policy.Michael systematically disagrees with O'Connor's views on the government's proposed education reforms, arguing that O'Connor misrepresents the reforms and presents false dichotomies between knowledge acquisition and creativity in education
In this episode, Michael talks to Nick Gibb, former UK Minister for Schools, about education reforms implemented in England over the past decade. The conversation covers various aspects of these reforms, including the introduction of systematic synthetic phonics for reading instruction, changes to the mathematics curriculum, teacher training improvements, and the challenges faced in implementing evidence-based approaches in education.
In this episode, Oliver and Michael discuss recent education reform recommendations in NZ, focusing on the development of a knowledge-rich curriculum and evidence-based teaching practices. Michael, who chaired the Ministerial Advisory Group that made these recommendations, defends the proposed changes against various criticisms and emphasizes that they are based on scientific research about effective learning, not political ideology.
In this episode, Matthew discusses his new report with Oliver which is about road pricing in New Zealand.They explore the history of road pricing, international examples, and potential benefits such as reducing congestion and improving infrastructure planning.Their conversation emphasises that while the economic case for road pricing is clear, the key challenge lies in effectively communicating its benefits to the public and gaining their support for implementation.You can read Matthew's report Driving Change: How road pricing can improve our roads on The New Zealand Initiative website at https://www.nzinitiative.org.nz
In this episode, Michael and James talk to Toby Young, founder of the Free Speech Union in the United Kingdom, the associate editor of The Spectator, and a former editor of Quillette. The discussion spans a wide range of topics including the challenges to free speech in academia, the evolution of charter schools in the UK, and the broader implications for liberal democracy, offering insights into the complex interplay between free expression, education policy, and political shifts in contemporary society.
This podcast episode is from our recent AI in education webinar where Michael presents his report on generative AI in education, emphasising its potential as a supportive tool while cautioning against replacing traditional learning methods.Prof Barbara Oakley joins as a special guest to provide expert commentary on the cognitive science aspects. Oliver moderates this discussion, which explores how AI could enhance teaching and personalise learning while stressing the continued importance of core skills development, critical thinking, and teacher-guided instruction in the evolving educational landscape.
In this podcast, Nick and Eric talk to Sam Broughton and Simon Randall from Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) about the potential for implementing city and regional deals in New Zealand - formal long-term partnerships between central and local government to better plan and fund local infrastructure and economic development. They explore the benefits such deals could provide, like aligning incentives, enabling tailored local policies, and sharing gains, while also examining the political barriers that need to be overcome.
In this episode, Michael and James talk to Dr Dennis Wesselbaum about issues with New Zealand's current university funding model, which relies heavily on student enrollment numbers. They explore potential reforms to create a more stable and effective system that balances access, workforce preparation, and research excellence.
In this episode, Michael and James talk to Jonathan Rauch, famed American journalist and senior fellow at the Brookings Institute.They discuss the importance of free speech and open debate for the advancement of knowledge and the health of our society.They explore how cultivating the skills of constructive disagreement, from the classroom to the public square, may hold the key to navigating our increasingly polarised world and safeguarding the pursuit of truth.
In this episode, Oliver talks to Dr Murray Horn, former Secretary of the New Zealand Treasury and former CEO of ANZ.They talk about the fiscal challenges facing the new government as it prepares its first budget amidst high inflation, recession, and mounting debt. Murray provides his expert perspective on what reforms are needed to control spending and put New Zealand's fiscal framework on a more sustainable trajectory, advocating for a focus on results, strengthened fiscal responsibility principles, public service leadership changes, clarified priorities, and improved service delivery.
In this episode, Oliver talks to John Morris, ONZM, an educator and a former footballer who represented NZ on an international level. They discuss the decline of New Zealand's school system in recent decades and the difficulties in reforming it. With the right changes, New Zealand's education could be turned around in the coming years.
In this podcast episode, James talks Professor Abhishek Saha about the state of academic freedom and free speech in UK universities.They discuss the newly passed Higher Education Freedom of Speech Act, its key provisions, and its potential impact on protecting the right of academics and students to express diverse viewpoints without fear of censorship or repercussions.
In this podcast episode, Oliver and Nick discuss their recent report on China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and its implications for New Zealand.They caution that while BRI investments could potentially help fund New Zealand's large infrastructure deficit, the country needs to be very careful about engagement to avoid becoming locked into China's geopolitical sphere of influence.You can find their report "Belt and Road Initiative: Implications for New Zealand" on our website www.nzinitiative.org.nz
In this episode, Oliver Hartwich interviews Dr Michael Johnston about the free speech event at Victoria University that was postponed due to backlash within the university. They discuss the importance of free speech in liberal democracies, the changing perception of free speech as a partisan issue, and the concerning trend of young people trying to shut down events featuring disagreeable viewpoints.
In this episode, Eric Crampton talks to Frederico Fernández, Founder and CEO of We Are Innovation, about their recent global index ranking countries' policies on safer nicotine alternatives. They explore how allowing access to options like vaping, snus and heated tobacco can drive down smoking rates more effectively than traditional tobacco control measures alone.Additional links:• We Are Innovation https://weareinnovation.global/ • The Health of the State https://www.nzinitiative.org.nz/reports-and-media/reports/the-health-of-the-state/• Smoke and Vapour: The Changing World of Tobacco Harm Reduction https://www.nzinitiative.org.nz/reports-and-media/reports/smoke-and-vapour-the-changing-world-of-tobacco-harm-reduction/
Oliver and Michael talk about Germany's dual education system with Rachel Simpson, Manager for Education, Skills and Immigration at Business NZ.Recently, Michael and Rachel were on a business delegation to Germany to find out about their dual education system first-hand.In this episode, they discuss what this system looks like in Germany, what makes it successful and what might be stopping us from doing it here in NZ.
In this episode, Eric and Nick talk to Peter Nunns and Graham Campbell from New Zealand Infrastructure Commission, Te Waihanga. They discuss council debt and infrastructure funding and financing.
In this episode, Michael talks to Holly Gooch and Izzy Bremner, from The Hyphen Project, about what it might be like for people who are perhaps not considered the "norm" in our large school system.They talk about The Hyphen Project, which is a talent incubator for 16-19 year olds who are talented, neurodivergent and have not gotten on well with the mainstream education system.For more information on The Hyphen Project, please visit www.thehyphenproject.orgFor more information about The New Zealand Initiative, please visit www.nzinitiative.org.nz
Research Fellow Max Salmon discusses his new report 'Cabinet Congestion' with Executive Director Dr Oliver Hartwich. Max explains how complicated political decision-making is in New Zealand's political system - and how it could be better.
New Zealanders have been spending a lot more overseas than we have been earning overseas, yet our balance does not move in the same direction nearly as much.Oliver talks to Bryce about his latest research note "The mystery of the $52 billion gift: Does New Zealand have a fairy godmother?".To read his research note, find it on our website https://www.nzinitiative.org.nz
In this episode, Oliver talks to our new Senior Fellow, Economics and Advocacy, Nick Clark. This week he has released a new policy point called "Fast-Track Approvals Bill" which they talk about in this episode. They also talk about what Nick is looking forward to working on.To read Nick's policy point visit our website: https://www.nzinitiative.org.nz/policy-point-fast-track-approvals-bill/
In this episode, Oliver has a conversation with a special guest Viktor Vavricka, the Swiss ambassador to New Zealand. They have a wide-ranging discussion about localism from a Swiss perspective.
Oliver and Matthew discuss NZ's infrastructure deficit, delivery and management which was the subject of Matthew's last column in the NZ Herald "Deficit obsession ignores abysmal state of Kiwi infrastructure delivery". You can read Matthew's article here: https://www.nzinitiative.org.nz/deficit-obsession-ignores-abysmal-state-of-kiwi-infrastructure-delivery
In this episode, Eric talks to Danyl Mclauchlan, one of NZ's top political writers who is often featured in The New Zealand Listener and on Substack. He has written recently on turmoil in Wellington's pipe network and writes more broadly on the state of politics and the state of the polity. They have a wide-ranging chat about all of this as well as housing and heritage.www.nzinitiative.org.nz
Non-academic staff outnumber academic staff in NZ universities. Recently, we found the point in time when this happened.Oliver talks to James about our latest research note, "When the Bloat Began: Non-Academic Staffing at New Zealand Universities over the Long Run (1961-1997)", authored by James and Michael.They discuss this new research note, a few of the theories on why this has happened, and some of the key findings of the report.You can find this report on our website at www.nzinitiative.org.nz
In the past, competitors could stop each other's projects through land-use planning. Although some of that has been dialled back, it's coming back in other ways.Eric talks to Kevin Counsell, Director at NERA, who has a lot of experience with these processes.www.nzinitiative.org.nz
Last week, Oliver and Roger sat down to talk about the Supreme Court's decision on the Mike Smith climate change case.www.nzinitiative.org.nz
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. They also talk about entrepreneurial people and the role AI plays now and in the future.www.nzinitiative.org.nz
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 the review.They also discuss what's been going on in Houston, housing affordability and density and other research.You can find links to their research at: www.nzinitiatve.org.nzThis research includes:• City for People’s five requests for the Wellington district plan• Eric’s “Yes, and…” request for the Wellington district plan• Ryan Greenaway-McGrevy’s work on Auckland zoning and house prices• The Urban Land Markets Group’s work on housing affordability and urban planning. • Eleanor West & Marko Garlick on Upzoning New Zealand, at Works in Progress• Marko Garlick on Houston’s opt-out form of upzoning.• Eric's NZ Herald article, "The incapacity of development capacity"www.nzinitiative.org.nz
In this episode, Oliver had a unique discussion with marine scientist Dr Regina Eisert via Starlink en route from Antarctica to NZ.They talk about Regina's experience in Antarctica as well as biological and research links between NZ and Antarctica, NZ research funding and who gets to go to Scott Base, NZ's Antarctic research station.www.nzinitiative.org.nz
Our Research Fellow Max Salmon talks to our Executive Director Dr Oliver Hartwich about our current global foreign policy situation. They talk about the Middle East, such as the shipping through the Red Sea and the Houthi movement. They also discuss the Doomsday Clock, Ukraine, Taiwan and the United States.www.nzinitiative.org.nz
In our final episode of the year, Oliver and Michael discuss how things are sitting now in NZ with a new government, the challenges they're facing, some of the early decisions they've made and what the prospects are for the new year.www.nzinitiative.org.nz
Peter Shirtcliffe, long-time Chairman of Telecom and laureate of the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame, joins Oliver on the podcast. Telecom (now known as Spark) was NZ's largest listed company from 1990 to 1999.We invite him on the podcast as a political observer to talk about NZ's Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) electoral system and his personal story of campaigning against MMP.www.initiative.org.nz
Andreas Heuser, Managing Director with Castalia, joins Dr Eric Crampton on the podcast to talk about the massive energy potential of deep geothermal.They discuss what supercritical geothermal is, climate policy and the need for fast-tracking consenting processes.Related material:• Castalia's report "Supercritical Geothermal in New Zealand": https://www.geothermalnextgeneration.com/knowledge/supercritical-nz-economic-opportunity• Eric's Newsroom piece: https://www.nzinitiative.org.nz/drilling-down-into-limitless-clean-energy/• Eli Dourado "The state of next-generation geothermal energy": https://www.elidourado.com/p/geothermal• Quaise, a US startup testing deep-drilling technology: https://www.quaise.energy/• Tom Ough on geothermal: https://worksinprogress.co/issue/watt-lies-beneath/www.nzinitiative.org.nz
Lord Hannan, a sitting member of the House of Lords and an adviser to the UK Board of Trade, talks to Oliver on this week's episode.They discuss Lord Hannan's background, his role in the Brexit campaign and his point of view on the UK's progress since its withdrawal from the EU.They also talk about the idea of free trade, free movement of labour and enhanced political and diplomatic cooperation between Canada, Australia, NZ and the UK (CANZUK)
Dr Michael Johnston talks to Dr Claudia Rozas Gomez, who is a lecturer in Critical Studies in Education at the University of Auckland. In this episode, they discuss issues and criticisms around university-based teacher education.
Dr Michael Johnston and Ben Macintyre talk about the impact of classroom streaming in NZ, which is the subject of their new research report. It is a topic of debate in NZ, with calls for the practice to be banned by 2030.Their report "Class divides?: The impact of streaming on educational achievement and equality" examines NZ and international evidence on the effects of streaming on students' learning. Rather than banning streaming, they urge the Ministry of Education to conduct a large-scale study to help schools make informed decisions on streaming.You can find their latest report on our website www.nzinitiative.org.nz
Dr Michael Johnston talks to Glenn Fahey, who is the Director of the Education program at The Centre for Independent Studies based in Australia.They discuss the problems of Teacher Education in both NZ and Australia and the differing solutions they both came up with, which highlights the differences in both countries' systems.
Dr Michael Johnson talks to Dr Christine Braid, of Massey University, and Linda Kimpton, a literacy advocate. They discuss what structured literacy is and how an incoming Minister might approach getting structured literacy embedded.
Dr Oliver Hartwich talks to Ran Yaakoby, the Israeli Ambassador to New Zealand, about the conflict in the Middle East. In this discussion, they talk about the attack on October 7, the ongoing conflict, the role of the media in all of this and the rise of antisemitism in Europe.
This week we have a special guest, Lord Jonathan Sumption, in this combined Free Kiwis and The New Zealand Initiative podcast episode.Lord Sumption talks to us about his advocacy on free speech and is in NZ as a guest of the Free Speech Union. Interviewing him is Dr Oliver Hartwich, Dr Michael Johnston and Dr James Kierstead and they also talk about the state of the world and the state of liberal democracy.
Join us in our exciting discussion with former NZ Prime Minister Sir Bill English, as he talks to Dr Oliver Hartwich about the state of NZ politics and how politics has changed. They also chat about the recent voice referendum in Australia, ImpactLab, and NZ's future.
Dr Michael Johnston and Stephanie Martin talk to Dr Ursula Edgington about the effects of technology education, what teachers are taught vs. the realities of the classroom, and how the addictive nature of technology impacts students.
Dr Michael Johnston talks to Dr Mark Sheehan, from Victoria University of Wellington, about the transition of teachers' colleges into the universities, discusses the state of teacher education today and considers what might need to change in order to make a difference in the lives of young people.
Join Dr Oliver Hartwich and Dr Matthew Birchall as they continue their conversation from last week. Listen to their reaction to the election results so far, and what they think might happen next. They also discuss the outcome of the recent voice referendum in Australia.
It's the final week before the election. So, to cap it off, Dr Oliver Hartwich talks to Dr Matthew Birchall about the 2023 NZ general election. In this episode, they discuss recent election history, what they made of this year's election campaign, the MMP system and potential outcomes.
Dr Michael Johnston talks to Maryanne Spurdle (Researcher at the Maxim Institute) and Stephanie Martin (Adjunct Fellow at NZ Initiative) about teacher education.
Dr James Kierstead talks to Dr Michael Johnston about NZ's interesting Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) system vs First Past the Post (FFP), in the run-up to the 2023 NZ election.
Dr Oliver Hartwich talks to Dr Bryce Wilkinson about The New Zealand Initiative’s latest research note they have written which analyses Labour’s six-year fiscal record.
Dr. Oliver Hartwich is joined by Gene Tunny, of the Centre for Independent Studies in Sydney, for a discussion about Gene's most recent paper about debunking the arguments behind the Degrowth movement.
Dr. Michael Johnston is joined by Adjunct Fellow Stephanie Martin and Dr. Kevin Knight, founder and owner of the New Zealand Graduate School of Education in Christchurch, for a discussion about the issues currently facing the training of our teachers.
Who Teaches The Teachers, The New Zealand Initiative's new report, discusses the current issues with teacher training in New Zealand. Join Dr. Oliver Hartwich and Dr. Michael Johnston for a discussion about the new report.
Join Dr. Michael Johnston, Dr. James Kierstead and their guest, Dr. Kendall Clements, for a discussion about the issues currently facing the teaching of science at secondary and tertiary level.
Join us for a thought-provoking conversation between Dr Michael Johnston and Dr Melissa Derby (Ngāti Ranginui), a seasoned expert in education and literacy. Dive into the nuances of literacy in New Zealand, from the ongoing 'Reading Wars' debate to the concept of multi-literacies. Melissa's insights shed light on the role of cultural contexts, oral language, and the delicate balance between traditional and modern teaching methods. Explore how literacy shapes young minds and gain valuable perspectives on the evolving landscape of education in New Zealand.
Join Phil Barry and Eric Crampton in this podcast as they delve into New Zealand's proposed tobacco policies. Together, they analyse the government's efforts to reduce smoking rates, particularly through Very Low Nicotine Content (VLNC) cigarettes. Their discussion covers the potential drawbacks of this approach, including a potential rise in black market activity and unintended behaviour changes. They also consider more practical alternatives, such as reduced harm products and targeted interventions for specific groups. Backed by data and insights, this conversation provides a balanced perspective on the challenges and complexities of crafting effective public health policies.
In this podcast, the Initiative's director Oliver Hartwich and chief economist Eric Crampton talk about Labour's proposal to take GST off fresh fruit and vegetables. Oh, and frozen ones, too. But not washed, sliced or otherwise processed. Oliver and Eric agree that this is policy is nuts - whether nuts are GST-free or not.
Join us for a discussion as we dive deep into the heart of New Zealand's economic landscape with special guest Damien Grant, a renowned business commentator and liquidator. In this episode, host Oliver Hartwich guides us through a candid conversation covering a range of topics, from the challenges of economic reform to the role of government in education and healthcare.
Damien Grant pulls no punches as he shares his unfiltered opinions on the need for radical change in New Zealand's policies. With captivating anecdotes and a sprinkle of optimism, Damien explores why transformational change is both critical and possible, even in the face of institutionalised norms. Whether you're a policy enthusiast, a business aficionado, or simply curious about the future of New Zealand's economic landscape, this episode promises to leave you inspired and engaged.
Tune in to gain fresh insights and a renewed perspective on the potential for economic reform, as we navigate the captivating discourse between Oliver Hartwich and Damien Grant.
The country’s newspapers have been arguing that tech platforms, like Facebook and Google, should be paying them whenever they link to news.
They should be careful what they wish for.
Professor Michael Geist is Canada Research Chair in Internet and E-Commerce Law at the University of Ottawa and the country’s foremost expert on similar regulation in Canada.
The Canadian government passed Bill C-18, which gives Canadian news media everything that New Zealand’s newspapers claim they want.
Geist shares valuable insights into the well-predicted consequences of this legislative move.
Despite government assurances that all would be fine, tech platforms threats to block links to news have not been a bluff. Rather than provide a new funding source for Canadian news, the legislation will likely result in more extensive government media bailouts as link-driven revenue dries up.
Listen as they delve into the government's role in negotiations with tech giants, uncovering the challenges and consequences of such interventions.
Join us as we unravel the complexities of this Canadian experience, providing valuable lessons for policymakers and citizens alike. Tune in now to navigate the dynamic landscape of tech and news industry relations, with insights that can influence the future direction of similar policies worldwide.
In this episode, Michael Johnston talks with Oliver Hartwich about a New Zealand delegation that went on an eye-opening journey to Ireland, a country making impressive strides in nurturing businesses and overall growth. They confront New Zealand's shortcomings in comparison, sparking a passionate conversation about the need for systemic change at home.
They bring focus to Ireland's exceptional non-ideological education system that prioritises data - a potential game-changer for New Zealand's future generations. They discuss the vital lessons learned from Ireland's success, and how these insights could fuel a similar transformation in New Zealand.
Tune into this episode for a riveting exploration of growth, innovation, and the untapped potential for New Zealand's future. Join us as we reflect on our current global standing and envision the strides we must take to catch up and thrive.
Join us in this thought-provoking podcast episode as Drs James Kierstead and Michael Johnston engage in a conversation with Emeritus Professor John Raine, an esteemed academic with extensive experience in the New Zealand education system. We explore the evolution of academic standards and university preparedness, discussing the impact of changes in the education system and the importance of foundational knowledge in subjects like mathematics and sciences. Then we delve into the role of universities as cultural institutions and the challenges they face in maintaining their neutrality and intellectual integrity amidst changing demands and ideologies. We examine the delicate balance between incorporating cultural knowledge and preserving the principles of objective inquiry, highlighting concerns about the potential politicization of universities. Our conversation prompts us to reflect on the importance of university leadership in upholding the critic and conscience role of these institutions. Join us as we navigate the complex landscape of higher education, seeking to foster an environment that embraces curiosity, intellectual exploration, and diverse perspectives.
In this week’s podcast, Dr Eric Crampton continues his conversation with Professor Rhema Vaithianathan from Auckland University of Technology.
This fascinating discussion tackles the world of data integration within social services, and critiques past failures, citing a need for real-life stories rather than cold, hard data. They discuss a culture shift towards accountability and performance-based contracts, a potentially game-changing solution.
Listen to how smart data use could revolutionise social services and transform the lives of vulnerable children.
Join us this week on the New Zealand Initiative podcast! Our host, Dr Eric Crampton chats with Professor Rhema Vaithianathan from Auckland University of Technology. Rhema gives us a peek into her pioneering work on data-tools, designed with a human touch to better serve communities.
In this fascinating chat, they delve into Rhema's trailblazing project, the Allegheny Family Screening Tool. This unique decision-aid tool is a global first, introduced in 2016 to support child welfare hotline screening. The duo also touch on the equally impressive Allegheny Housing Assessment tool, another innovative machine-learning tool used since 2020 for prioritising housing within the homelessness system.
Rhema reveals the power of predictive risk modelling in the US child protection system, where her team used administrative data to help improve outcomes for children. Listen to how this model uses past case data to guide operators in their decisions regarding potential abuse cases.
In the US, this approach worked to substantially reduce child hospitalisation. It could be done in New Zealand as well. In fact, the work started here. But New Zealand’s politics and public service has a very difficult time with new approaches. American localism means that one innovative county can try it out, and demonstrate the benefits to others.
All this and more in our enlightening podcast. Stay tuned for Part Two, where the conversation on AI and predictive models in child protection systems, and on encouraging public sector innovation more broadly, continues!
The right to freedom of expression is enshrined in most constitutions and is deemed to be an essential human right under international law. Yet people in many countries face restrictions on their freedom of speech and on other civil liberties. So how does New Zealand compare?
In this week’s podcast, Eric Crampton and Michael Johnston are joined by Arthur Grimes for an insightful discussion exploring the value of freedom of speech, its impact on well-being, and the nuanced relationship beyond the left-right divide.
Discover intriguing findings from Professor Grimes' study and the importance of preserving this fundamental democratic principle.
Welcome to the New Zealand Initiative podcast! In this week’s episode, Drs Michael Johnston and James Kierstead discuss the challenges faced by universities in New Zealand, focusing on issues such as declining enrolments, the impact of international student numbers, and the need for universities to foster open and civil debate on controversial topics.
They highlight the importance of universities being perceived as places of academic freedom and intellectual exchange, urging Vice Chancellors to differentiate themselves by creating an environment where ideas can be freely contested. They also address the high ratio of administrative staff to academic staff in New Zealand universities, suggesting a need for a financial re-evaluation. The forthcoming report on this topic promises to provide further insights into the matter.
Businesses typically avoid taking a stance on contentious political matters, particularly during election campaigns, and that is what makes this week’s media release from Foodstuffs North Island quite remarkable.
In this week’s podcast, Oliver Hartwich is joined by Chris Quin, CEO of Foodstuffs North Island, to delve into the pressing issue of escalating retail crime and lawlessness in New Zealand. They discuss the effect this having on the safety of frontline staff, their owner/operators and their customers. They also discuss possible solutions and the importance of adopting a multifaceted approach to effectively tackle crime, highlighting the limitations of simplistic solutions such as fog cannon subsidies.
New Zealand is globally known as a rich tapestry of cultures, but what does that really mean on the ground and how does it shape the world of business and innovation? It's not just about customs and conventions that we can observe and learn. National culture is much more profound; it's hardwired into our brains, influencing our thoughts and behaviours.
Yet, as globalisation gains momentum and New Zealand’s multicultural fabric grows denser, the probability of intercultural misunderstandings, tensions, and conflicts also increases.
To explore how we navigate this delicate balance, Oliver Hartwich is joined by management consultant Tony Smale to discuss how we can leverage our national culture to boost innovation and enhance business performance.
Welcome to the New Zealand Initiative podcast! This week's episode presents a dialogue between Dr Michael Johnston and the renowned Professor Gary Hawke. Together, they journey through the evolution of teacher training in New Zealand, tracing the intriguing pathway from the independent training colleges to their subsequent unification with universities.This compelling dialogue illuminates the preparations that shape our educators for their vital roles. Listen now to understanding the past, present, and future of New Zealand's teacher training.
Join us on a fascinating journey, chugging through the intricate past, present, and future of rail transport in New Zealand. Chief economist Eric Crampton is once again joined by Client Service Lead for Milestone Solutions, Scott Wilson, to dig deep into the ownership structures and incentives that have guided the development of New Zealand's rail system. They explore the government's role in rail transport funding and provide critical insights into how this influences the nation's overall transport landscape. Whether you're a rail enthusiast, history buff, economic aficionado, or a curious listener, this episode promises a treasure trove of insights. Buckle up for an unforgettable ride across the history of New Zealand rail, one track at a time.
Tune into this riveting podcast for a deep-dive into the world of urban planning and infrastructure development in New Zealand!Chief economist Eric Crampton is joined by the Infrastructure Commission’s Nadine Dodge and Peter Nunns to grapple with the complex yet fascinating concept of corridor protection and how foresight is essential to avoid future urban development headaches. Be ready to learn about the unexpected areas impacted by planning, including schools, transportation, and even supermarkets. Hear about how inadequate planning can spiral into manifold issues including overcrowded schools and insufficient facilities for growing communities.They also explore the intriguing potential of flexible zoning to foster competition. Plus, there's a thought-provoking discussion on the proposed National Policy Statement on Urban Development, and the potential implications this could have. This conversation underlines the critical importance of proactive, wide-ranging urban planning to accommodate future population growth and evolving community needs. Don't miss out on this enlightening conversation!
Welcome to the New Zealand Initiative podcast! In this episode, Michael Johnston has a fascinating conversation with Bali Haque, an experienced educator who has held various roles in the education sector. Bali is a well-respected educator, having worked as a teacher, principal, and national education agency executive in New Zealand.This engaging discussion delves into Bali's experiences as Deputy Chief Executive at NZQA, particularly focusing on the reforms to NCEA he oversaw. Bali shares his insights into the cultural and ideological dynamics of the education sector, highlighting the tension between formative and summative assessment and the challenge of maintaining credibility in the face of public expectations. Join us for an insightful conversation as we explore the complexities of education reform and the ongoing quest for an effective and credible education system in New Zealand.
In this thought-provoking episode, the Initiative’s economists – Dr Oliver Hartwich, Dr Eric Crampton, Dr Tony Burton, and Dr Bryce Wilkinson – dive into the debate over whether Australia is a better option for skilled talent. They discuss the current challenges faced by New Zealand in terms of health, education, and infrastructure, and how the nation's performance is deteriorating relative to Australia. With both countries vying for the best talent, the experts analyse the impact of increased public spending without seeing significant benefits in crucial areas. They also address the unaffordable housing crisis and the role of central and local governments in land use planning. Finally, they explore the pathway to citizenship for Kiwis in Australia and debate whether the government is the solution or the problem. Join us for a riveting conversation that will leave you questioning where you'd rather be.
Learning is a central pursuit of the education system. It is essential that educators understand key elements of the science of human learning and how to apply them in the classroom. In this podcast episode, Michael Johnston is joined by Lloyd Gutteridge, author and senior lecturer at Auckland University of Technology in the Business, Economics and Law Faculty. They discussed the importance of prior knowledge in learning and the risks of too much edutainment in teaching. They also discussed gaps in the New Zealand curriculum and the science of learning, including cognitive load theory.
The Initiative team has welcomed a new addition to their team with the appointment of Tony Burton as a Research Fellow.Tony has a PhD in economics and philosophy from the University of East Anglia researching game theory and choice under uncertainty. After the purity of academic research, he opted for the world of policy, first at the UK Ministry of Health, then in New Zealand at the Ministry of Social Development and Treasury where he was formerly Deputy Chief Economist. Tony’s work for the Initiative will focus on public service and reform.
In this podcast episode, the Initiative’s chief economist Eric Crampton is joined by OliverShaw Principal, Robin Oliver, to discuss new independent research which shows that high-wealth individuals pay more tax on average and represent a higher proportion of the total tax take than may previously have been thought.It has been strongly suggested that, in practice, New Zealand’s income tax regime is not as fair as statutory tax rates would suggest. However, no reliable data exists to support this claim. Leading tax consultancy OliverShaw commissioned Australasian consulting firm, Sapere Research Group, to prepare a report on the effective rates of tax that New Zealand’s tax and benefit systems impose on the incomes of its residents.
In this podcast episode, we explore the state of education in New Zealand, both at the school and university levels. Drawing from our own experiences, we discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the current education system and the challenges that students face in their pursuit of higher education. We delve into the issue of whether students are adequately prepared for university-level learning, with some arguing that there has been a decline in educational standards in recent years.Join us as we analyse the state of education in New Zealand and consider what needs to be done to ensure that students are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in the 21st century.
In this episode, Dr Oliver Hartwich and Dr James Kierstead discuss administrative bloat in New Zealand universities, focusing on the rise of non-academic staff and its potential consequences.Dr Kierstead shares some figures on the large number of non-academic employees compared to academic staff and compares the situation to other countries. The conversation considers why universities need non-academic staff, but also explores how many is too many.Dr Kierstead's upcoming report aims to start a debate about how many non-academic staff are needed and how universities can balance their priorities to provide quality education and research while managing their finances.
Much can be learned from the past, both the good and the bad. The Initiative’s upcoming report takes a historical perspective on New Zealand’s infrastructure challenge and offers a roadmap for moving forward.In this week's podcast, Drs Oliver Hartwich and Matthew Birchall discuss some of our nation’s key infrastructure success stories, from the construction of toll roads in the Taranaki during the 19th century to the rollout of broadband in the new millennium, and how we need to embrace private enterprise, local knowledge, and a cultural attitude that welcomes growth and development to deliver ambitious infrastructure once again.
In this week’s podcast, Oliver Hartwich and Michael Johnston are joined by visiting professor Dr Antje Barabasch to discuss vocational education and training, the Swiss dual education system, and the differences with the New Zealand system.Professor Dr Antje Barabasch is head of the research axe “Teaching and Learning in VET” and the research field “Learning cultures and instruction”. Prior to her position at the Swiss Federal University for Vocational Education and Training (SFUVET) she worked at CEDEFOP, an agency of the European Commission, and directed various European research projects. Today, her research is concerned with new learning cultures in VET, especially in enterprises, creativity development and creative approaches to VET, teacher training as well as policy transfer in VET.
There are many pressing problems facing New Zealand, but none more urgent than the decay of our once great education system. For more than two decades, the literacy and numeracy achievement of our young people has been declining. The downward trend is clear, in both our national monitoring data and international tests like PISA. We have an appalling truancy problem, and our teachers are unsupported and undervalued.In this week’s podcast, Oliver Hartwich and Michael Johnston discuss the Initiative’s education manifesto Save our Schools: Solutions for New Zealand’s Education Crisis. This manifesto draws on the body of research compiled at The New Zealand Initiative over the past decade to bring together a coherent plan to improve our education system, and to restore it to a place of international excellence.
Recent Ministry of Education publications bring mātauranga Māori concepts into the school curriculum. While concepts like mauri, a Māori term meaning “vital essence” or “life force”, may have something to offer science as a reflection of ecosystem health or the “life-supporting capacity” of rivers, any interpretation that equated mauri with chemical properties, or as “the binding force between the physical and the spiritual”, had no place in the chemistry curriculum and proposals to incorporate traditional knowledge in science curricula need a lot more reflection, with nobody excluded from the conversation.In this week’s podcast James Kierstead talks with Paul Kilmartin (Ngāi Tahu), Professor of Chemistry in the School of Chemical Sciences at the University of Auckland, about mātauranga Māori, science and the school curriculum.To read the article referred to in the podcast click here: https://nzic.org.nz/unsecure_files/cinz/2022-86-4.pdf
For years, The New Zealand Initiative has argued for the case for localism in New Zealand, which is one of the most centralised countries in the world. According to a recent tax sharing poll, 70% of people support keeping tax revenue in their communities. In this week's podcast, Oliver Hartwich is joined by Malcolm Alexander, consultant and former chief executive of LGNZ, to discuss all things localism - including incentives and funding mechanisms for local councils, three waters, and the government's penchant for centralisation.
The public service, and the neutrality of its leaders, has become a recent issue. In this episode, Drs Oliver Hartwich and Michael Johnston discuss New Zealand's public service, how it is run, and the importance of public servants being impartial and objective in their work.Drawing on Germany's example, they look at how public servants can be highly professional and skilled, and still work for the government of the day without showing bias, to ensure a neutral and effective public service that serves all its citizens.
The Charities Amendment Bill is currently before Parliament, but it is flawed and full of unintended consequences. As promised in the Labour Party manifesto, charities in New Zealand are demanding a proper first principles review with a better process and more public participation. This week's podcast is a conversation between Oliver Hartwich and Sue Barker, a charity law expert, about the growing authoritarianism and its impact on our democracy, social cohesion, and community wellbeing.
Director of Economics for the Infrastructure Commission, Peter Nunns, talks to Eric Crampton, Chief Economist for The New Zealand Initiative, about his research on the cost to deliver infrastructure in New Zealand and the need to improve the efficiency of our infrastructure sector, rather than only focusing on broadening the funding and financing options available to it.For more, please read the Infrastructure Commission’s report, “The lay of the land: Benchmarking New Zealand’s infrastructure delivery costs.”
Resilient infrastructure is crucial for protecting people during disasters and ensuring that communities can bounce back quickly in the aftermath of a crisis. Two powerful examples of this can be seen in New Zealand's response to the 2011 Christchurch earthquake and, more recently, Cyclone Gabrielle.However, with the high cost of repairs that will be needed, the government will need to find the funds to pay for it. In addition, the demand for building supplies is already high, so the government has the power to encourage new entrants into the market. The task of repairing the damage caused by the cyclone will be significant and will require a large number of people to get involved. Therefore, policy changes are necessary to facilitate the involvement of the necessary workforce.On our podcast, our panelists, Dr Oliver Hartwich, Dr Eric Crampton, and Dr Bryce Wilkinson, share their insights on the lessons learned from the 2011 earthquake and suggest necessary policy changes to promote the development of resilient infrastructure for a speedy recovery.
The Initiative team has welcomed a new addition to their team with the appointment of Benjamin Macintyre as a Research Assistant. Benjamin holds a Bachelor of Arts in Politics, International Studies, and Italian, and brings a fresh perspective to the team, with a focus on traditional political theory, modern political issues, international institutions, international political economy, and Italian language and culture.
In this week's podcast we are diving into the much-anticipated policy shift announced by the country's new Prime Minister. The speculation has been building for months, with many wondering what policies will be scrapped and which ones will remain. In this episode, we dissect the Cabinet's first reprioritisations - everything from the biofuel mandate, free speech, the Social Unemployment Scheme, Three Waters, resource management, the TVNZ/RNZ merger, fair pay agreements and the surprise minimum wage increase.
In this week's podcast The New Zealand Initiative's chief economist, Dr Eric Crampton, chats with Christian van der Pump about building regulations, fire safety and the causes of 'market failure' in the building industry.Christian van der Pump is a professional engineer with qualifications in chemistry, engineering and economics. He is doing a PhD in market failure in the construction industry across Australasia.You can read Christian's 12 December 2022 opinion article on the causes of 'market failure' in the building industry here: https://www.stuff.co.nz/opinion/130812601/the-causes-of-market-failure-in--the-building-industry
In this week's podcast The New Zealand Initiative's chief economist, Dr Eric Crampton, chats with Jonathan Alve, National Operations Manager at Hospitality New Zealand, about proposed amendments to the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act and the challenges these may hold for licence holders.
Holly Gooch is part of the KiwiNet Emerging Innovator programme to progress a project to help twice-exceptional secondary students. Michael Johnston sat down with Holly to talk about her PhD research project.
Josie Pagani interviews Oliver Hartwich about the state of the nation in this week's Initiative podcast.
Michael Johnston sat down with Emma Chatterton, Strategic Project Lead at ImpactLab, to discuss her experience gaining registration and certification as an overseas-trained teacher. In addition, they discuss how New Zealand might improve teacher supply through immigration, and the country's growing truancy rate.
New Zealand's immigration system is cracking under pressure. A lack of staff, a shambolic IT system, and new government policies that bamboozle applicants are creating unnecessary stress for migrants, and long delays around simple work visa applications that once made their way through the system with ease are causing issues for employers. Oliver Hartwich and Eric Crampton talk with June Ranson, CEO of Woburn International, to find out what is going on and what could be done to fix it.
Oliver Hartwich chats with Christoph Schumacher about the Official Cash Rate, inflation, the Taylor Rule, and the new GDP Live tool that provides real-time New Zealand GDP tracking.To help fund the incredible GDP Live tracker contact Christoph at c.schumacher@massey.ac.nz.
Victoria University's Associate Professor Martien Lubberink specialises in banking regulation. In Newsroom, Prof Lubberink warns of unintended consequences of setting extra taxes on current bank profits. He talks about bank profitability, regulation, and taxes, with Eric Crampton and Bryce Wilkinson.Link: Newsroom. https://www.newsroom.co.nz/corporate/taxing-banks-excessive-profits-be-careful-what-you-wish-for
James Kierstead and Michael Johnston discuss the results of a second pilot for literacy and numeracy assessments, as well as an upcoming survey on the extent to which university students are willing to express their ideas.
Oliver Hartwich and Eric Crampton discuss how the government is preventing overseas supermarkets from entering the New Zealand market.
Are international students subsidising the education of domestic students in Australian universities – or is it the other way around? Why does Australia have quite so many international students anyway? Does China post a real risk to academic freedom in Australia? And how might Australia’s universities be reformed? In this wide-ranging interview about his recent book Australia’s Universities: Can They Reform? James talked to Salvatore Babones about all these issues, and about what lessons there might be for our universities in New Zealand.
Oliver Hartwich chats with ACT’s Transport and Climate Change spokesperson Simon Court about the Clean Car Scheme and how it's adding bureaucracy, not reducing emissions.
In this episode Michael Johnston hosts Oliver Hartwich and Eric Crampton to discuss various European crises and how New Zealand should be learning from, and not repeating, the European mistakes.
Ideology rather than evidence is the basis for the Ministry of Education’s (MoE) ‘Modern Leaning Environments’, research by The New Zealand Initiative has revealed.
Dr Oliver Hartwich and Dr Michael Johnston discuss the fact that a government ministry could not produce data to support its policy for mass conversion of New Zealand’s classrooms to Innovative Learning Environments (ILEs) and other findings of the Initiative’s new report, "No Evidence, No Evaluation, No Exit – Lessons from the 'Modern Learning Environments' experiment".
Michael Johnston talked to leadership coach Kate Morton of Transformation Space about leadership in organisations and self-leadership as an antidote to anxiety. They also discussed the implications of Kate’s work for addressing rising levels of anxiety in teenagers and your people.
Dr Eric Crampton interviews Scott Wilson in this follow up interview to their discussion about transport funding and getting roads built.
In this episode they talk about the history of how New Zealand funded and financed roads, and the structures of getting roads approved.
Are Māori dying earlier because they are Māori? Do Māori lead less healthy lives because they are being discriminated against? And how much racism is there in the New Zealand health system?
These are the questions at the heart of a new report by Senior Fellow Dr Bryce Wikinson.
Bryce researched claims made by the Government that systemic racism is to blame for poor Māori health outcomes. And he also analysed the Government’s prescription to remedy the situation by prioritising health spending for Māori, especially in Pharmac’s medicine procurement.
This is a recording of a webinar on Bryce’s new report. Also interviewed is the author of the foreword, University of Auckland health expert Professor Des Gorman (Ngapuhi).
Together, Bryce and Des discussed if, as the title of the report states, “Every life is worth the same”.
Oliver Hartwich is joined by Retail NZ CEO, Greg Harford, to discuss the pressures retailers are facing in the current economic climate - crime, inflation, fair pay agreements, increasing costs of doing business, labour shortages, and Covid.
Oliver Hartwich talks with Professor David Rozado from Otago Polytechnic about his research in positive/negative sentiment words and terms loaded with political connotations in academia and news/opinion articles from news media outlets.
Michael Johnston discusses improving our childrens' reading and writing with Belinda Blick and Dr Helen Walls.
Scott Wilson joins Eric Crampton and Matthew BIrchall to discuss the petrol excise holiday, sustainability of the land transport funding system, and what better options might be for the funding and financing of New Zealand roads in the future.
There are many pressing problems facing New Zealand, but none more urgent than the decay of our once great education system. Every time a young person leaves school without basic literacy and numeracy, it is a travesty. Oliver Hartwich and Michael Johnston discuss the country's education emergency.
Director of Economics for the Infrastructure Commission, Peter Nunns, talks to Eric Crampton, Chief Economist for The New Zealand Initiative, about his research on the size and scope of local government, as well as funding and financing mechanisms.
A research note released today by The New Zealand Initiative mainly attributes the outbreak of inflation in many economies to central bank mistakes.
Oliver Hartwich interviews co-authors Graeme Wheeler, former Governor of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, and Bryce Wilkinson, Senior Research Fellow at The New Zealand Initiative.
Oliver Hartwich interviews Graeme Wheeler and Bryce Wilkinson.mp3 by The New Zealand Initiative
Oliver Hartwich interviews historians James Kierstead and Matthew Birchall, two new colleagues at the Initiative.
Dr Eric Crampton and Christopher Snowdon, Head of Lifestyle Economics at the Institute of Economic Affairs, discuss New Zealand's change in legislation for vaping products.
Declining literacy is a contributor to low productivity and New Zealand's students have been let down by the education system. In this podcast Dr Michael Johnston and Amanda Boyd discuss the Ministry of Education's plan to introduce new NCEA requirements and what this means for students, schools and businesses.
Dr Oliver Hartwich chats with Dr John McDermott, Executive Director of Motu and former Assistant Governor and Chief Economist at the Reserve Bank of New Zealand about monetary policy in New Zealand, the overhang of monetary stimulus from the last few years, and what will happen if we don't wind this back.
John Law was a gambling, womanising, dualist, murderer and fugitive. He was also an economic visionary. Dr Oliver Hartwich shares with us the story of the father of modern economics.
Democracy Action engaged Professor James Allan to review the He Puapua Report. The result of Professor Allan’s analysis - "The Report of Professor James Allan on He Puapua: The Radical Prescription for Undermining Democracy and the Rule of Law".
He joins Dr Oliver Hartwich to discuss Professor Allan's valuable critique of the He Puapua Report and how this impacts our democracy.
Oliver Hartwich talks with Eric Crampton about the Government's rushed policy making for a fuel tax and Road User Charge holiday.
In this week's Initiative podcast, Chief Economist Dr Eric Crampton discusses with statistician Len Cook about changes to the Statistics Act.
Oliver Hartwich discusses the biggest economic issues of the week with Eric Crampton and Bryce Wilkinson: 1) How transitory is inflation? 2) Will we ever see the return of supply-side economics? 3) How competent is government? And 4) What shall we think of Three Waters and are there any alternatives to the policy?
Amanda Boyd talks to Oliver Hartwich about his latest article in Newsroom about the future of European monetary policy and the parallels between Mexico 1982 and Italy 2022.
Oliver Hartwich talks to senior fellow Dr Bryce Wilkinson about the state of the global economy and fears of a major recession.
Oliver Hartwich and Eric Crampton interview Foodstuffs North Island’s CEO Chris Quin and Independent Director Peter Schuyt about the Commerce Commission’s enquiry into the grocery retail sector.
In conversation with Oliver Hartwich, Roger Partridge explains the findings from his new report ‘Reassessing the Regulators – The good, the bad, and the Commerce Commission’.
Chelsy Killick talks with Eric Crampton and Oliver Hartwich on the Government’s Emissions Reductions Plan and what it will mean for transport.
Chelsy Killick talks to Oliver Hartwich about his new column in The Australian and what New Zealand should learn from Germany’s foreign policy mistakes.
The government’s Te Hurihanganui sketches a radically different version of education in New Zealand. But what is it based on? And what would be its implications. Michael Johnston discusses the document in conversation with Oliver Hartwich.
Several large companies recently received hefty government handouts to install new boilers and heaters. This was all under the guise of decarbonisation, using money earmarked for the country’s Covid recovery.
Oliver Hartwich speaks to Ben Craven about this blatant corporate welfare and BusinessNZ’s poor response.
Putin’s influence has helped the rise of Marine Le Pen. But his political vehicles are not limited to the Far Right.
Oliver Hartwich joins Ben Craven to discuss the recent French election, Putin’s wide-ranging meddling in Europe, and what the West should do to counter foreign influence in domestic politics.
Ben Craven interviews Dr Michael Johnston about his recent presentation at The New Zealand Initiative Members’ Retreat.
The pair discuss the disturbing trends of cancel culture and the erosion of academic freedom. They also touch on the troubling mental health issues that are increasingly common among university students.
Are the days of large news outlets now in the past? If so, what does that mean for our shared experiences and understanding of what is and isn’t news? And how does news become news anyway?
Sean Plunket from The Platform and Dr Catherine Strong from Massey University presented their views of the media at The New Zealand Initiative Members’ Retreat.
Ben Craven sat down with both Sean and Catherine at the Retreat to talk about the current state of New Zealand’s media and what they see happening in the future.
Oliver Hartwich talks to Alex Sundakov from Castalia Advisors about his experiences in both countries, how the Soviet era cast a long shadow over their national identities, and why there might be some small positive to come out of the terrible conflict in Ukraine.
Mr Sundakov was previously the International Monetary Fund’s resident representative to Ukraine and maintains strong connections to the country.
Oliver Hartwich joins Ben Craven to discuss Germany’s response to the war in Ukraine. Chancellor Olaf Scholz recently threw out three decades’ worth of German foreign policy dogmas.
His “Zeitenwende” (turning of the times) proposed a large increase in military spending, provision of military arms to Ukraine, and a phasing out of Russian energy imports.
But have the new Social Democrat Chancellor’s actions matched his rhetoric?
Oliver Hartwich joins Ben Craven on the podcast to reflect on ten years of The New Zealand Initiative.
The pair discuss the highlights over the years, the Initiative’s influence on policy debates, and share with listeners a few hard-case stories along the way.
Kiwi households are paying more than $3,000 extra on essentials than they were 12 months ago, and policies implemented by the Government and Reserve Bank are contributing to the problem.
Matt Burgess talks to Oliver Hartwich about his latest research note. The pair discuss the policies that have exacerbated Kiwis’ cost-of-living pressures and predict what we can expect to see in the near future.
Earlier this week, Climate Change Minister James Shaw was interviewed by Andrew Dickens on Newstalk ZB about our latest research, Pretence of Necessity: Why further climate change action isn’t needed and won’t help.
The Minister made some dubious claims during his interview.
Report author Matt Burgess sat down with Oliver Hartwich to address each of the Minister’s points and clear up his confusion.
Is New Zealand’s Net Zero carbon emissions target of 2050 likely or achievable? Will electric vehicle subsidies and similar policies help us get there?
Matt Burgess joins Ben Craven to talk through the findings of his latest research report, Pretence of Necessity: Why further climate change action isn’t needed and won’t help.
Read Matt’s report on the NZ Initiative website, www.nzinitiative.org.nz
How has Putin’s regime changed over the years? And does the structure of his government explain Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its poor military performance?
Oliver Hartwich and Eric Crampton are joined by Victoria University of Wellington’s Associate Professor Xavier Marquez, an expert in dictatorship, authoritarianism, and non-democratic politics.
We recently announced the appointment of new Senior Fellow, Dr Michael Johnston to lead our education programme. Michael joins us from Victoria University of Wellington, where he was most recently Associate Dean (Academic) in the School of Education.
In this podcast, Michael speaks about his career, his experiences in the education sector and academia, and the research projects he has planned for the coming 12 months.
Life has become grotesquely unaffordable for many Kiwis, so who is to blame?
Oliver Hartwich joins Ben Craven to explain why prices are so high, how politicians will try to take advantage of the cost-of-living crisis, and why we can soon expect to lose more Kiwis to Australia.
There is never a shortage of economic opinions among commentators – but what is the expert consensus among economists?
Eric Crampton talks to Ben Craven about the new Economic Experts Survey, what the discipline agrees on, and the danger of faddish economic beliefs in the public sector.
Two weeks on from our last International Outlook podcast on the Russia/Ukraine conflict, Oliver Hartwich joins Ben Craven to discuss what has happened since.
Were the meetings between Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz and Vladimir Putin constructive? And is Joe Biden right to warn of an imminent invasion?
The controversial Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act came into force from 1 December 2021. It has significantly changed how Kiwis gain access to credit.
Ben Craven and Oliver Hartwich discuss the effects of the CCCFA with Lyn McMorran, executive director of the Financial Services Federation, a non-profit organisation representing New Zealand’s responsible non-bank financial institutions.
The European Union has recently labelled nuclear energy and natural gas as environmentally sustainable energy sources.
What has led to this labelling and what does it mean for Europe’s energy future?
Oliver Hartwich discusses the issue with Ben Craven.
BusinessNZ Chief Executive Kirk Hope joins Oliver Hartwich and Ben Craven on the podcast to discuss the Government's proposed unemployment insurance scheme.
What will it mean for employers and employees? And is there any real need for it in New Zealand?
The early 90s was the last time New Zealand’s Reserve Bank had to get high inflation under control.
Does the agency have the will and determination for the fight three decades later?
Matt Burgess speaks to Ben Craven about his latest NZ Herald column, "Why inflation looks here to stay".
On our latest episode of International Outlook, Ben Craven talks to Oliver Hartwich about the tumultuous leadership of UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Oliver recounts his own interactions with the larger-than-life politician and explains what impact the latest lockdown party scandal will have on Boris’s leadership and the UK’s place on the global stage.
2022 will be an important year for the Government as it decides upon energy and emissions policies.
Matt Burgess joins Ben Craven to talk about three of the important developments we can expect to see:
• The effects of a $75 ETS price; • The Government’s Emissions Reduction Plan; and • The business case for the proposed Lake Onslow Battery scheme.
Inflation is now higher than it has been in more than three decades.
Matt Burgess and Oliver Hartwich join Ben Craven to discuss the latest inflation figures. What is responsible, and what needs to be done to get it back under control?
Oliver Hartwich joins Ben Craven to discuss the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Is invasion inevitable, or does Putin have other goals in mind?
Oliver Hartwich joins Ben Craven for the final NZ Initiative podcast of 2021. The pair recap the highlights of the past twelve months, look at how the Initiative has influenced policy, and outline plans for 2022.
Oliver Hartwich joins Ben Craven to discuss the government’s proposal for social unemployment insurance, and the lessons New Zealand should heed from Germany’s experience with social security.
Our Chairman and Senior Fellow Roger Partridge joins Ben Craven to discuss the Initiative's latest education research and what can be done to reverse Kiwi students' poor literacy results.
Oliver Hartwich joins Ben Craven to discuss the new German coalition of the centre-left Social Democrats, the free market Free Democrats, and the Greens. What does the new government believe in, and what can we learn from their huge 177-page coalition document?
Matt Burgess talks to Ben Craven about his latest NZ Herald column and submission on the Government’s Emissions Reduction Plan. Matt explains why most government policy interventions in the name of climate change cannot reduce emissions as they are already under New Zealand’s emissions cap.
Oliver Hartwich joins Ben Craven to discuss the effects of the Reserve Bank’s Long-term Asset Purchase Scheme that has so far cost taxpayers $6 billion – and counting.
Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko is channelling Middle Eastern migrants and refugees towards Poland in a bid to destabilise the European Union. People are now camped between the Polish and Belarusian border with nowhere to go.
Oliver Hartwich joins Ben Craven to talk about his latest column on this subject and the implications for European unity and security.
Bryce Wilkinson and Leonard Hong discuss their latest report "Walking the path to the next global financial crisis" and the implications for New Zealand.
Senior Fellow Dr David Law discusses his new paper on the Government’s plans to introduce an unemployment insurance scheme.
Matt Burgess joins Oliver Hartwich to discuss his latest research note, Climate of fear: How the Reserve Bank is overstepping its mandate.
Matt’s research documents serious breaches of the RBNZ's responsibilities as regulator of the financial system, including one instance of misconduct.
The Reserve Bank has no legal or democratic mandate for climate change. It should not be threatening regulated industries with repercussions if they do not follow its political agenda.
The Government has announced they will confiscate councils’ three water assets, despite widespread opposition from mayors, councillors, and ratepayers.
Ben Craven sits down with Oliver Hartwich, Matt Burgess and Eric Crampton to discuss what the proposals will mean for councils; the winners and losers; and why centralised control of water assets is not the answer to local water issues.
Oliver Hartwich joins Ben Craven to discuss his latest Newsroom column on a media funding scandal that has led to the resignation of centre-right Chancellor Sebastian Kurz.
The investigation has highlighted the dependency of Austrian media on government advertising, and the influence that funding can exert.
Dr Bryce Wilkinson and Emeritus Professor Gary Hawke join Ben Craven to discuss Bryce’s latest report, The Illusions of History: How misunderstanding the past jeopardises our future. The trio look at some of the prevailing myths of New Zealand’s economic history, and explain the risks of basing contemporary public policy on inaccurate stories of our past.
It is not clear how the government’s Emissions Reduction Plan can reduce emissions.
The government is proposing massive interventions in everything from energy to transport to manufacturing.
Nearly all of the proposals are already in the ETS emissions cap. They cannot lower emissions any further.
An army of officials is planning how you live your life, knowing most of their rules will contribute nothing towards emissions targets. This is emissions policy in name only.
Matt Burgess joins Eric Crampton to discuss the government’s draft Emissions Reduction Plan released earlier today.
How can New Zealand improve its Covid response?
Dr Eric Crampton joins Ben Craven to talk about his latest research note Safer Arrivals and the Path to 2022.
The pair discuss the report’s findings; why Covid restrictions should not be compared to the nanny state; and the policies New Zealand could introduce now to prevent even greater outbreaks.
Matt Burgess joins host Ben Craven to discuss the government’s feebate policy which launches in April 2022.
The policy is egregiously regressive. Buyers of new EVs including the Tesla Model 3 will receive $8,625, paid for by people who buy more affordable petrol and diesel vehicles.
Feebate taxes three times more imported vehicles than it subsidises, and could add thousands of dollars to the cost of secondhand cars.
The scheme will not reduce emissions by a single tonne since transport is already covered by the ETS emissions cap. Those cheques to high-income households, paid for in part by low-income households, will do nothing to lower emissions.
Germans went to the polls on Sunday to elect the first post-Angela Merkel government. Ben Craven talks to Oliver Hartwich about the results, who the winners and losers are, and what the next government could look like.
In 2016, Australia agreed to purchase 12 conventionally powered Attack Class submarines from France. The deal cost AU$50 billion. Last week, Australia tore up the deal and instead agreed to purchase nuclear submarines from the USA. At the same time, Australia, the UK, and USA announced the formation of the AUKUS defence alliance.
Dr Oliver Hartwich’s latest Newsroom column, A torpedo to European security, analyses the fallout and the implications for European security. He joins Ben Craven on the podcast to discuss the subject in further detail.
Dr Eric Crampton speaks to Medicines New Zealand CEO Graeme Jarvis about therapeutic medicines that ca treat Covid-19, and when we might expect them to become available in New Zealand.
Dr David Law joins Ben Craven to discuss what we know about the Government’s plans for unemployment insurance, and what such a scheme could look like for New Zealanders.
This week the price of a New Zealand Unit of carbon credit passed $50 for the first time.
Ben Craven spoke to Matt Burgess about why this happened, and what the increase in price will mean for consumers, emitters, and New Zealand’s environmental commitments.
Individualised Funding, or IF, is a funding model for disability support. IF gives money directly to individuals so they can hire their own support staff. Each individual’s personal budget is set based on an assessment of their needs. Today, there are around 8,000 people on IF, nearly 20% of the people who receive disability support. Matt Burgess talks to Rt Hon Sir Bill English about the transformative effects that IF is having in the lives of disability support recipients and their families. Sir Bill is an owner of Manawanui, the largest IF host in the country. Sir Bill is a former Prime Minister and Minister of Finance. He led the National government’s social investment approach.
You can read more about IF in the New Zealand Initiative’s report released last week, The Power of Freedom: How personal budgets for social services are transforming lives on the link below. https://www.nzinitiative.org.nz/reports-and-media/reports/the-power-of-freedom/
Carl Hansen, the former Chief Executive of the Electricity Authority between 2010 and 2018, joins Matt Burgess to discuss what happened on the evening of 9 August when 35,000 homes lost power on the coldest night of the year.
Carl explains how the blackout happened and the response to the event by the government. He also talks about how the system drives investment in new capacity, recent announcements of new generation including major solar projects, and the outlook for the next few years. Carl also talks about the recent study which suggests generators may be earning excess profits.
Ben Craven talks to New Zealand Initiative Senior Fellow Dr David Law about the implications of rising inflation, and how a different type of mortgage could make it more affordable to get on the housing ladder.
Oliver Hartwich and Eric Crampton talk to University of Auckland’s Professor Des Gorman (Ngāpuhi), from the University’s Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences.
The team discuss New Zealand’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and what could be done differently.
Eric Crampton and Matt Burgess discuss the thousands of homes hit by blackouts on the coldest night of the year and government’s response to it so far.
Decisions should be made only after the facts are established.
Questions include what led to the decision to cut power to homes, and whether all of the available generating capacity was used.
The independent Electricity Authority has responsibility for investigating last night’s outage but at the time of the recording (3:30pm on 10 August) had not made a statement on the issue.
Matt Burgess talks to Oliver Hartwich about the government’s Natural and Built Environment bill, the first of three pieces of legislation to replace the RMA.
The bill shows the government sees planning as an appropriate vehicle for everything from protecting the natural environment, to culture, growth and climate change.
Matt argues the top priority of the reforms should be housing affordability.
The bill also signals an intent to re-establish the same unbridled executive powers which Robert Muldoon used to ruin the New Zealand economy.
The Environment Committee should ask Minister Parker to start again.
Oliver Hartwich and Matt Burgess discuss the Commerce Commissions market study on supermarket competition. What are the barriers to competitors entering the market, and is the number of competitors a real indication of price competition?
The Climate Change Commission believes the ETS is not enough. But not enough for what? Matt Burgess and Oliver Hartwich discuss.
Oliver Hartwich and Eric Crampton join Matt Burgess to talk about the government’s performance on immigration since the lockdown. Skilled migrants who cannot get their families into the country or obtain residency are now leaving, while MIQ spaces sit vacant and the government is paying migrants to come into the country to deal with a skills shortage. The government’s policy and processes have treated migrants so poorly as to raise questions about consistency with the UN Declaration on Human Rights.
Oliver Hartwich talks with Kiwi entrepreneur Graham Rich about Covid, charitable activities and life in challenging times.
Matt Burgess and Oliver Hartwich discuss the politicisation of the Euro 2020 football tournament.
Oliver Hartwich interviews Mark Honeybone, the founder and owner of Property Ventures, about the raft of new regulations affecting the housing market.
Matt Burgess talks to Eric Crampton about the fiscal risks of a rapidly rising ETS price.
Matt Burgess talks to Oliver Hartwich about his latest Herald column about the new political role central banks play.
Oliver Hartwich and Eric Crampton talk to Nelson-based immigration advisor Carsten Hallwass about New Zealand’s immigration settings and the effect of Covid-19.
The global pandemic has led to a lot of political catchphrases, such as Green New Deal, and Build Back Better. Are these slogans of little substance, or will we soon see the state take a more assertive role in the economy?
The Initiative’s Steen Videbeck reflects on his career as an economist and a teacher – and he explains how he combines both perspectives in his new research project on literacy in New Zealand.
The practicalities of the Government’s new ‘feebate’ scheme are still unclear, as the Financial Services Federation’s Lyn McMorran explains in a conversation with Eric Crampton, Matt Burgess and Oliver Hartwich.
Chelsy Killick talks to Oliver Hartwich about his latest Newsroom column and asks why the next Euro crisis has just begun.
Matt Burgess, Eric Crampton, Oliver Hartwich and Bryce Wilkinson discuss the Government’s new feebate scheme. Will it help to cut emissions? Or is it just questionable middle-class welfare?
Joel Hernandez explains his three-year journey of crunching New Zealand’s education data.
Chelsy Killick talks to Oliver Hartwich about a strange scandal in German politics and why you should never lie in your CV.
Matt Burgess and Oliver Hartwich analyse a short essay by Dr Rod Carr, chair of the Climate Change Commission.
Dr Eric Crampton chatted to Professor Josh Gans from the University of Toronto on the global Covid-19 pandemic response.
They discuss the importance of coming up with effective strategies to get the covid-19 vaccinations rolled out as quickly as possible and move onto the next conversation of how to reopen borders.
In this podcast Dr David Law discusses the idea of unemployment insurance for New Zealand.
On Newstalk ZB, Mike Hosking discusses Eric Crampton's Dominion Post column on skilled migrants.
Read Eric's column - Govt needs to rethink hostile approach to skilled migrants, here: https://www.nzinitiative.org.nz/reports-and-media/opinion/govt-needs-to-rethink-hostile-approach-to-skilled-migrants/
Eric Crampton sits down with Graeme Jarvis, CEO of Medicines NZ to discuss IP issues around the Covid-19 vaccines and how bottlenecking supply is keeping us from getting the world vaccinated.
Roger Partridge and Oliver Hartwich discuss the Fair Pay Agreements proposal and how it would be likely to harm productivity and not be in the interests of workers, the unemployed, consumers, and overall wellbeing.
You can read our 2019 report, Work in Progress: How Fair Pay Agreements would be bad for labour, here: https://www.nzinitiative.org.nz/reports-and-media/reports/work-in-progress-why-fair-pay-agreements-would-be-bad-for-labour/
In Oliver Hartwich's latest Newsroom column, he discusses Europe's current insolvency situation and asks if the recovery will be worse than the recession. Oliver is joined by Eric Crampton and Damien Grant to discuss this further, as well as what is happening in New Zealand when it comes to insolvencies.
Following the release of his research note, Rent controls: The next mistake in housing policy, Dr David Law highlights some of the issues of rent controls and explains why it is often older, and high-income earners who end up benefitting the most when rent controls are introduced.
Read David's research note here: https://bit.ly/3usrZLY
A few days after attending his New Zealand citizenship ceremony, Oliver Hartwich sits down for a chat about his journey to becoming a Kiwi and what he's learnt after nine years in New Zealand.
The New Zealand Initiative's executive director Dr Oliver Hartwich and the Taxpayers' Union executive director Jordan Williams discuss their views on fiscal incentives for councils as a way to encourage more houses to be built.
In our latest podcast, Dr Oliver Hartwich and Dr Eric Crampton discuss what's been on their minds this week - including the Regulatory Responsibility Act and how policy regimes are becoming uncertain and unpredictable.
On Newstalk ZB, Mike Hosking discusses the recent NZ Herald article by Matt Burgess, To support lower emissions, oppose the Climate Commission's plan (7 April 2021)
Read Matt's column here: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/matt-burgess-to-support-lower-emissions-oppose-the-climate-commissions-plan/CRENSDBLLTQBRQHDXLDCNTEZUY/
In this week's Initiative podcast, and ahead of the Trans Tasman bubble opening up on 19 April 2021, Dr Eric Crampton discusses safety measures that should be in place to make this a success and, hopefully, put New Zealand on track to open up bubbles with other low-risk countries.
Read 'Safe Arrivals' here: https://www.nzinitiative.org.nz/reports-and-media/reports/research-note-safe-arrivals/
Dr Oliver Hartwich and Dr David Law discuss the details of the government's new housing package and what it will mean for the housing market, house prices and first home buyers. They also discuss the consequences for the rental market.
Following the release of his 2020 report, Pharmac: The right prescription? Dr Bryce Wilkinson shares his thoughts on the Government's recently announced review into Pharmac's operating model and budget.
Read Pharmac: The right prescription? here: https://www.nzinitiative.org.nz/reports-and-media/reports/pharmac-the-right-prescription/
Matt Burgess and Oliver Hartwich sit down to discuss Oliver's recent Newsroom column on what we can learn from the European ETS experience, and how it relates to some of the finer points in the Climate Change Commission's draft emissions report.
Column available here: https://bit.ly/3d9tU0x
Oliver Hartwich, Eric Crampton, Bryce Wilkinson and David Law discuss the Government's new housing package.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel won't be running for another term, but that is about the only certainty in this year's elections. Oliver Hartwich shares his views on who will succeed Merkel on the Initiative's weekly podcast.
He writes more about this topic in his Newsroom column (9 March 2021).
Following the release of our latest report, Educational Performance and Funding in New Zealand: Are our children getting the education they deserve? Senior Fellow and co-author of the report Dr David Law delves into the results and explains that a high level of education spending, doesn't always equate to a high level of performance in our schools. Read the full report here: https://bit.ly/3sKyN6g
New, accurate, and rapid saliva-based PCR testing for Covid-19 has started to be used in New Zealand, after being validated by the University of Illinois in 2020.
The New Zealand Initiative Chief Economist, Dr Eric Crampton, and Rako Science Executive Director, Leon Grice, discuss the benefits of this test and how it makes daily testing possible for those who work at the New Zealand border.
Leonard Hong's report, The Need to Build: The demographic drivers of housing demand, outlines why the worst of the housing crisis is yet to come. Even with net-zero migration for the next 20 years, we need to build close to 20,000 additional dwellings annually.
It is imperative to build now and fast.
In this week's podcast, Senior Economist Matt Burgess provides an update on the Climate Change Commission's draft emissions report.
Oliver Hartwich talks about the Government's proposal for a new New Zealand history curriculum.
Oliver Hartwich expands on his February 2021 Newsroom column, where he discusses how the EU's Covid-19 vaccine rollout disaster is shredding the Commission's credibility.
Senior Economist Matt Burgess shares his thoughts on the Climate Change Commission's draft report to the Government on the steps it should take to reduce emissions in New Zealand.
The Initiative's executive director, Dr Oliver Hartwich, shares his thoughts about the Government's response to the recent Climate Change Commission's report, which outlined a path to achieve more ambitious greenhouse gas reductions, in this Magic Talk interview.
In this week’s New Zealand Initiative podcast, Oliver Hartwich and Chelsy Killick interview our Senior Economist Matt Burgess, who has been looking at climate change policy for the last couple of years.
The Climate Change Commission is due to release the first emissions budget. A good opportunity for Matt to talk through New Zealand’s current climate change policies and discuss what the Commission is likely to recommend.
In his latest podcast on Newstalk ZB, Leighton Smith talks to Oliver Hartwich about citizenship, the Emissions Trading Scheme, China, education, and other matters.
Oliver Hartwich talks to Tom Switzer on ABC radio about the NZ election and why voters chose health over wealth.
Eric Crampton talks to Bryan Crump on Radio NZ Nights about the problem with climate policy and how this can be utilised for an effective Covid recovery.
Following the release of her new book New Zealand's Education Delusion: How bad ideas ruined a once world-leading school system, author Briar Lipson discusses her research and findings with Sean Plunket on MagicTalk.
New Zealand is envied for its zero community cases of Covid-19, but the economy is hurting and the current hard border closure is controversial.
Oliver Hartwich talks to Phillip Adams on ABC Radio Australia about how successful New Zealand really is. They also discuss a range of other topics, including the upcoming election and referendums, monetary policy and immigration.
Oliver Hartwich talks to Leighton Smith on Newstalk ZB about a wide range of topics including why this election matters greatly, the most important matters to keep in mind when we vote, monetary stability, goals and inflation measuring.