Our Senior Fellow Dr Bryce Wilkinson, a former Treasury director, joined Mike Hosking on Newstalk ZB to make sense of the fiscal plans dominating the election campaign. He read National’s numbers as a continuation of its effort since 2024 to return to surplus: holding the line on spending despite rising interest costs and an ageing population, and relying on economic growth to lift revenues and close the gap. Read more

Heather du Plessis-Allan discussed Dr Bryce Wilkinson's NZ Herald article on Newstalk ZB, drawing on his analysis of the 1970s oil shocks as a cautionary lesson for today's politicians. Dr Wilkinson argues that the government should resist pressure to intervene through price controls, subsidies, or fuel tax cuts, and instead rely on price signals and targeted income relief for the most vulnerable, while leaving risky energy investments to private capital. Read more

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. Read more