Bryce green web

Dr Bryce Wilkinson ONZM

Senior Fellow

Bryce is a Senior Fellow at The New Zealand Initiative, and also the Director of the Wellington-based economic consultancy firm Capital Economics. Prior to setting this up in 1997 he was a Director of, and shareholder in, First NZ Capital. Before moving into investment banking in 1985, he worked in the New Zealand Treasury, reaching the position of Director. Bryce holds a PhD in economics from the University of Canterbury and was a Harkness Fellow at Harvard University. He is a Fellow of the Law and Economics Association of New Zealand.

Bryce is available for comment on fiscal issues, our poverty, inequality and welfare research. He also has a strong background in public policy analysis including monetary policy, capital markets research and microeconomic advisory work.

Bryce was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2025 New Year's honours for his significant contributions to public policy formation and economic research, spanning his influential work at Treasury during New Zealand's major economic reforms and his extensive research on fiscal discipline and regulatory quality.

Phone: +64 4 499 0790

Email: bryce.wilkinson@nzinitiative.org.nz

Recent Work

The Platform: Dr Bryce Wilkinson on the Regulatory Standards Bill

Dr Bryce Wilkinson talked to Sean Plunket on The Platform about the Regulatory Standards Bill, explaining why the legislation is necessary despite seeming redundant. Dr Wilkinson argued that the bill elevates essential regulatory principles to a higher statutory status, ensuring government accountability and protecting individual rights by providing a check against potentially oppressive legislation. Read more

Dr Bryce Wilkinson ONZM
Michael Laws
The Platform
26 May, 2025

Preaching to the unconverted: My regulatory revelation

Last night, I found myself standing at St Peter’s Church for the “Red Tape Hui,” not to confess my economic sins, but to proselytise about the virtues of the prospective Regulatory Standards Bill. The event, hosted by Labour’s Greg O’Connor, MP for Ōhāriu and Assistant Speaker of the House, featured a panel including Dr Bryce Edwards from The Integrity Institute and Craig Renney from the Council of Trade Unions. Read more

Dr Bryce Wilkinson ONZM
Insights Newsletter
21 March, 2025

Podcast: The People's Portfolio: A $571 Billion Question

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. Read more

Dr Oliver Hartwich
Dr Bryce Wilkinson ONZM
28 February, 2025
NewstalkZB Mike Hosking square

Newstalk ZB: Dr Bryce Wilkinson discusses selling Crown assets to address rising debt costs

Dr Bryce Wilkinson talked to Mike Hosking on Newstalk ZB about his New Zealand Initiative report which found government-owned assets worth $571 billion aren't generating sufficient returns to cover borrowing costs. Dr Wilkinson suggested selling commercial assets and underutilised land while acknowledging the political challenges, as the government now pays 3.7 cents in interest for every tax dollar collected. Read more

Dr Bryce Wilkinson ONZM
Mike Hosking
Newstalk ZB
25 February, 2025
PP website thumbnail

Why does the government own $571 billion in assets?

Wellington (Tuesday, 25 February 2025) - A new report by The New Zealand Initiative shows the government owns $571 billion in assets - equivalent to $275,000 for every Kiwi household. "The returns from these government-owned assets don't even cover the interest costs on the money borrowed to buy them," says Dr Bryce Wilkinson, author of The People's Portfolio: A $571 Billion Question. Read more

Dr Bryce Wilkinson ONZM
Media release
25 February, 2025
The Peoples portfolio cover with outline v2

The People's Portfolio

This report shows the government owns $571 billion in assets - equivalent to $275,000 for every Kiwi household. "The returns from these government-owned assets don't even cover the interest costs on the money borrowed to buy them," says Dr Bryce Wilkinson, author of The People's Portfolio: A $571 Billion Question. Read more

Dr Bryce Wilkinson ONZM
25 February, 2025

Podcast: What the Regulatory Standards Bill really means

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. Read more

Dr Oliver Hartwich
Dr Bryce Wilkinson ONZM
24 January, 2025

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