Oliver is the Executive Director of The New Zealand Initiative. Before joining the Initiative, he was a Research Fellow at the Centre for Independent Studies in Sydney, the Chief Economist at Policy Exchange in London, and an advisor in the UK House of Lords. Oliver holds a Master’s degree in Economics and Business administration and a PhD in Law from Bochum University in Germany.
Oliver is available to comment on all of the Initiative’s research areas.
Phone: +64 4 499 0790
In the wake of the attempted assassination of Donald Trump, all eyes were on the Republican National Convention. While Trump’s formal nomination as the GOP’s presidential candidate was a foregone conclusion, his choice of running mate raised eyebrows: JD Vance, the author of Hillbilly Elegy. Read more
On July 15, Foodstuffs North Island welcomed us to their Auckland headquarters for a high-profile event unveiling GDPLive's latest iteration - the world's first real-time GDP and inflation tracker. Acting Prime Minister Hon David Seymour, Foodstuffs North Island CEO Chris Quin, and Massey University's Professor Christoph Schumacher and Dr Teo Susnjak delivered compelling presentations on the platform's advancements. Read more
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. Read more
Folks, let me tell you about this thing, this beautiful, incredible thing we have. It’s called the Constitution. Read more
My fellow Americans, I used to carry around this little book. Or maybe it was a big book. Read more
The New Zealand Initiative's Executive Director Dr Oliver Hartwich and Senior Fellow Dr Matthew Birchall discuss Matthew's research note Driving Change: How road pricing can improve our roads. Read Driving Change here. Read more
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. Read more
The 2024 UK general election will go down in history as a seismic shift in British politics. But not for the reasons many commentators suggest. Read more
Recent events across the Western world paint a troubling picture. The unsettling Trump-Biden debate, the rise of populist parties in Europe, and a surge in Euroscepticism all point to a system in distress. Read more
As Peter Dutton promotes his vision of a nuclear-powered Australia, New Zealanders should also be thinking about their country’s energy future. Given the right energy policy choices, New Zealand would have a chance to redefine its economic future. Read more
Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) Chief Economist Paul Conway recently delivered a speech entitled “Inflation: the road back to 2%”. The speech ostensibly charted a path forward. Read more
Dr Michael Johnston discusses his new report Welcome to the Machine: Opportunities and risks of generative AI for education with Prof Barbara Oakley. Dr Oliver Hartwich moderates this discussion. Read more
“How can anyone govern a nation that has two hundred and forty-six different kinds of cheese?”, asked Charles de Gaulle in 1962. Well, after its forthcoming elections, a plethora of cheese varieties may be the least of France’s problems. Risks abound for both France and Europe. Read more
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. Read more
When it comes to international diplomacy, few nations can match New Zealand’s knack for unintentional hilarity. This week, we have once again found ourselves in the global spotlight, thanks to a series of aviation mishaps. Read more