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 the 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
It is summer in Germany, and traditionally that is not good news. Or rather, it is not a good time for news. Read more
Don’t get me wrong, I love watching The Chase. However, I wish Stuff had covered New Zealand’s deteriorating education standards instead of running a series of long articles on a British TV trivia show this week. Read more
Dr Oliver Hartwich appears on The Bolt Report, Sky News, to discuss the bleak economic outlook for New Zealand. Read more
What does an unemployment rate of 3.2 per cent have in common with apples rotting on the trees in orchards? Both are signs of an overheated labour market. Read more
Oliver Hartwich interviews historians James Kierstead and Matthew Birchall, two new colleagues at the Initiative. To listen to our latest podcasts, please subscribe to The New Zealand Initiative podcast on iTunes, Spotify or The Podcast App. Read more
We can reasonably expect New Zealand’s economy to enter recession after the Reserve Bank raised its Official Cash Rate again by 50 basis points. No one likes being in recession, but current circumstances make it almost desirable. Read more
The Euro has lost ground against the united states dollar for the first time in twenty years. Oliver Hartwich joined Andrew Dickens, Newstalk ZB, to explain how this happened. Read more
As news of Boris Johnson’s imminent departure emerged last week, Newsroom Pro editor Jonathan Milne asked me if I wanted to write something about it quickly. Alas, I was attending a conference in Sydney. Read more
Oliver Hartwich talks to Rachel Smalley, Today FM about the greatest challenge facing New Zealand. He explains the work of The New Zealand Initiative and highlights it's research on public policy issues across the spectrum from local government, housing, planning and education. Read more
Oliver Hartwich talks to Wolfgang Müller, SBS Radio about how Australia and New Zealand are getting closer. He explains how the relationship has improved since the change in Australian government and what this means for New Zealanders living in Australia. Read more
Peta Credlin interviews Oliver Hartwich about New Zealand's increase in domestic issues (prolonged Covid lockdown, housing crisis, declining education standards, falling tourism, increase in crime, changes to democracy) and what Australia can learn from this. Read more
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. To read the transcript click here. Read more
In this week's podcast 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. OLIVER HARTWICH 0:05 Hello and welcome to the New Zealand Initiative’s Podcast. Read more
A major part of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s itinerary while in Europe this week included speaking at the NATO leaders’ summit in Spain. And what a good, powerful speech it was. Read more
“We have lost clarity of how we add value, why we are here, what we exist for.” That was among the findings in an internal review prepared by the New Zealand Transport Authority (NZTA), obtained by Radio New Zealand (RNZ). But that statement could equally apply to New Zealand as a whole. Read more