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
Germany has voted. The result is not an earthquake, but a landslide. Read more
If all political careers end in failure, then Angela Merkel is the exception to the rule. When Germany goes to the elections on Sunday, the chancellor will not seek re-election after 16 years in power. Read more
In 2016, Australia agreed to purchase 12 conventionally powered Attack Class submarines from France. The deal cost AU$50 billion. Read more
Recalling ambassadors from one’s allies is a special kind of diplomatic fireworks. Following the announcement of the new AUKUS defence alliance with Britain, France did just that to the US and Australia. Read more
Reading the great philosophers is intimidating: Long sentences, difficult language. Now there is hope for us mortals. Read more
There is an anecdote about Christopher Columbus, which still holds a lesson for us today. After his first voyage to the new world, Spanish Cardinal Mendoza hosted a banquet for Columbus. Read more
I had a dream. It is November 2021, and I have just tuned in to the Prime Minister’s daily press conference. Read more
Is there anything about this worldwide pandemic that we have not talked about sufficiently after one and a half years? Countless articles, essays, and speeches have shed light on nearly every aspect of the situation. Read more
My European friends and family have all had Covid shots over the past few months. They proudly showed me their fancy vaccination certificates (with QR codes) over Zoom as if to rub it in. Read more
I do not want to write about the Crowne Plaza exercise area. Or the glacial pace of immunisation rollout. Read more
Germany will go to the polls on September 26. But that is about the only thing you can count on. Read more
It was a small achievement but one that made climate change minister James Shaw proud. Last week, Wellington’s CentrePort deployed its first seven all-electric container movers. Read more
Today is a special anniversary. On this day, 60 years ago, the Berlin Wall was built. Read more
What is the most successful Volkswagen (VW) model? No, it is not the Golf, not the Tiguan and not the all-electric ID.3. Read more
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. Read more
