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
You have to feel sorry for Prime Minister Bill English. Though he inherited a largely positive legacy from his predecessor, his young premiership is also saddled with the two large failures of the Key era: our out-of-control housing market and Key’s refusal to deal with NZ Super. Read more
Microsoft founder Bill Gates copped a lot of criticism for demanding an income tax for robots. That is unfair. Read more
Dr Oliver Hartwich speaks to Duncan Garner on The AM Show about immigration numbers in New Zealand, what effect these new arrivals are having on the housing market and discusses the impact on the New Zealand economy.
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As a German living in New Zealand, I have the rare privilege of following not one but two election campaigns this year. Both of them are fought under the obscure MMP electoral system, and both of them are culminating on the same weekend. Read more
It is more likely for a dog to compile an inventory of sausages than for a politician to build up financial reserves. At least that is how one former German finance minister, the late Franz Josef Strauss, once described the constant temptations for fiscal policy. Read more
As we head towards a series of budget surpluses, Executive Director Dr Oliver Hartwich discusses his thoughts on how these surpluses could be spent. To find out more read his column in The National Business Review from 10 February 2017. Read more
One of the most refreshing developments in New Zealand politics is the sudden appearance of Gareth Morgan’s Opportunities Party. No matter whether you love or loathe Morgan, it is uplifting to have a party that defines itself as an ideas and policy movement. Read more
Executive Director, Dr Oliver Hartwich, discusses our latest report, The New New Zealanders: Why migrants make good Kiwis, on Newstalk ZB with Leighton Smith.
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Dr Oliver Hartwich discusses our immigration report, The New New Zealanders: Why migrants make good Kiwis, on TV1 Breakfast, following the report launch.
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Dr Oliver Hartwich, Executive Director at The New Zealand Initiative, discusses the findings from our latest report, The New New Zealanders: Why migrants make good Kiwis.
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This week, the Initiative scored plenty of media mentions – not just in New Zealand but worldwide. Under normal circumstances, this would be a reason to celebrate. Read more
OPINION: This week, Demographia released their annual housing affordability survey. It has become a sad ritual at the beginning of each year to find out how unaffordable property has become across much of the English-speaking world. Read more
Following the release of the Demographia International Housing Affordability Survey, that had Sydney ranking second in the list of world's most unaffordable cities to own a home, Dr Oliver Hartwich discussed the housing crisis on Australia's ABC Radio.
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Executive Director Dr Oliver Hartwich discusses the results of the 13th Annual Demographia International Housing Affordability Survey results - that show Sydney as being second in the list of the world's most unaffordable cities to own a home, and Auckland at fourth.
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A new housing affordability study by Demographia shows: Buying a median house in Sydney is now more costly than in any other world city - with the exception of Hong Kong. Should we celebrate or mourn this fact? Read more