About our events

The New Zealand Initiative holds events throughout the year to promote debate, disseminate ideas, and connect with our supporters. Our events include public forums, conferences, and debates. We also organise outreach activities with secondary schools, universities, and young professionals.

Public Forums: The Initiative occasionally hosts larger public events with prominent international speakers. These events are a great opportunity to discuss ideas and meet new people in an informal setting.

Member-only Events: Exclusive to members to the Initiative.

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Upcoming Public Forums

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Members Events

JulianDarby feature

Next Generation Debates 2014 Auckland Semi-final

Come along and listen to some of New Zealand’s top university debaters battle it out with the moot: Progressive tax rates are unfair. We will have panellists Julian Darby of Russell Investments and Roger Partridge, Chairman of The New Zealand Initiative. Read more

12 August, 2014
Auckland
AlainBertaud feature

The future of our cities with Alain Bertaud

In recent decades, urban planners have been inventing all sorts of abstract objectives to justify their plans for our future cities: smart growth, liveability, and sustainability are among the most recent fads. There is nothing wrong, of course, for a city to be smart, liveable, or sustainable. Read more

28 July, 2014
Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch
TimWilson feature

Freedom, the fundamental human right with Tim Wilson

The Australian government recently appointed Tim Wilson, an outspoken classical liberal, to its Human Rights Commission. Commissioner Wilson's agenda is ambitious: He seeks to promote a culture of rights and responsibilities so that every citizen understands their rights and confidently stands up for them against government encroachment. Read more

30 June, 2014
Auckland and Wellington
JasonKrupp feature

Report Launch: Up or Out? Examining the Trade-offs of Urban Form

Co-authored by Jason Krupp and Khyaati Acharya, the report analyses the assumption that in order to accommodate an ever-growing population cities need to build up, not out. The idea behind this suggestion is that denser, more compact cities achieve higher levels of productivity, greater housing affordability, better health outcomes and less traffic congestion. Read more

17 June, 2014
Wellington
JamesAllan feature

Democracy in Decline with Professor James Allan

The New Zealand Initiative invites you to the launch of James Allan's new book Democracy in Decline. Professor Allan will speak at public events in Wellington, Auckland and Christchurch on 12, 13 and 14 May. Read more

12 May, 2014
Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch
BryceWilkinson feature

Report Launch: Open for Business

Join us for the launch of the final report in a series on foreign direct investment (FDI). Co-authored by Dr Bryce Wilkinson and Khyaati Acharya, Open for Business makes bold recommendations to open our markets to international capital. Read more

5 May, 2014
Wellington
CatherineIsaac feature

Members' Retreat 2014

Our Retreat is the chance to discuss social and economic issues with members and bring those issues to the attention of New Zealand’s leading politicians. Please contact Chelsy at chelsy.blair@nzinitiative.org.nz for further information. Read more

13 March, 2014
Auckland
  Member only event
RosePatterson feature

Report Launch: Teaching Stars with John Morris and Rose Patterson

Please join us for the launch of John Morris and Rose Patterson’s final report on teacher quality, where they will discuss how New Zealand can transform teaching into a profession. The first in a three part series of reports identified that teachers are New Zealand’s greatest educational asset. Read more

5 March, 2014
Wellington
OliverHartwich feature

Old World Crisis, New World Future

The New Zealand Initiative invites you to a presentation on how global population changes and economic repolarisation are ushering in a new world order. The future will increasingly be dominated by the Asia-Pacific region. Read more

11 February, 2014
Wellington
JohnMorris feature

Report Launch: World Class Education?

John Morris and Rose Patterson have been investigating the factors influencing the quality of New Zealand’s teaching profession. Join us for the launch of their first report in a series of three. Read more

7 October, 2013
Auckland
BillEnglish feature

Towards a New Localism

LGNZ and The New Zealand Initiative invite you to a panel discussion on alternative options to enable stronger local economies throughout New Zealand By international standards, New Zealand has one of the world's most centralised forms of government. In other OECD economies, local government runs health and police services, accounts for the majority of public investment, and typically controls a third of public spending. Read more

2 October, 2013
Wellington
MiroSummit feature

The Miro Summit

The Miro Summit is an exceptional opportunity for members of your leadership team to be challenged, provoked, and informed by taking them out of their day-to-day jobs. In today’s economy, running successful businesses takes more than excellent business skills. Read more

26 September, 2013
Auckland
  Member only event

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