As a peak business advocacy group and a public policy think tank, BusinessNZ and The New Zealand Initiative are New Zealand’s pre-eminent business membership organisations that both follow and contribute to New Zealand’s debates. Join us for a lunchtime conversation with their leaders Kirk Hope and Oliver Hartwich on domestic and international challenges. Read more

Fiscal policy has been at the core of the Government’s agenda this year, not least through the recommendations of the Tax Working Group and the first Wellbeing Budget. We are delighted that Minister of Finance Hon. Read more

In a world characterised by growing protectionism, attacks on the rules-based world order and renewed regional tensions, trade policy has become more challenging. We look forward to discussing the implications for New Zealand with Vangelis Vitalis, MFAT Deputy Secretary and New Zealand’s chief trade negotiator. Read more

The New Zealand Initiative is proud to support Jonathan Haidt’s first visit to New Zealand. This will be a rare opportunity to meet one of the world’s most original thinkers in New Zealand. Read more

In 2012, US psychologist Jonathan Haidt rose to fame with the publication of his book The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided on Politics and Religion. In its review, The New York Times called Haidt’s book “a landmark contribution to humanity’s understanding of itself.” It has since gained widespread praise from commentators left, right and centre (see here). Read more

Fiscal policy has been at the core of the Government’s agenda this year, not least through the recommendations of the Tax Working Group and the first so-called Wellbeing Budget. We are delighted that Minister of Finance Grant Robertson has accepted our invitation to discuss his policy agenda with our members. Read more

Denmark is the destination for The New Zealand Initiative’s next business delegation. It follows in the footsteps of our 2017 mission to Switzerland, and it will once again provide opportunities to learn, to be surprised and to connect. Read more

We are hosting a members' lunch with Adrian Orr, Reserve Bank Governor. Adrian Orr has been the Governor of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) for a year. Read more

Professor Barbara Oakley is the co-creator of the world’s most popular online course: Learning How To Learn: Powerful mental tools to help you master tough subjects, which has helped over 2 million people to improve the way they learn new things. In this event she will be discussing the science behind how we learn, and how we can apply this research in the classroom. Read more

The Faculty of Education at Victoria University of Wellington and the New Zealand Initiative invite you to a moderated discussion involving representatives from the Tomorrow’s Schools Independent Taskforce, academia, schools and boards of trustees. Together we will explore some of the assumptions on which the taskforce has based its findings and some possible consequences of its recommendations, intended and otherwise. Read more

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

In conjunction with Air New Zealand, we will be hosting a dinner with Rt Hon. Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada, 2006 - 2015 in Auckland on 21 March 2019. Read more

Having won the leadership of the National Party in March this year, Hon Simon Bridges has begun a process of policy renewal. We are hosting a lunchtime discussion with the Leader of the Opposition to find out where he wants to take his party and the country. Read more

Trump. Brexit. Read more

There is a powerful business case for employing hard-working, talented and loyal refugees - it's much more than just corporate social responsibility. Philippe Legrain will present the findings of his ground-breaking international research that demonstrates the economic value of employing refugees, both for individual employers and for society as a whole. Read more