Podcast: The Long Road to Better Regulation

In this podcast episode, Eric and Bryce discuss the history of regulatory reform efforts in New Zealand since 2001, focusing on the development of the Regulatory Standards Bill and its original mechanism of court declarations of inconsistency. They explore how diminished trust in courts' interpretations of laws has complicated this approach today, while also examining why past attempts to ensure good regulatory quality have faced challenges. Read more

Dr Eric Crampton
Dr Bryce Wilkinson
29 November, 2024
NewstalkZB Mike Hosking square

Newstalk ZB: Dr Murray Horn says COVID report overlooks how government politicisation hampered pandemic response

Dr Murray Horn talked to Mike Hosking on Newstalk ZB criticising a newly released New Zealand government COVID report for being too generous in its assessment and missing key issues like excessive economic stimulus and poor utilisation of the private sector. In his discussion, Dr Horn particularly emphasised how the government's politicisation of the pandemic response and monopolisation of its execution prevented proper adaptation and learning from mistakes. Read more

Dr Murray Horn
Mike Hosking
Newstalk ZB
29 November, 2024
2024 11 29 media release website

Media release: The New Zealand Initiative welcomes employment law reform for high-income earners

Wellington (Friday, 29 November 2024) - The New Zealand Initiative welcomes today's announcement that New Zealand will follow Australia in excluding high-income earners from personal grievance claims for unjustified dismissal. The change implements recommendations from the Initiative's 2021 research note "Nothing Costs Nothing: Why unjustified dismissal procedures should not apply to the highly paid" (available here). Read more

Roger Partridge
Media release
29 November, 2024
NewstalkZB Mike Hosking square

Newstalk ZB: Mike Hosking discusses Dr Eric Crampton's take on Public Health Service submission for Wānaka McDonald's

On his show on Newstalk ZB, Mike Hosking discussed a case highlighted by Dr Eric Crampton about how a McDonald's opening in Wānaka requires extensive bureaucratic processes including an 8-page submission, cultural impact assessments, and planetary health considerations. Hosking agreed with Eric's view that this exemplifies everything wrong with the RMA, expressing frustration that what should be a straightforward business venture has turned into an expensive, bureaucratic "circus" involving multiple government agencies and cultural consultations. Read more

Mike Hosking
Newstalk ZB
27 November, 2024
Sean Plunket

The Platorm: Dr Eric Crampton reacts to health bureaucrats fighting against McDonald's in Wānaka

On The Platform, Dr Eric Crampton and Sean Plunkett discuss a controversial case where the National Public Health Service submitted objections to block McDonald's from opening in Wānaka, which Crampton characterises as an inappropriate and potentially vindictive use of the land-use planning process. The Health Minister has questioned the relevance of these submissions and raised the issue with Health New Zealand's Chief Executive, while both Crampton and Plunkett view this as emblematic of broader problems with bureaucratic overreach in New Zealand. Read more

Dr Eric Crampton
Sean Plunkett
The Platform
27 November, 2024
Michael Profile Square profile final

RNZ: Dr Michael Johnston calls for review of NCEA system

John Gerritsen on RNZ questions whether to keep NCEA Level 1, following an Education Review Office report that calls it unreliable and unclear in purpose. Dr Michael Johnston talks to RNZ saying the entire NCEA system needs review, particularly to create better pathways for students pursuing trades and apprenticeships rather than university. Read more

Dr Michael Johnston
RNZ
27 November, 2024

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