MEDIA

Wellington, 10 August 2020 - State-integrated schools are the best value for money compared with private and state schools, according to a new report by The New Zealand Initiative. Many parents want their kids to go to private schools. But new data crunched by policy analyst Joel Hernandez shows state-integrated schools may be a better choice. A state-integrated school generally has a special character. For instance, a religious belief (e.g. Catholic) or a specialist teaching method such as Montessori. Read more

State-integrated schools offer best value for money compared to their private and public counterparts and on average students at state-integrated schools are likely to gain university entry qualifications. Read more

Roger Partridge tells Corin Dann on Morning Report that border exemptions for critical workers have become a bit of a lottery. A survey among New Zealand Initiative members show that large projects are stalling, major plant commissions are being deferred and senior executives and their families are marooned overseas. Read more

Wellington, 28 July 2020 – Should the government buy medicines for people who could afford the drugs themselves? This is one question asked in a new report by think tank The New Zealand Initiative. Written by Bryce Wilkinson, the report analyses the government’s drug-buying agency Pharmac. Pharmac: The right prescription? gives credit to Pharmac for lowering the costs of many medicines. It achieved this through a combination of buying power and tough commercial negotiations. Read more

Following the release of his new report Pharmac: The right prescription?, Bryce Wilkinson talks to Mike Hosking on Newstalk ZB about the Pharmac funding model. Read more

Wellington, 23 July 2020 – New Zealand needs to ‘raft up’ with other Covid-free countries while building stronger border capabilities, according to a new report by The New Zealand Initiative. And a voucher programme for helping returning Kiwis cover the cost of managed isolation could help New Zealand’s managed isolation system safely scale up. The report Safe Arrivals begins from the principle that safe entry should be allowed and that risky entry must be made safe. Read more

As we expect the Covid-19 pandemic to continue for many months if not years, we must find ways to re-engage with the world safely. Read more

Eric Crampton discusses his new report on how New Zealand’s border capabilities can be safely scaled-up with Mike Hosking on Newstalk ZB. He says instead of charging returning Kiwis for their stay in managed isolation, the government could provide them with vouchers. It would help offset the cost of a stay at a basic facility. Read more

New Zealand is envied for its zero community cases of Covid-19, but the economy is hurting and the current hard border closure is controversial.Oliver Hartwich talks to Phillip Adams on ABC Radio National about how successful New Zealand really is. They also discuss a range of other topics, including the upcoming election and referendums, monetary policy and immigration. Read more

Research fellow David Law discussed tax issues and how New Zealand will pay for Covid-19 on Radio New Zealand - The Panel hosted by Wallace Chapman. Read more

Mike Hosking explains on Newstalk ZB why it is so important to read Oliver Hartwich's latest NZ Herald article "A return to normal? Forget about it." Read more

Oliver Hartwich talks to Leighton Smith on Newstalk ZB about a wide range of topics including why this election matters greatly, the most important matters to keep in mind when we vote, monetary stability, goals and inflation measuring. Read more

The ACT party has announced its new employment insurance policy that allows a taxpayer to claim 55% of their average weekly earnings if they lost their job. Read more

Wellington, 25 June 2020 - The US experience with cannabis legalisation is as diverse as its many models – each state runs things differently, according to a new research project by the New Zealand Initiative. The Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill referendum is booked for 19 September, and all sides of the cannabis debate will want to pick examples that best fit their position. The New Zealand Initiative has produced a primer on the US experience, highlighting the policies and... Read more

The average cost of each stay by Kiwis in hotel quarantine here is over $3,000. That cost is being footed by the taxpayer.Eric Crampton explains on TVNZ Seven Sharp how the government could provide vouchers for the cost of quarantine services. Read more