MEDIA

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

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

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

On NBR, Dr Eric Crampton and Dr Ganesh Nana presented opposing views on New Zealand's economic direction and government spending. While Nana argued for increased public investment in infrastructure and services to build long-term economic resilience, Crampton advocated for fiscal restraint and maintaining lower debt levels to preserve borrowing capacity for future crises. Read more

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

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

Emile Donovan spoke to Dr Eric Crampton on his show RNZ Nights about prediction markets and whether they are more accurate than polling. Listen below. Read more

Sean Plunket talks to Dr Eric Crampton on The Platform about whether social media bans for kids actuallly work. Watch below. Read more

On his show Canterbury Mornings on Newstalk ZB, John MacDonald discusses Dr Eric Crampton's recent article in The Post about the cost of heritage. Listen below. Read more

Simon O'Connor talks to Roger Partridge on Family Matters about his latest research report 'Who makes the law? Reining in the Supreme Court'. Read more

Paul Brennan talks to Dr Eric Crampton on Reality Check Radio about New Zealand’s alarming drop in birth rates, and why we ranked dead last in infrastructure delivery in a global survey. Listen below. Read more

Rodney Hide talked to Roger Partridge on Reality Check Radio to discuss his report “Who Makes the Law? Reigning in the Supreme Court”, which questions whether the lines between the Court and Parliament are becoming increasingly blurred. Read more

On the latest episode of his podcast Different Matters, Damien Grant talks to Roger Partridge about his latest report on the Supreme Court, in which he warns of a looming constitutional crisis in New Zealand, as the Supreme Court increasingly oversteps its bounds, threatening the balance of power between the courts and Parliament. Listen below. Read more

On his morning show on Newstalk ZB, Mike Hosking discussed Roger Partridge's latest piece in NZ Herald about tools to rein in judicial overreach. Listen below. Read more

Sean Plunket talked to Roger Partridge on The Platform about whether the Supreme Court has stepped outside its brief - the subject of Roger's latest research report "Who makes the law? Reining in the Supreme Court". Read more