Dr Oliver Hartwich discusses the concept of price-based immigration systems, whereby immigration would use entry fees as the primary determinant for who gains entry to a country. 5 May 2015. Read more
The idea of letting children as young as five vote on the flag referendum has been brought up in Parliament. Michael Gibson proposed the idea over a heated debate during public hearings. Read more
The idea of letting children as young as five vote on the flag referendum has been brought up in Parliament. Michael Gibson proposed the idea over a heated debate during public hearings. Read more
Wellington (29 April 2015): The New Zealand Initiative is calling the Productivity Commission’s draft report on effective social services a useful contribution to the debate on how government delivers more efficient services, as greater accountability is needed. Jenesa Jeram, researcher at The New Zealand Initiative said the Productivity Commission’s report showed that around $34 billion of taxpayers’ money is spent on health, education and social services per year, yet there is currently little accountability for whether these services are achieving the outcomes they are set up to achieve. Read more
Dr Oliver Hartwich discusses the Kiwi dollar on SBS Radio. Read more
Wellington (16 April 2015): The New Zealand Initiative has welcomed a review of the controversial decile funding system for schools, reported by the Sunday Star Times last weekend. Minister of Education Hekia Parata announced the government will review how it targets educational resources. Read more
Khyaati Acharya discusses modern feminism on the Paul Henry Show on 15 April 2015. Read more
Dr Oliver Hartwich appeared on Australia's ABC News on 14 April 2015 to discuss near parity between the Australian and New Zealand dollars, and the possibility of a trans-Tasman currency. Read more
The idea of a currency union with New Zealand is a perennial talking point, and with the kiwi dollar drawing close to parity with the Australian dollar it might seem like there’s never been a better time. However, as Sheryle Bagwell discovers, there’s not much appetite for an Anzac dollar across the Tasman. Read more
Wellington (23 March 2015): Central government needs to fulfil its long-neglected Resource Management Act obligations if it wants to boost mining activity and free communities from the stifling regulations that are choking off economic development in the rural regions. That is the main finding of From Red Tape to Green Gold, the second report in a two-part series by public policy think tank The New Zealand Initiative, which examines how regulation has prevented almost any form of mineral development in a country that ranks among the richest in the world on measures of resource endowment. Read more
Wellington (20 March 2015): Applying GST on low-value imports could easily backfire and end up doing more harm than good for the economy, The New Zealand Initiative warned today. Head of Research, economist Dr Eric Crampton said applying GST at the border only makes sense if there is a way of doing it that neither deters foreign retailers from shipping to New Zealand, nor imposes substantial hassles on Kiwis importing goods from abroad, nor proves too expensive to collect. Read more
Wellington (13 March 2015): If you have recently been told that economic growth makes us unhappy, that it spoils the environment and that it increases inequality in society, think again. That is the key message of a new report from public policy think tank The New Zealand Initiative. Read more
More than five-thousand submissions have been made on a controversial plan to create a Supercity in the Greater Wellington region. Read more
Greece – the hard work starts now. Read more