They say a week's a long time in politics. But perhaps this week is feeling longer than most for some punters as they get their wallets around various new taxes and the end of old subsidies. Read more
This month’s Dollars & Sense asks business sector leaders what they’d like politicians to promise on the campaign trail. Dr Bryce Wilkinson was interviewed by NBR's Jonathan Mitchell. Read more
Sean Plunket talks to economist Eric Crampton from the New Zealand Initiative about the Green Party's proposed cap on rent rises.
Read here
Read more
The Ministry of Education is being criticised for its new draft of the science curriculum. The proposal doesn't appear to list physics and chemistry, but instead focuses on climate change, biodiversity, the food-energy-water nexus, and infectious diseases. Read more
Sean Plunket talks to Dr Bryce Wilkinson from the New Zealand Initiative about the 28% rise in public service staff since Labour won in 2017.
Read here Read more
With numbers of those employed in the public sector increasing by 28 percent, along with more top heavy well-paid managers and communication teams, and an increase in spending - a new report is questioning why the outcomes in government dominated sectors aren't performing better. An earlier study shows the best performing countries are capable of achieving the same public service outcomes as New Zealand for up to 49 percent fewer resources. Read more
Wellington (Thursday, 22 June 2023) – A new report by The New Zealand Initiative documents the grounds for concern about the public sector’s performance. It calls for those in charge to step up to learn from better-performing countries. Read more
Wellington (Monday, 19 June 2023) – The New Zealand Initiative has revealed that Victoria and Otago Universities employ more non-academic than academic staff, a situation prevalent in all New Zealand universities for the past decade. The findings, prepared by Drs. Read more
A new report into our infrastructure is highlighting New Zealand's over-reliance on public debt to fund our infrastructure deficit - which currently is at $210 billion. It warns of two issues - government being too involved in deciding what infrastructure should be built where, and borrowing excessively to fund new infrastructure. Read more
Wellington (Thursday, 15 June 2023) – Without more donors, the New Zealand Blood Service warns we will rely more heavily on imported plasma products. They’re right. Read more
Wellington (Wednesday, 14 June 2023) – The New Zealand Initiative is set to release a stimulating report this Wednesday, shedding new light on New Zealand’s infrastructure history and providing crucial insights for the future. Authored by Dr Matthew Birchall, Paving the Way: Learning from New Zealand’s Past to Build a Better Future explores the country’s triumphant infrastructure projects of the past and presents a compelling case for replicating those successes. Read more
NZ Initiative report champions private sector involvement, localism, and a positive attitude to development. NZ Initiative author Matthew Birchall speaks with Brent Edwards. Read more
Webinar: Learning from New Zealand's past to build a better future Join us for a webinar as we launch “Paving The Way: Learning from New Zealand’s Past to Build a Better Future.” Everyone is talking about New Zealand's infrastructure deficit. But few people know how successful we once were at delivering big-ticket items like roads, rails and bridges. Read more
Nights regular and chief economist with The New Zealand Initiative, Eric Crampton, talks to Mark about the Wellington rates review, and some recent results in urban economics. Read more
Questions are being raised over whether the Green Party's proposed tax overhaul is needed. It's pledging to lift the top tax rate to 45%, corporate taxes to 33%, and slash taxes for earners below $120,000. Read more