Wellington (30 October 2017): As the new Labour/NZ First Government pushes for stronger regional development, New Zealand should learn from the country that does regional development best. And that country is Switzerland, argues a new report by think tank The New Zealand Initiative. Read more
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The new Labour/NZ First government should be looking to Switzerland for inspiration when it comes to implementing some of its key policies, for example its unique local governance system. Oliver Hartwich explains why. Read more
The new government has suggested a $20 minimum wage in 2021, is the same as a $17.50 minimum wage today. Eric Crampton tells Mike Hosking there are already good numbers from MBIE around the effects of minimum wage increases. Read more
The new government will follow Labour's policies with immigration, the coalition agreement with NZ First has revealed. The document made public yesterday briefly outlined how the parties together would 'ensure work visas issued reflect genuine skills shortages.' There's also a promise to take 'serious action on migrant exploitation,' but didn't mention any specific number cuts, or what visa categories such cuts would come from. Read more
Wellington (19 October 2017): Yesterday, the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment released a NZIER report that discredits a WorkSafe NZ safety campaign that started in November 2011. In our report, A Matter of Balance: Regulating Safety, in July 2015, we criticised the government and officials for launching a costly campaign to reduce workplace falls from heights of less than three metres. Read more
The number of people killed on our roads has continually risen over the last four years. Sam Warburton explains why on Breakfast. Read more
Oliver Hartwich talks to Ross Greenwood on 2GB, Sydney's premier news and talk radio station, about Winston Peters deciding to back Jacinda Ardern as the next Prime Minister of New Zealand. Read more
Sam Warburton says authorities should have identified the rising trend in road deaths sooner and could have saved lives by acting faster to improve safety. Radio NZ interviews him about this subject. Read more
To help us make sense of what Trump's policies mean for America's trading partners like New Zealand, we are hosting a special members’ lunch with U.S. economist and political commentator Daniel J. Read more
The discussion about the road toll has risen in recent weeks. Larry Williams asks Sam Warburton whether the road toll is actually increasing when you also look at things like population growth and the numbers of cars on the road. Read more
Sam Warburton looked at the data and gives Alison Mau his overview of the situation we are currently in with road deaths. Read more
Wellington (12 October 2017): Whatever government forms after coalition negotiations should listen to Wellington City Council’s proposal for a Wellington City Accord, says The New Zealand Initiative. Official Information Act requests today revealed that Wellington City Council has asked the government for expanded powers for the city, whether through a City Accord modelled on Greater Manchester’s City Deal, or through a Special Economic Zone. Read more
Alison Mau interviews Eric Crampton on RadioLIVE about Wellington City Council's request for expanded powers for the city. Whether through a City Accord modelled on Greater Manchester’s City Deal, or through a Special Economic Zone. Read more
Foreign investment is an important subject in the coalition discussions, with New Zealand First pushing hard to restrict foreign property sales. Chief Economist Eric Crampton talks with Mike Hosking about the effects on the economy if there will be a major concession done in this area. Read more