MEDIA

Wellington (28 September 2016): The way we financially support students through tertiary education must be changed, says public policy think tank The New Zealand Initiative, following the announcement that the amount owed in default payments by overseas borrowers now exceeds the $1 billion mark. Having zero interest on domestic-based loans was a way of discouraging borrowers from moving abroad, but as we surpass this milestone it can hardly be called a success. Read more

Wellington (21 September 2016): The New Zealand Initiative has offered its enthusiastic support for Chris Bishop’s member’s bill that will improve the compensation provided to live organ donors. The Initiative’s Head of Research, Dr Eric Crampton, said, “Every live kidney transplant saves the government over $120,000 compared to leaving someone on dialysis. Read more

Dr Randall Bess speaks on Radio New Zealand's 'Nine to Noon' programme about the current state of fisheries management in New Zealand following the launch of his new report. Read more

Dr Randall Bess discusses his new report, What's the Catch? The state of recreational fisheries in New Zealand with Mike Hosking. Read more

Research Fellow Dr Randall Bess discusses his new report What's the Catch? on TV3's 'Story' (13 September). Read more

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Our Head of Research, Dr Eric Crampton, talks to Newstalk ZB about our latest report, Signal Loss: what we know about school performance. Read more

Wellington (19 August 2016): The New Zealand Initiative has called the Productivity Commission’s latest draft report a timely reminder that system-wide change is needed to fix the country’s poorly functioning planning system. “Over the past 25 years it has become increasingly apparent that our planning system is not fit for purpose, the most obvious sign being the sharp increase in house prices in our fastest growing cities,” said Research Fellow Jason Krupp. Read more

Wellington (18 August 2016): New Zealand’s interest-free student loan scheme has not achieved its policy objectives and fails to help students from poorer backgrounds access tertiary education, according to the latest report from The New Zealand Initiative. Launched today, the report ‘Decade of Debt: The cost of interest-free student loans’, found the scheme has had little influence on improving equitable access to higher education. Read more

Jason Wells on NBR Radio with John Stewart discusses Initiative's charities report. Read more

Wellington (12 August 2016): ​The New Zealand Initiative today welcomed Minister Maggie Barry’s Heritage Earthquake Upgrade Incentive Programme (EQUIP). “Owners of heritage buildings are too often caught in an invidious position,” commented The Initiative’s Head of Research, Dr Eric Crampton. Read more

Wellington (5 August 2016): Public policy think tank The New Zealand Initiative will be hosting Henry Olsen, America’s top election analyst, in Auckland on 15 – 16 August. Described as “the smartest commentator on American politics and elections out there” (Robert P. Read more

That is the question that policymakers in New Zealand have been pondering for over 170 years. It is not a simple question to answer. Read more

Wellington (25 July 2016): The people of the larger Wellington area were right to vote against amalgamation and avoid the expensive tangle of red tape. We are seeing Auckland struggling to be efficient and address issues effectively and in a timely way. Read more

Our Executive Director, Dr Oliver Hartwich, talks to Newstalk ZB about where the New Zealand economy is headed, and whether high house prices are preventing us from developing the real economy. Read more