Wellington (18 May 2016): The New Zealand Initiative has welcomed calls to scrap Auckland’s urban growth boundary, saying the evidence unambiguously shows that these sorts of policies artificially push the costs of housing up. This comes after Labour Housing Spokesman Phil Twyford today said his party would abolish Auckland’s city limits should it be voted into government. Read more
Wellington (12 May 2016): If the Government is committed to the goal of having a smoke-free New Zealand by 2025, a thorough debate about the regulations of e-cigarettes needs to be held, says The New Zealand Initiative. The Health of the State report, released by The New Zealand Initiative in April, looks at public health and lifestyle regulations. Read more
Our Executive Director, Dr Oliver Hartwich, talks to Guyon Espiner on Radio New Zealand about whether or not proposed taxes on sugar would be effective. Read more
Our Head of Research, Dr Eric Crampton, talks to Radio New Zealand about the effect of Mexico's sugar tax, suggesting that in order to emulate its effects New Zealand would need to impose a tax of at least $2 per litre of soda - something that not even public health researchers are proposing. Read more
Our Head of Research, Dr Eric Crampton, talks to Radio New Zealand about proposals for sugar taxes are not the silver bullets they are often made out to be. Read more
Our Executive Director, Dr Oliver Hartwich, joins Larry Williams on Newstalk ZB to discuss our latest publication, The Health of the State. Read more
Dr Oliver Hartwich discusses The Health of the State, The New Zealand Initiative's latest report on lifestyle taxes and regulations, such as sugar taxes, e-cigarettes and alcohol marketing, on TVNZ Breakfast on 21 April 2016. Read more
Wellington (20 April 2016): Regulations and taxes on sugar are unlikely to improve public health, a new report from The New Zealand Initiative says. The Health of the State report, released today, argues that paternalistic regulations have an adverse effect on society where freedom of choice is increasingly becoming permitted only with the consent of the state. Read more
Our Executive Director, Dr Oliver Hartwich, talked to Paul Henry about the tax announcements ahead of Budget 2016. Read more
Our Head of Research, Dr Eric Crampton, talks to Radio New Zealand about sugar taxes, and why we should value individual freedom and personal responsibility. Read more
Our Head of Research, Dr Eric Crampton, talks to Katie Bradford from One News following a poll showing that a majority of New Zealanders currently support a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages. CLICK HERE to view the video. Read more
Our Research Fellow, Jason Krupp, talks to Jesse Mulligan from Radio New Zealand about how other vibrant cities throughout the world deal with the inevitable tension between nightlight and community concerns. Read more
Wellington (4 April 2016): Health Minister Jonathan Coleman is right to be sceptical about sugar and soda taxes, says The New Zealand Initiative. “While a handful of countries have tried sugar taxes, evidence that they will work is not as convincing as public health experts suggest,” says policy analyst Jenesa Jeram. Read more
Our Executive Director, Dr Oliver Hartwich, talks to RadioLive's Ali Mau about the merits of Canada's refugee policy, which allows Canadian citizens and community groups to sponsor and support refugees. Read more
Our Executive Director, Dr Oliver Hartwich, joins Larry Williams on Newstalk ZB to discuss the Canadian approach to refugees, and why New Zealand should adopt a similar policy. CLICK HERE to listen to the audio. Read more