MEDIA

Wellington (Tuesday, 25 February 2025) - A new report by The New Zealand Initiative shows the government owns $571 billion in assets - equivalent to $275,000 for every Kiwi household. "The returns from these government-owned assets don't even cover the interest costs on the money borrowed to buy them," says Dr Bryce Wilkinson, author of The People's Portfolio: A $571 Billion Question. Read more

Dr Bryce Wilkinson talked to Mike Hosking on Newstalk ZB about his New Zealand Initiative report which found government-owned assets worth $571 billion aren't generating sufficient returns to cover borrowing costs. Dr Wilkinson suggested selling commercial assets and underutilised land while acknowledging the political challenges, as the government now pays 3.7 cents in interest for every tax dollar collected. Read more

Dr Oliver Hartwich talked to Ryan Bridge on Newstalk ZB about Germany's recent election results, where the Christian Democrats won with 28% while the far-right AfD achieved 20%, and the economic challenges facing the country. He explained how energy costs, bureaucracy, and migration policies contributed to political shifts, while noting that Germany will likely form another "Grand Coalition" between traditionally opposed parties to govern the nation. Read more

Ryan Bridge on Newstalk ZB highlights the New Zealand Initiative's report on government bureaucracy, which reveals that Aotearoa has 44 per cent more ministers, nearly triple the portfolios, and one and a half times more departments compared to similar nations. Bridge uses Ireland as a key comparison, emphasising how they manage with just 15 ministers and 18 departments, while questioning why New Zealand needs 78 portfolios and 40 agencies to function effectively. Read more

Wellington (Thursday, 13 February 2025) - The New Zealand Initiative welcomes Minister Willis’s commitment to enabling new grocery entrants into the New Zealand market but warns against politicising KiwiSaver. Initiative Executive Director Dr Oliver Hartwich said, “We have long argued that New Zealand’s restrictive planning and consenting frameworks have made it unnecessarily difficult for new entrants to establish a viable presence in the supermarket sector. Read more

Dr Oliver Hartwich spoke on The Platform's 'Free Speech Fridays' with Sean Plunket and Mark Champion on political controversy, HRC leadership and institutional changes. The discussion covered ministerial remarks, Steven Rainbow's Holocaust memorial speech, changes to public appointments including the Waitangi Tribunal, and media coverage of Treaty principles bill submissions. Read more

Dr Eric Crampton spoke to Sean Plunket on The Platform about privatisation. Watch below. Read more

Dr Michael Johnston spoke on RNZ Nights on how New Zealand schools are increasingly adopting Cambridge International qualifications alongside or instead of the national NCEA system, with a 20% increase in Cambridge enrollment in 2024 reaching nearly 8,000 students. The key differences between the systems are that Cambridge relies on end-of-year exams while NCEA focuses on internal assessments throughout the year, with the expert suggesting that while choice is good, New Zealand should ultimately aim to develop NCEA to a quality level that wouldn't necessitate international alternatives. Read more

Dr Oliver Hartwich was interviewed on Newstalk ZB about Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's announcement of Invest New Zealand, a new foreign investment agency modeled after Ireland's successful IDA Ireland model. He emphasised that while legislative changes could happen quickly, New Zealand needs to shift its mindset from being overly cautious about foreign investment to actively welcoming it, noting how Ireland transformed itself by embracing such investments for economic growth. Read more

Dr Michael Johnston talks to Heather du Plessis Allan on Newstalk ZB about new government legislation requiring universities to adopt freedom of speech statements and preventing them from taking positions on issues outside their core functions. Dr Johnston says while universities already have free speech obligations, the new legislation will provide needed complaints procedures and could help address what he sees as cultural problems in universities, though it isn't a complete solution. Read more

Dr Bryce Wilkinson talks to Heather du Plessis Allan on Newstalk ZB about the Treasury's half-year economic update, expressing concern about a delayed return to budget surplus and advocating for reduced government spending, which is currently running about 2% of GDP higher than pre-COVID levels. Listen below. Read more

Nick Clark talks about his latest report urging for local government reform. Listen below. Read more

A crucial discussion about transforming our local government system. The New Zealand Initiative’s new research reveals why councils struggle to deliver for their communities - and more importantly, how this can be fixed. Read more

Wellington (Tuesday, 10 December 2024) - New Zealand’s local government problems stem from a fundamental flaw that can be fixed, research released today reveals. “We have identified the root cause of council dysfunction: mayors and councillors lack the power to deliver what they promise voters. Read more

Dr Michael Johnston talks to Sean Plunket on The Platform about Massey University allegedly circulating a banner for staff emails featuring the "2020" logo, which is associated with opposition to David Seymour's Treaty Principles bill. Dr Johnston argues this violates the principle of institutional neutrality and reveals how a university staff member anonymously reported this to the Free Speech Union, though they are still awaiting official confirmation from the university's vice-chancellor. Read more