Media release: Why the ETS is sufficient to deal with the climate emergency

Wellington, 10 December 2020 - Thanks to the work of successive climate change ministers from David Parker to James Shaw, New Zealand has a world-leading Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). We should rely on it to drive down our carbon emissions, argues the Initiative’s executive director Dr Oliver Hartwich. Read more

Media release
10 December, 2020

Media release: Don’t lift the minimum wage, new report warns

Wellington, 3 December 2020 - Calls to lift the minimum wage will not fix inequality and could end up hurting the most vulnerable – particularly during a recession, according to a new report by the New Zealand Initiative. The report is a response to a joint paper released last week by the Helen Clark Foundation and the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research which suggested lifting the minimum wage (presently set at $18.90) to a “living wage” of $22.10, among other proposals. Read more

Media release
3 December, 2020

Media release: Ardern shouldn’t blame returning Kiwis for high house prices

Wellington, 12 November 2020 - The prime minister is wrong to just blame returning Kiwis for rising house prices, according to a research note by the New Zealand Initiative. During an interview with Mike Hosking last week, prime minister Jacinda Ardern said New Zealanders coming home after Covid-19 was a major factor in record levels of home lending. Read more

Media release
12 November, 2020

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