MEDIA

Wellington (21 February 2019): The Tax Working Group’s report released today proposes a broad-based top rate of 33% capital gains tax (CGT). The New Zealand Initiative argues in a new policy note, The Pitfalls of CGT, that headline rate would immediately push New Zealand to the top of the international CGT rankings among industrialised economies, just behind Denmark and Finland. Read more

The Tax Working Group’s report proposes a broad-based top rate of 33% capital gains tax (CGT). Patrick Carvalho explains to Larry Williams on Newstalk ZB why fully taxing capital gains would likely have undesirable effects on productivity, investment and growth, and impose significant compliance costs. Read more

New Zealand's tax brackets don't accurately reflect what counts as "high earning" in this country, critics say. Since 2008, the highest personal income tax rate has kicked in on earnings over $70,000 a year. Read more

A panel - chaired by the former National Prime Minister Jim Bolger - has made recommendations to the government on how best to set up Fair Pay Agreements that would set minimum terms and conditions for all workers in the same sector or occupation in a bid to stop a slide in pay. The report has yet to be made public, but the National Party has been told some of the recommendations - chiefly that a fair pay negotiation could be triggered with the support of just ten per cent of a workforce nationwide. Read more

Bryce Wilkinson discusses on TVNZ Breakfast his new report on KiwiBuild – the government programme to deliver 100,000 down-sized homes in 10 years. He explains why this policy is a waste of time and money and why it is not going to achieve worthwhile objectives. Read more

Wellington (22 January 2019): Decisive government action to free up the supply of land for housing and to reduce construction costs across the board is the only viable remedy for New Zealand’s housing affordability problem. KiwiBuild – the government programme to build or deliver 100,000 homes in 10 years ­– is a massive distraction from fixing the housing problem, according to a new research report, KiwiBuild: Twyford’s Tar Baby, released today by The New Zealand Initiative. Read more

Bryce Wilkinson discusses with Karyn Hay on Radio New Zealand the findings in his new report on KiwiBuild. He explains why the policy fails against all the objectives set for it. Read more

With Jacinda Ardern meeting with British Prime Minister Theresa May to discuss trade agreements, Dr Oliver Hartwich speaks to Newstalk ZB and says this is an important chance to discuss our post-Brexit trading relationship and a good opportunity to remind the Brits that there are other countries who would like to trade with Britain. 

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New Zealand workers on the minimum wage are set for a significant pay rise. The Government has announced it will increase the minimum wage to $17.70 an hour on April 1, with further increases to take it to $20 by 2021. Read more

Jenesa Jeram talks to Jim Mora about her new report on NZ Superannuation, stating that our pension age needs to rise and it should be linked to health expectancy. The report points out that New Zealand is one of the few countries that has a non-means-tested pension. Read more

Wellington (4 December 2018): New Zealand’s universal pension system is worth celebrating but could do with small tweaks to the model as the population ages, finds a new report titled Embracing a Super model: The superannuation sky is not falling, which was released by think tank The New Zealand Initiative. The pension age must rise and be linked to health expectancy, recommends Research Fellow Jenesa Jeram, to maintain a relevant relationship between retirement and receipt of superannuation. Read more

Jenesa Jeram discusses on The AM Show our new report Embracing a Super model: The superannuation sky is not falling. The report finds that New Zealand’s universal pension system is relatively affordable but could do with small tweaks as the population ages. Read more

In an interview with Larry Williams on Newstalk ZB, Dr Oliver Hartwich said he expects Cabinet to sign off on the deal, even though no one has really had time to read the 500-page document. "If it goes to the House of Commons, the Government could well lose the vote - which would be the end of May as Prime Minister," said Hartwich. Read more

On his regular Radio New Zealand Nights chat, Eric Crampton is taking a look at our fresh water. Read more

Following Canada's recent decision to legalise cannabis for recreational use, Dr. Eric Crampton discusses how this might work in New Zealand. Listen to his interview on Newstalk ZB below:

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