The New Zealand Initiative has welcomed news that Special Economic Zones (SEZs) are still under consideration by the Economic Development Minister Simon Bridges. We also note that government documents released under the Official Information Act show that Ministers Bill English and Steven Joyce were supportive of the proposal. Read more
The New Zealand Initiative’s new report calls on Government to ensure all schools are performing to the highest standards. Acknowledging that large parts of the education system work well, New Zealand cannot turn a blind eye to failures that exist within the system. Read more
The final report in our education series on school performance, Amplifying Excellence: Promoting Transparency, Professionalism and Support in Schools, is discussed on Newstalk ZB with report author Martine Udahemuka and Mike Hosking.
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Teachers could be rated based on how much they lift student achievement, if a big-business think tank has its way. The New Zealand Initiative, which says the combined revenue of its 54 member companies represents a quarter of the NZ economy, calls in a new report for better data to measure how good teachers are. Read more
Listen to Amplifying Excellence author Martine Udahemuka and President of the PPTA Jack Boyle discuss whether schools should control all of their own funding.
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Education Research Fellow at The New Zealand Initiative, Martine Udahemuka, speaks on The Project about the Initiative's latest education report on school performance, Amplifying Excellence: Promoting Transparency, Professionalism and Support in Schools. Read more
Originally published in The Fishing Paper and Hunting News - July 2017. Read more
The Initiative's Executive Director Dr Oliver Hartwich speaks to SBS Radio (in German) on our recent business delegation to Switzerland.
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We launched our newest education report, Amplifying Excellence: Promoting Transparency, Professionalism and Support in Schools, with a panel discussion in Wellington. The Minister of Education spoke at the event and was followed by our panel who gave their views on the report's findings and on NZ's education system. Read more
New research from a Roy Morgan poll looks into the concerns of Kiwi voters ahead of September's election - and it's housing affordability and inequality. Our Chief Economist Dr Eric Crampton and author Max Rashbrooke were on RadioLive to discuss what can be done to address these issues. Read more
Do you fancy living your lives more like the Swiss? It doesn’t mean developing a fondness for chocolate, fondue, beautiful watches or cuckoo clocks. Read more
Changes announced by the Minister Responsible for the Earthquake Commission, Gerry Brownlee, will help ensure a better recovery from future earthquakes. Minister Brownlee this week announced changes to the EQC Act that would make private insurers the first port of call for homeowners making claims after a disaster. Read more
On Sunday's Q+A programme, the panel discussed the new OECD report and give their take on how you, and the economy are really doing. The Initiative's Executive Director Dr Oliver Hartwich was on the panel with researcher and author, Max Rashbrooke and Kiwibank's Chief Economist Zoe Wallis. Read more
Wellington (15 June 2017): The OECD’s 2017 report on New Zealand endorses The New Zealand Initiative’s policy recommendations for New Zealand. The report, released today, stresses the importance of improving numeracy in our country’s schools; of reducing net public debt; of opening the country to foreign investment; of encouraging better local council decision-making by letting them share in the proceeds of economic growth; of bringing forward changes and, of better financing infrastructure. Read more
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