Worried about President Trump? It might not be as bad as you think. Read more
Head of Research Dr Eric Crampton discusses inequality and poverty in New Zealand following the release of our report, The Inequality Paradox: Why inequality matters even though it has barely changed. Read more
Wellington (7 November 2016): The New Zealand Initiative welcomes and supports The Human Rights Commission’s call for greater protection for citizen’s property rights in New Zealand” said executive director, Dr Oliver Hartwich. The Initiative’s Head of Research, Dr Eric Crampton, adds, “The NZHRC’s reminder that property rights are human rights could not have a better exemplar than the Christchurch Red Zone. Read more
Economist Eric Crampton is appalled by the suggestion that there be any government money put into Joseph Parker's next fight. He joins the panel to express his digust on the matter. Read more
Wellington (18 October 2016): New Zealand’s inequality crisis is actually a housing crisis, a new report by The New Zealand Initiative says. Launched today, ‘The Inequality Paradox: Why inequality matters even though it has barely changed’ finds that too many New Zealanders are suffering real hardship, and this is largely due to very high housing costs. Read more
There are ominous rumblings of another European banking crisis this evening. Germany's biggest commercial bank, Deutsche Bank, is being asked to stump up $18 billion to US authorities for dodgy dealings in the lead up to the global financial crisis. Read more
Wellington (28 September 2016): The way we financially support students through tertiary education must be changed, says public policy think tank The New Zealand Initiative, following the announcement that the amount owed in default payments by overseas borrowers now exceeds the $1 billion mark. Having zero interest on domestic-based loans was a way of discouraging borrowers from moving abroad, but as we surpass this milestone it can hardly be called a success. Read more
Wellington (21 September 2016): The New Zealand Initiative has offered its enthusiastic support for Chris Bishop’s member’s bill that will improve the compensation provided to live organ donors. The Initiative’s Head of Research, Dr Eric Crampton, said, “Every live kidney transplant saves the government over $120,000 compared to leaving someone on dialysis. Read more
Dr Randall Bess speaks on Radio New Zealand's 'Nine to Noon' programme about the current state of fisheries management in New Zealand following the launch of his new report. Read more
Dr Randall Bess discusses his new report, What's the Catch? The state of recreational fisheries in New Zealand with Mike Hosking. Read more
Research Fellow Dr Randall Bess discusses his new report What's the Catch? on TV3's 'Story' (13 September). Read more
Our Head of Research, Dr Eric Crampton, talks to Newstalk ZB about our latest report, Signal Loss: what we know about school performance. Read more
Wellington (19 August 2016): The New Zealand Initiative has called the Productivity Commission’s latest draft report a timely reminder that system-wide change is needed to fix the country’s poorly functioning planning system. “Over the past 25 years it has become increasingly apparent that our planning system is not fit for purpose, the most obvious sign being the sharp increase in house prices in our fastest growing cities,” said Research Fellow Jason Krupp. Read more
Wellington (18 August 2016): New Zealand’s interest-free student loan scheme has not achieved its policy objectives and fails to help students from poorer backgrounds access tertiary education, according to the latest report from The New Zealand Initiative. Launched today, the report ‘Decade of Debt: The cost of interest-free student loans’, found the scheme has had little influence on improving equitable access to higher education. Read more