MEDIA

Dr Oliver Hartwich talks to Mark Sainsbury about New Zealand's housing crisis and the increasing debt burden for first home buyers. This follows the announcement from the Reserve bank saying the average Kiwis are struggling with record mortgage debt - with the average amount being borrowed jumping up 43% in the last two years to $390,000. Read more

The Prime Minister and Finance Minister are keeping tax cuts on the agenda, despite not knowing the cost of last week's earthquakes. Economist Bryce Wilkinson from the New Zealand Initiative says tax cuts must be able to be fund. Read more

Research Fellow and author of The Local Manifesto, Jason Krupp, discusses some of the key findings from the final report in our series on local government. The key findings from this report provide a practical means of making local government more accountable and transparent to communities. Read more

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