When law students first learn contract law, they learn that entering into a contract can happen in all sorts of ways. Only in the rarest of cases is a contract signed by both parties. Read more
Government sometimes cannot stop itself from providing bailouts when risk-taking goes wrong. This kind of ‘free’ insurance policy leads to no end of bad outcomes. Read more
The government is determined to shake up local government. It wants councils to get back to basics on core services and efficiency. Read more
Picture a rustic jetty on the shores of serene Lake Tarawera. Hanging off the jetty is a small swim ladder. Read more
The gig economy is driving a revolution in work, but our laws sometimes seem stuck in reverse. This week, Parliament finally took the wheel. Read more
It was an ambitious plan to make the European Union the world’s most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy within a decade. It aimed to boost innovation, productivity and economic growth across the bloc. Read more
Opposition leader Chris Hipkins has said that the Labour Party is looking at campaigning in 2026 on the need for heavier taxation. Capital gains taxes, wealth taxes and a land tax are “back on the table”. Read more
Curriculum and teacher quality are two essential pillars of any school education system. In New Zealand, both pillars are shaky. Read more
Look at the cover of our new report Demystifying the State. What do you see? Read more
The role of pets in politics came into focus on both sides of the Atlantic this week. First with President Trump’s comments that Haitian migrants were eating cats in Ohio, and then with British PM Kier Starmer bringing in a rival to the Chief Mouser to cabinet. Read more
Sometimes bad policy is good politics. At least over relevant political time horizons. Read more
The New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) has released its annual threat assessment, marking a pivotal moment in the country’s national security posture. This year’s report signals a dramatic shift from the approach of recent years, not just in its content but also in its unprecedented candour. Read more
There are a couple of ways to solve a problem like the Court of Appeal’s ruling that four Uber drivers are employees rather than contractors. Either of them would work. Read more
People with office jobs typically find it hard to explain what they do. Government officials are no exception. Read more
Last week, an Uber driver surprised me in a conversation about the recent Court of Appeal decision classifying four Uber drivers as employees rather than contractors. My driver was blunt. Read more