Wellington has little to gain and a lot to lose by opting for a super-city, argues Oliver Hartwich. New Zealand’s local government units are typically already large by international standards. Read more
There's an old saying that goes ''if you always do what you've always done, then you will always get what you've always got''. While hardly the most enlightening insight of the century, it is advice both major parties in Parliament seem to have taken on board this year. Read more
This column is either four months too late or three months too early, depending on if you are looking at last year’s general election or this year’s government budget announcement. Nevertheless, it is always a fortuitous time to put the spotlight on the corrupt vein running through the heart of every democracy: bribing the public with its own money. Read more
Australian politics always enjoys a reputation for being just a little more vicious than elsewhere. You only need to think of the way in which Abbott’s Labor predecessors Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard fought each other between 2008 and 2014. Read more
Could the Green Party of Aotearoa become an environmental party that was neutral, if not liberal on economic issues? Must it see economic growth and a healthier environment as opposites rather than complements? Read more
With security increasingly on the agenda of politicians, it’s a good time to ask whether New Zealand’s 5-year passport regime is adequate. Last year, the Taxpayers’ Union released an in-depth, comprehensive and well-rounded report prompting debate about the cost of New Zealand’s passports. Read more
When Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis visited his German counterpart Wolfgang Schäuble in Berlin last week, there was a telling scene at their joint press conference. Schäuble, in trying to keep a diplomatic semblance of harmony despite the fundamental disagreements between the two governments, claimed that they had “agreed to disagree”. Read more
Abel Tasman beach is not only a beautiful South Island spot. It also shows us the beauty of property rights. Read more
There are many things one might accuse the new Greek government of: scaring investors, breaching diplomatic protocol or rather odd sartorial choices. In fact, new finance minister Yanis Varoufakis has ticked all those boxes in his first week in office. Read more
It turns out that you can both agree with Local Government New Zealand that we need to change how local government is financed, and with the Taxpayers’ Union that a lot of local governments could be more efficient. I think we can manage to hit both targets with one instrument in this case: fixing how local government is financed can help to make local government more efficient. Read more
There’s a lot to like in Local Government New Zealand’s report on local government finances. The report gets one very important thing right: It’s time that central government moved to tie local government finances more closely to local government performance to encourage development. Read more
Lower prices from productivity gains and lower import prices relative to export prices are a good thing. Yet many overseas commentators worry about price deflation. Read more
It turns out that you can both agree with Local Government New Zealand that we need to change how local government is financed, and with the Taxpayers’ Union that a lot of local governments could be more efficient. I think we can manage to hit both targets with one instrument in this case: fixing how local government is financed can help to make local government more efficient. Read more
After what have been a turbulent few weeks for the Australian Prime Minister, the isolated chirps that Abbott should resign have reached a united cacophony after the Queensland election last weekend. In fact, on Wednesday, iPredict was trading at a 75 percent probability that Abbott departs as leader by July. Read more
This is an organisation that is well acquainted with heated discussions on contentious topics. None, it turns out, as touchy as neckties. Read more