Submissions

This submission in response to the Emissions Reduction Plan supports the Zero Carbon Act’s goal of attaining net zero by 2050. We urge a greater focus on the Emissions Trading Scheme, enabling carbon prices to do more of the work in getting New Zealand to Net Zero, and avoiding policies that put net zero at risk by forcing higher-cost emission reduction strategies. Read more

The Ministry for the Environment’s discussion document suggests a container deposit return scheme as a way of reducing reliance on landfill, reducing litter, and increasing recycling. Of these, only reducing litter is a substantial policy concern. Read more

In making this submission, we have drawn on the research and recommendations in our report, Work in Progress: Why Fair Pay Agreements would be bad for labour (July 2019) (our Report). A copy of our Report is appended to this submission. Read more

The Initiative normally focuses on national-level policy. However, we are based in Wellington. Read more

This submission is in response to the Ministry for the Environment and Ministry for Primary Industry’s Discussion Document Managing exotic afforestation incentives. The Document proposes not awarding carbon credits through the ETS for permanent exotic forestry planting, despite the carbon sequestered in such forests, because of other perceived problems resulting from exotic forestry planting. Read more

We strongly oppose the proposed Social Unemployment Insurance. This submission explains why we believe that such an addition to the New Zealand welfare state is undesirable. Read more

This submission in response to the Commerce Commission’s (Commission) Residential Building Supplies Market Study Preliminary Issues Paperi is made by The New Zealand Initiative (the Initiative), a think tank supported primarily by major New Zealand businesses. In combination, our members employ more than 150,000 people. Read more

Our submission is the Emissions Reduction Plan cannot reduce emissionsunder a binding ETS. The government should have written this paper years ago. Read more

The Initiative undertakes research that contributes to the development of sound public policies in New Zealand and the creation of a competitive, open and dynamic economy and a free, prosperous, fair and cohesive society. The Initiative’s members include two New Zealand supermarket operators, Woolworths New Zealand and Foodstuffs North Island. Read more

The Initiative has, since its founding, undertaken substantial research into housing supply, zoning, and local government. About a third of the Initiative’s work for the past decade has been devoted to housing and local government. Read more

The Initiative has followed Covid policy closely since early 2020. We have published several reports and briefing notes on Covid policy; that work has included discussion of Covid testing and policy related to it. Read more

The New Zealand Initiative supports the government’s commitments under the Paris Climate Agreement and to achieve net zero emissions of long-lived greenhouse gases from 2050. We consider the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme (“ETS”) is among the world’s leading cap-and-trade systems for reducing greenhouse gases. Read more

The New Zealand Initiative supports the government’s emissions targets, including commitments under the Paris Climate Agreement and to net zero emissions of long-lived greenhouse gases from 2050. We consider the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme (“ETS”) is among the world’s leading cap-and-trade systems for reducing greenhouse gases. Read more

This submission in response to the Commerce Commission’s (Commission) Market study into the retail grocery sector draft report, is made by The New Zealand Initiative (the Initiative), a think tank supported primarily by major New Zealand businesses. In combination, our members employ more than 150,000 people. Read more

The Initiative welcomes the government’s decision to reform the planning system. The Resource Management Act (RMA) has been disastrous. Read more