Newspapers are reporting increasing pressure from Germany for Spain to accept a European bailout. The story is all the more credible as the Spanish government, refusing a bailout, has strongly denied any such bullying. Read more
Eurocalypse Now? British Eurosceptic politician Daniel Hannan MEP debated Dr Ben Wellings from the Australian National University's Centre for European Studies in front of an audience of 140 people at the Auckland War Memorial Museum auditorium. Read more
Analysing the link between the Holocaust and the European crisis is far more interesting than solving the crisis. At least if you are German. Read more
Shaping the Policy Agenda Lessons from a Kiwi think tanker working in Europe. Shane Frith is a New Zealand politician and political activist. Read more
Dr Oliver Hartwich hosts our first Initiative@home on Wednesday 16 May. Initiative@home are invitation-only after-fives events held roughly every six weeks for our members and a small group of senior colleagues in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors. Read more
When New Zealand’s budget was handed down yesterday it was business as usual for the National-led coalition government. Prime Minister John Key’s government delivered another cautious, albeit sensible budget edging slowly in the right direction. Read more
As a newcomer to New Zealand, one of the biggest surprises to me was the degree of polarisation I perceived in its political discourse. In the complex world of 21st century globalisation the way in which debates are still conducted as "Left versus Right" is not only anachronistic. Read more
A new independent, non-partisan public policy think tank was launched today by Business Roundtable chair Roger Partridge and New Zealand Institute chair Tony Carter, following the merger of the two organisations on 1 April. The new think tank has been named The New Zealand Initiative. Read more
New Zealand’s youth are more disadvantaged than youth in other OECD countries on average, the disadvantage is strongly concentrated in Māori and there is no convincing sign of improvement trends. Read more
A joint submission by the Major Electricity Users’ Group and the New Zealand Business Roundtable on the 2012-13 appropriations for electricity efficiency appropriation. Read more
A submission on the Spending Cap (People's Veto) Bill to require a voter referendum to approve any real per capita increase in core Crown operating spending and proposed strengthening measures. Read more
Prime minister John Key observed that the 2011 election was about the economy. Business people are looking to the incoming government to address critical weaknesses in our economy and implement policies to boost economic growth. Read more
A submission by the New Zealand Business Roundtable on the Auckland Council's Draft Plan. Read more
The Taskforce has produced a report and draft Bill of exceptional quality. The Bill provides the best current option for improving regulatory quality, even though on its own it is no panacea. Read more
The affordability of housing is an important issue. The quantity, quality and price of housing services obtained through owner-occupation, renting and other arrangements are vital for the overall welfare of all New Zealanders. Read more