Reports & Media

Why NZ must resist this GST siren call

From the vantage point of my earlier career at think tanks in London and Sydney, I have had front-row seats to the theatre of value-added tax (VAT) and goods and services tax (GST) policy lunacy. I have seen this seemingly innocent taxation mechanism morph into a clumsy beast, causing bureaucratic nightmares and economic distortions. Read more

Dr Oliver Hartwich

The Australian

4 August, 2023

Robertson’s truth in context

In Tuesday’s parliamentary questions, Minister of Finance Grant Robertson engaged in some impressive word play. He had previously dismissed exempting fresh food and vegetables from GST. Read more

Dr Oliver Hartwich

Insights Newsletter

4 August, 2023

NZ universities and non-academic staff - how many is too many?

As a sometimes absent-minded academic, I’m often very grateful for non-academic staff. Helping me set up my courses before the trimester begins. Read more

Dr James Kierstead

NZ Herald

3 August, 2023

Media release: Not all new medicines are worth funding: don’t knock Pharmac for being careful

Wellington (Thursday, 3 August 2023) – Pharmac is commonly criticised for being too slow to fund new medicines and for not funding many of them. A policy note released today by the New Zealand Initiative shows why this may be desirable. Read more

Dr Bryce Wilkinson ONZM

Media Release

3 August, 2023

Policy Point Pharmacs focus revisited cover

Policy Point: Pharmac should not be criticised simply for being selective and slow about the medicines it funds

Pharmac is often criticised for not funding enough new medicines and for being too slow to determine which ones it will fund. However, being slow and focused is not proof of being too slow or too focused. Read more

Dr Bryce Wilkinson ONZM

Policy Point

3 August, 2023

Providing a universal weekly payment would be less expensive for the government than eliminating the GST on food

Dr Eric Crampton spoke to Radio Waatea about how providing a universal weekly payment would be less expensive for the government than eliminating the GST on food.

Read here

Read more

Dr Eric Crampton

Radio Waatea

2 August, 2023

Podcast: Media funding and regulation

The country’s newspapers have been arguing that tech platforms, like Facebook and Google, should be paying them whenever they link to news. They should be careful what they wish for. Read more

Dr Eric Crampton

Prof Michael Geist

Podcast

2 August, 2023

Webinar recording: Blessing or Bloat?

Public webinar: Blessing or Bloat? Non-academic staffing in New Zealand universities in comparative perspective New Zealand universities are in crisis. Read more

Dr Oliver Hartwich

Dr James Kierstead

Distinguished Professor Gaven Martin

Webinar

2 August, 2023

Universities have more managers and admin staff than academics: report

A new report finds New Zealand universities have the highest ratio of non-academics to academics amongst English-speaking countries. The report, from the think tank The New Zealand Initiative, finds there are 40 to 50 per cent more managers and administrators than teaching staff. Read more

Dr James Kierstead

Radio NZ - Nine To Noon

2 August, 2023

Media release: New Zealand universities in staffing crisis - Latest report reveals troubling trends

Wellington (Tuesday, 1 August 2023) – The New Zealand Initiative’s report Blessing or Bloat? Non-Academic Staffing in New Zealand Universities in Comparative Perspective, co-authored by Drs James Kierstead and Michael Johnston shows that a majority of staff at New Zealand universities are non-academics. Read more

Dr Michael Johnston

Dr James Kierstead

Media Release

1 August, 2023

Taking GST off food would be a big mistake

There is plenty of room for honest disagreement on economic policy. Normally, it’s about trade-offs among worthy goals. Read more

Dr Eric Crampton

Newsroom

1 August, 2023

Should GST be cut from food?

Nights regular and chief economist with The New Zealand Initiative, Eric Crampton, talks to Mark about the removal of GST from food and how we fund infrastructure.

Listen here Read more

Dr Eric Crampton

Radio NZ - Nights

1 August, 2023

university lecture hall stock xchngjpg sq

Research reveals there are up to 50 percent more non-academics than academics at unis

New research has uncovered how many university staff are working in non-academic roles. The New Zealand Initiative study found there are up to 50 percent more non-academics than academics. Read more

Dr James Kierstead

Newstalk ZB - Mike Hosking Breakfast

1 August, 2023

Blessing or Bloat? Non-Academic Staffing in New Zealand Universities in Comparative Perspective

‘Administrative bloat’ – the idea that universities have too many administrators – is hot topic in debates around higher education in the US and elsewhere. Is there a similar problem in New Zealand universities? Read more

Dr Michael Johnston

Dr James Kierstead

Research Report

1 August, 2023

Sibmission on Auckland Future Development Strategy cover

Submission: Auckland Future Development Strategy

This submission in response to Auckland’s Future Development Strategy is made by The New Zealand Initiative (the Initiative), a Wellington-based think tank supported primarily by major New Zealand businesses. In combination, our members employ more than 150,000 people. Read more

Dr Eric Crampton

Roger Partridge

Submission

31 July, 2023

Reports & Media

Why NZ must resist this GST siren call

Robertson’s truth in context

NZ universities and non-academic staff - how many is too many?

Media release: Not all new medicines are worth funding: don’t knock Pharmac for being careful

Policy Point: Pharmac should not be criticised simply for being selective and slow about the medicines it funds

Providing a universal weekly payment would be less expensive for the government than eliminating the GST on food

Podcast: Media funding and regulation

Webinar recording: Blessing or Bloat?

Universities have more managers and admin staff than academics: report

Media release: New Zealand universities in staffing crisis - Latest report reveals troubling trends

Taking GST off food would be a big mistake

Should GST be cut from food?

Research reveals there are up to 50 percent more non-academics than academics at unis

Blessing or Bloat? Non-Academic Staffing in New Zealand Universities in Comparative Perspective

Submission: Auckland Future Development Strategy

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