This week, opinion polls revealed that the Government is more popular than ever. On current figures, Labour could comfortably govern alone, the Prime Minister’s ratings are stratospheric, and nine in ten New Zealanders approve of the Government’s handling of the public health crisis. Read more
It’s not exactly clear why there is so much nervousness about overseas interests buying something like the Auckland port. It’s not like they can take the port with them. Read more
Last Friday, I was invited to appear before Parliament’s Epidemic Response Committee on Tuesday 19 May. The topic was Budget 2020. Read more
As the country looks for ways to recover from the Covid-19 recession, the government is tweaking a few rules to help it along. One of its actions was to amend the Overseas Investment Act, or OIA. Read more
Wellington, 21 May 2020 - Even in emergencies, democratic governments must comply with the law, according to a new report The rule of law or the law of rulers by the New Zealand Initiative. As legal challenges emerge to question the lawfulness of the Government’s restrictions, courts will decide whether the lockdown was illegal. Read more
Several legal scholars have raised concerns about the legality of the emergency powers during the Covid-19 crisis exercised by Government officials – specifically, the Director General of Health, Dr Ashley Bloomfield’s orders under the Health Act 1956 sending the country into lockdown on 25 March. The courts will decide the lawfulness of Bloomfield’s actions now that they have been challenged by former Parliamentary Counsel (and legal textbook author) Andrew Borrowdale (the Borrowdale proceedings). Read more
New Zealand’s fortress of five million has repelled the coronavirus. But as Kiwis emerge from enforced curfew, some strategic thinking is needed to repair the carnage. Read more
Our Senior Fellow Dr Bryce Wilkinson presented to the Epidemic Response Committee on 19 May 2020. He shared his thoughts on Budget 2020 and the impact of Covid-19 on the economy. Read more
As New Zealand moves towards some new form of normality, the question becomes how to benefit from eliminating Covid-19 in New Zealand. It is worth looking at other countries’ specific problems. Take Germany’s football league, for example. Read more
In preparation for New Zealand’s September 19 referendum on cannabis, all sides of the debate are sharpening their lines of argument. Often, both the proponents and detractors of cannabis reform point to examples in the United States to bolster their position. Read more
On 14 May, the Government introduced an Overseas Investment (Urgent Measures) Amendment Bill to the House and held its first reading on the same day. It had such little regard for public consultation the deadline for submissions was set for 4 pm on Monday, 18 May – giving submitters only two full working days. Read more
Read our submission, written by Dr Bryce Wilkinson, to the Finance and Expenditure Committee. In summary: On 14 May, the Government introduced an Overseas Investment (Urgent Measures) Amendment Bill to the House and held its first reading on the same day. Read more
Wellington, 18 May 2020 - More time for scrutiny of the proposed changes to the Overseas Investment Act is needed, particularly when thousands of Kiwi businesses teeter on the edge of bankruptcy. The Government tabled the Overseas Investment (Urgent Measures) Amendment Bill last Thursday for its first reading on the same day. Read more
Lifeboats are tricky things. If they are overburdened, they can tip and spill everyone out. Read more
Watching Budget 2020 delivered yesterday was a surreal experience. It was two things at once. Read more