For those of you who aren’t residents of Wellington’s coffee-infused bubble, you may not be aware that we’re on the brink of yet another local election. Political nerds around the world have rejoiced at the prospect of the Lambton General Ward by-election – a name as enticing as it is short. Read more
The Ardern Government was New Zealand’s most censorious in living memory. Following Brenton Tarrant’s murderous rampage through two Christchurch mosques in March 2019, Ardern set out on an anti-free speech path. Read more
If a council’s zoning plans are wrong, it is hard for anything else to be right. If building enough housing in places where people want to live is forbidden, housing will be scarce, rents and house prices will be too high, and every other ‘wellbeing’ that councils try to deliver will suffer. Read more
Our Research Fellow Max Salmon talks to our Executive Director Dr Oliver Hartwich about our current global foreign policy situation. They talk about the Middle East, such as the shipping through the Red Sea and the Houthi movement. Read more
James Shaw announced his resignation as co-leader of the Green Party earlier this week. Although retirement was not announced, one assumes it cannot be too far away. Read more
On Newstalk ZB, John MacDonald discussed Dr Bryce Wilkinson's NZ Herald article Increased working-age welfare dependency is a problem with callers. Listen John talk about it below. Read more
New Zealand’s welfare system is a problem for beneficiaries, taxpayers and others. Think of those affected by the reported problems in Rotorua from emergency housing in motels. Read more
I would not usually devote a column for The Australian to problems with a New Zealand local council. Nevertheless, the city in question is the capital, so I will make an exception. Read more
Dr Oliver Hartwich talks to Mike Hosking on Newstalk ZB and says that the Reserve Bank's policy to reduce inflation needs to be in line with government fiscal policy. Listen below. Read more
Dr Eric Crampton speaks to Michael Laws on The Platform about New Zealand's economic challenges. Watch below. Read more
It’s funny how times change. In 2019, Labour announced its first ‘wellbeing’ budget. Read more
If Guyon Espiner at Radio New Zealand is right about Associate Health Minister Casey Costello’s plans for tobacco policy, there is reason to celebrate. At least for those who care about harm reduction, proportionality, and civil liberties. Read more
Happy new years do not start like this. The first few weeks of 2024 served as a reminder that the geopolitical situation is at its most dangerous in decades. Read more
The Government’s decision to deploy defence force personnel to the Middle East marks a significant, yet reasonable, shift in its foreign policy. Far from undermining our long-held independence stance, this move reaffirms New Zealand’s commitment to democratic values and global security. Read more
Half a world away from New Zealand in the Red Sea, a small group is making a big splash in international relations theory and philosophy. The Houthis, already well known for their stunning flag design talents and progressive stance on ageist restrictions to military service, have awed the intellectual community once again. Read more