This week, Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta recorded a lengthy podcast with the Taxpayers’ Union. If you missed it, or do not want to spend 32 minutes unpicking platitudes, here is a summary: Taxpayers’ Union: How does taking water assets off councils save money? Read more
Bryce Wilkinson and Leonard Hong discuss their latest report "Walking the path to the next global financial crisis" and the implications for New Zealand. To listen to our latest podcasts, please subscribe to The New Zealand Initiative podcast on iTunes, Spotify or The Podcast App. Read more
Mike Hosking reviews Eric Crampton's Newsroom article on central bank independence. In the article Eric says Central banks have a very big and important job. Read more
Wellington (Thursday, 11 November 2021) A new unemployment insurance scheme would be another tax on income, with little benefit, and increase unemployment, according to a new report from The New Zealand Initiative. The think tank warns that the scheme could constitute a 2 – 3% tax increase for every Kiwi worker in the medium-term. Read more
Senior Fellow Dr David Law discusses his new paper on the Government’s plans to introduce an unemployment insurance scheme. To listen to our latest podcasts, please subscribe to The New Zealand Initiative podcast on iTunes, Spotify or The Podcast App. Read more
When presenting Budget 2021 in May, Finance Minister Grant Robertson announced that an unemployment insurance (UI) scheme was being developed for New Zealand. Prior to this, the Productivity Commission had considered UI as part of its inquiry into technological change and the future of work, as had the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE). Read more
Bryce Wilkinson discusses his report "Walking the path to the next global financial crisis" with Lloyd Burr on Magic Talk. He talks about the implications for New Zealand. Read more
Heather Du Plessis Allan, Newstalk ZB and Hamish Rutherford The Herald's Wellington business Editor discuss The New Zealand Initiative Report Climate of Fear: How the Reserve Bank is overstepping its mandate by Matt Burgess.
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Matt Burgess joins Oliver Hartwich to discuss his latest research note, Climate of fear: How the Reserve Bank is overstepping its mandate. Matt’s research documents serious breaches of the RBNZ's responsibilities as regulator of the financial system, including one instance of misconduct. Read more
Wellington (Tuesday, 9 November 2021) The Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) has no legal or democratic mandate for climate change, says a new report from think tank The New Zealand Initiative. Climate of fear: How the Reserve Bank is overstepping its mandate documents serious breaches of the RBNZ's responsibilities as regulator of the financial system, including one instance of misconduct. Read more
We are going to miss central bank independence when it is gone. It was hard-fought. Read more
On 26 October 2021, the Reserve Bank released Climate Changed 2021 And Beyond. The report, timed to coincide with the COP26 climate change summit in Glasgow, showcases the Reserve Bank’s efforts to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and new climate change disclosure rules for banks. Read more
The world’s major economies are walking into the next global financial crisis. Moreover, their authorities do not seem willing to change direction. Read more
Earlier this week, epidemiologist and media personality Professor Michael Baker was reported saying, "It's hard to imagine any justification for lowering the alert level in Auckland." In case readers in Auckland think they have misread that, Baker didn't say, "It's a tight call, but on balance… ." The Professor said it's "hard to imagine any justification." Forget the hospitality businesses going to the wall. Or the hairdressers, beauticians and gym-owners defaulting on their mortgages. Read more
This week’s Financial Stability Report continues the Reserve Bank’s fascination with climate change. It says rising seas and changing weather patterns will lead to financial losses. Read more