Reports & Media

Dr Oliver Hartwich argued at the Portfolio Construction Forum's Markets Summit 2026 in Sydney that the erosion of the rules-based world order — driven by cognitive decline, political tribalism, and the rise of "institutional theatre" — demands a fundamental rethink of how investment professionals assess risk. Dr Hartwich introduced the concept of "Enlightenment Islands" — stable, high-trust jurisdictions such as Singapore, Switzerland, and the Scandinavian countries — and urged portfolio managers to supplement traditional financial metrics with civilisational indicators like PISA scores, rule of law indices, and trust barometers. Read more

In this episode, Oliver talks to retired Major General John Howard about the first week of US–Israel strikes on Iran — what the opening strikes reveal, how Iran is responding, and why the risk of escalation remains real. They then zoom out to the global ripple effects (Russia and Ukraine, China and Taiwan, NATO cohesion) and the practical consequences for New Zealand, from fuel and supply-chain disruption to the need for more proactive national security planning. Read more

Roger Partridge discussed the New Zealand Initiative's new report on Newstalk ZB, which argues the government could unlock more than $24 billion by selling or leasing Crown-owned commercial assets such as Kiwibank and Air New Zealand. The report points to New South Wales as a model, where asset recycling raised more than $50 billion for a dedicated infrastructure fund, and Partridge suggested the approach could work alongside the proposed Infrastructure Commission. Read more

In this episode, Oliver talks to Roger Partridge about his new report, Renovating the Nation, which proposes selling around $25 billion worth of government-owned commercial assets and reinvesting the proceeds into critical public infrastructure. Drawing on the success of New South Wales's asset recycling programme, Roger argues the Crown has too much capital tied up in businesses it doesn't need to own, and that ring-fencing sale proceeds in an independently governed fund could deliver the roads, hospitals, and public transport New Zealand desperately needs. Read more

This webinar launches Renovating the Nation: How Asset Recycling Can Help Solve the Infrastructure Deficit, a report by Roger Partridge arguing New Zealand can fund new infrastructure by recycling Crown-owned commercial assets the government does not need to own. Hosted by Dr Oliver Hartwich and featuring Fran O’Sullivan and Fraser Whineray (former CEO of Mercury), the discussion unpacks the New South Wales model and why New Zealand’s past asset sales failed to build trust. Read more

Roger Partridge discussed the Initiative's new report on asset recycling on RNZ, proposing that selling selected state assets — including TVNZ, NZ Post, energy company stakes, Transpower, and Landcorp — could free up around $25 billion for a ring-fenced infrastructure fund. Partridge argued the model, drawn from a successful New South Wales programme, would direct proceeds exclusively to infrastructure priorities vetted by an Independent Infrastructure Commission, and called for public debate to move beyond slogans like "selling the family silver." Listen below. Read more

Wellington (Monday, 2 March 2026) - New Zealand could unlock more than $24 billion for essential infrastructure by recycling mature Crown-owned commercial assets, according to a new report by The New Zealand Initiative. Renovating the Nation: How Asset Recycling Can Help Solve the Infrastructure Deficit, by the Initiative chair Roger Partridge, argues the government should redirect capital tied up in commercial enterprises into hospitals, schools, roads and water systems — without raising taxes or increasing public debt. Read more