Wellington (27 January 2016): Public policy think tank The New Zealand Initiative commends Prime Minister John Key’s statements on housing in his State of the Nation speech delivered today. Dr Oliver Hartwich, executive director of the Initiative said that Key’s stance on Auckland housing is promising, and looks to relieve some of the pressures of the ongoing housing crisis. Read more
In the schooling world, the word ‘incentive’ may conjure all sorts of negative vibes. Particularly if the word implies receiving an external reward for doing something that one would otherwise do purely for intrinsic satisfaction. Read more
Oxfam does fantastic work in the developing world. It is one of the relatively few charities endorsed by The Life You Can Save: the Peter Singer-inspired NGO that ranks charities by their effectiveness. Read more
For all those who have set their New Year's resolutions, how’s that going? Will 2016 be the year you finally get slimmer, richer, and more attractive? Read more
"Education is a right! Stop the debt sentence!" These were the slogans emblazoned on placards, held by students rallying against the University of Auckland’s 2015 fee hikes. Read more
I prefer making New Year's resolutions for other people rather than for myself. And in that spirit, can we make 2016 the year of not obsessing about whether New Zealand Inc. Read more
Insights 48/16 Dec: My Christmas Wishlist Insights 47/9 Dec: John Key: the quiet achiever | John Key, quite an underachiever | Free to booze Insights 46/2 Dec: Does Castro trump Trump? | Tobacco and taxi regs | Time to work on my karma Insights 45/25 Nov: Local partner, ready and willing | A welcome shake-up | Hot Tub Talk Machine Insights 44/18 Nov: Shaky silver linings | Property rights are human rights | Protecting consumers from themselves Insights 43/11 Nov: Give Trump a chance | The Chaos Ladder | NEET policies need tidying Insights 42/4 Nov: The end of the campaign | When size matters | Is reality optional in academia? Read more
As we begin year seven of the euro crisis, observers may ask what all the fuss was about. Wasn’t the euro supposed to collapse? Read more
There is no poverty in New Zealand because the poor are not living in slums. Some people in so-called poverty even have cars and ovens. Whether you agree or disagree with the above statement, you are right. Read more
"I only buy certified organic, fair-trade, palm oil-free, ethically-sourced, free-range, sustainable, eco-friendly, non-GMO products." Yeah right. Over the past few years, companies have noted a change in consumer preferences, particularly among younger cohorts. Read more
2015 was a great year for the Initiative. Have a look through our annual report to see what we achieved, and what others are saying about what we do. Read more
The EU may not work particularly well. The euro crisis is far from over, and there are plenty of sound economic reasons to criticise the project of European integration. Read more
The EU likes to portray itself as a good and modern place to do business, despite the hiccups of the euro crisis and other distractions. Between this self-image and reality nevertheless lies a gap, and nowhere is this more evident than in spread of corruption around the continent. Read more
Parenting books are full of advice about how to raise your kids. Much of it is obvious: You should love them, instil in them a love of learning, let them take risks, and teach them to be resilient over adversity. Read more
Dr Eric Crampton on Newstalk ZB: Proposed minimum alcohol price sparks controversy
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