Resistance to the social bonds pilot has essentially boxed Labour and the Greens into a corner. Social bonds (or Social Impact Bonds as they are known internationally), after all, have traditionally been introduced by left-wing governments. Read more
Microsoft founder Bill Gates copped a lot of criticism for demanding an income tax for robots. That is unfair. Read more
Dr Oliver Hartwich speaks to Duncan Garner on The AM Show about immigration numbers in New Zealand, what effect these new arrivals are having on the housing market and discusses the impact on the New Zealand economy.
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For every complex problem there is always an easy solution – neat, plausible, and wrong. Or so once quipped HL Mencken, the American journalist, satirist and scholar. Read more
There was a dirt road north of our old farm in Manitoba. Grass grew on the hump between the wheel tracks. Read more
There is not much in this world that people agree on. But one philosophy we at the Initiative hope remains uncontroversial is that improving access to quality education will create a better New Zealand. Read more
Economist and commentator Shamubeel Eaqub recently wrote an impassioned column, urging experts to bridge the communication gap lest the disaster of majoritarian rule ensue. Undercutting his piece was the message that if experts just used smaller words, or spoke slower, disasters like the Global Financial Crisis and Brexit could have been avoided. Read more
You wouldn’t trust an economist to give you a smear test. So is it reasonable to expect those working in health to grasp economics? Read more
Following the launch of our immigration report, The New New Zealanders: Why migrants make good Kiwis, co-author Jason Krupp explains that while 125,000 people arrived into New Zealand in a 12 month period, not all of them are here to stay.
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Every child deserves access to an adequate education. This belief was the starting point for the Initiative's research on what facilitates or hinders access to a quality schooling experience. Read more
Wellington (21 February 2017): Responding to today’s announcement by the Beehive that the Government’s first social bond will focus on mental health: The New Zealand Initiative welcomes the Government’s commitment to social bonds, and believes the mental health sector is a good area to test the potential for the model. In fact, The Initiative said as much when the government first announced a similar social bond nearly two years ago. Read more
All children deserve access to a quality schooling experience. Unfortunately, the Initiative’s reports show that New Zealand has a long way to go yet. Read more
In the US and the UK there is more experimentation to help under-performing schools than is permitted in New Zealand, says a report from The New Zealand Initiative. “We need political courage to innovate and find fresh solutions to improve student outcomes. Read more
Following the launch of our latest education report, Fair and Frank: Global insights for managing school performance, report author Martine Udahemuka discusses her findings with Mike Hosking on Newstalk ZB.
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Our second in a series of reports on school under-performance was released on 20 February 2017. Report author Martine Udahemuka spoke to The AM Show about her findings. Read more