Mayors want devolved power to deal with issues facing their communities. If that power comes with responsibility, and accountability, central government should take the request seriously. Read more
As a German living in New Zealand, I have the rare privilege of following not one but two election campaigns this year. Both of them are fought under the obscure MMP electoral system, and both of them are culminating on the same weekend. Read more
Last week The Herald premiered Under the Bridge, a three-part documentary about life in Papakura High School: a low decile school plagued with a reputation for persistent poor performance. Despite increasing government support, the school’s achievement statistics remained among the lowest in the country and its student roll continued to decline as students and teachers lost hope. Read more
You probably shouldn’t tell your boss you are reading this. If the Initiative’s newsletter regularly gets you worked up, agitated or argumentative then you might be better off comforting yourself by looking at cat pictures. Read more
On a Valentine's Day themed show, Head of Research Dr Eric Crampton, discusses the economics of marriage and dating on Radio New Zealand's 'Nights' programme.
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It is more likely for a dog to compile an inventory of sausages than for a politician to build up financial reserves. At least that is how one former German finance minister, the late Franz Josef Strauss, once described the constant temptations for fiscal policy. Read more
As we head towards a series of budget surpluses, Executive Director Dr Oliver Hartwich discusses his thoughts on how these surpluses could be spent. To find out more read his column in The National Business Review from 10 February 2017. Read more
We're all going to die. We're not all going to die tomorrow, although these days it feels like the apocalypse is looming, but it will happen to all of us. Read more
I am married to an immigrant. It is not something I often need to confront. Read more
National’s 2010 budget provided substantial tax cuts. But it also implemented an important tax switch at the same time. Read more
One of the most refreshing developments in New Zealand politics is the sudden appearance of Gareth Morgan’s Opportunities Party. No matter whether you love or loathe Morgan, it is uplifting to have a party that defines itself as an ideas and policy movement. Read more
Let’s engage in an absurd exercise. Do immigrants, just in coming to New Zealand, make apples more expensive? Read more
Research Fellow Jason Krupp talks to Larry Williams about our immigration report and whether migrants are responsible for pushing up house prices.
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President Donald Trump's travel ban on the citizens of seven muslim-majority countries has dominated headlines around the globe over the past few weeks. Canadian-born economist, and Head of Research at The new Zealand Initiative Eric Crampton, Negar Partow - a senior lecturer at Massey University's Centre for Defence and Security Studies, and Paul Buchanan - a former intelligence analyst for the US government and regular commentator on international affairs join Wallace to discuss the likely international implications of the Trump presidency. Read more
The New Zealand Initiative this week made a case for why, when assessing immigration, it is important to count the benefits and not just the costs. Not surprisingly it was greeted with an intemperate response from NZ First leader Winston Peters, who railed at our finding that migrants are not stealing jobs from Kiwis. Read more