With only a few days left until New Zealand’s general election, you might think the outcome should be easy to predict. Many polls have shown that New Zealanders think the country is on the wrong path. Read more
Pro-housing policy generally tries to find ways of outflanking NIMBYs – the Not In My BackYard objectors to new development. It’s an approach well-supported in academic research and reflected in New Zealand policy. Read more
In his Leaders Breakfast interview with Chris Hipkins, Mike Hosking mentions The New Zealand Initiative during their discussion about solar power. Listen to part of their discussion below. Read more
In 1981, the German electronic band Kraftwerk released a song called Pocket Calculator. At the time, affordable calculators were a recent phenomenon. Read more
As a proud Canadian, I am occasionally compelled to draw Kiwis’ attention to the wonderful service that my homeland provides to the world. The election here has been tedious. Read more
Dr Michael Johnston talks to Maryanne Spurdle, Researcher at the Maxim Institute, and Stephanie Martin, Adjunct Fellow at NZ Initiative, about teacher education. To listen to our latest podcasts, please subscribe to The New Zealand Initiative podcast on iTunes, Spotify or The Podcast App. Read more
October 15 cannot come soon enough, and not just because of a potential Rugby World Cup showdown between the All Blacks and Ireland. Like many, I have found Election 2023 a tedious affair. Read more
On his breakfast show on Newstalk ZB, Mike Hosking discusses Dr Oliver Hartwich's latest Newsroom column comparing Germany's MMP system to New Zealand's. Listen to the audio below. Read more
What is the purpose of televised leaders’ debates? Ideally, these staples of the political calendar should inform, educate and entertain. Read more
In this research note, we analyse the six-year spending spree of the Sixth Labour government in the context of historical precedents. Elected on the back of an ambitious policy agenda, the Ardern government quickly found itself struggling to balance the books. Read more
Wellington (Thursday, 5 October 2023) - As New Zealand has already begun to vote in the 2023 election, The New Zealand Initiative releases this timely research note which takes a deep examination of our country’s government spending patterns over the last century. This research note, written by Dr Bryce Wilkinson, analyses the six-year spending spree of the current Labour government in the context of historical precedents. Read more
Dr Valerie Sotardi, a Senior Lecturer of Educational Psychology at the University of Canterbury, facilitates this webinar to discuss expert views and opinions on quantitative research in the current education landscape. Joining her in this panel discussion are Dr Michael Johnston, Agate Ponder-Sutton, and Stuart McNaughton. Read more
As we prepare for another election under the Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) system, it is worth noting that New Zealand is one of the few nations to have adopted this electoral model. The majority of countries still either opt for First-Past-the-Post or purely proportional systems. Another country that uses MMP is my native Germany. Read more
Dr Eric Crampton appeared on The Platform to talk with Sean Plunket about grocery competition and the 'weetbix war' between The Warehouse and Sanitarium. You can find a snippet of their conversation below. Read more
Dr Eric Crampton talks to RNZ about media funding and regulation. Listen to the interview below. Read more