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Wellington (2 February 2015): The New Zealand Initiative has welcomed the launch of LGNZ’s latest discussion paper on local government funding as an important step towards improving how councils deliver services to communities. The think tank’s Executive Director, Dr Oliver Hartwich, said New Zealand has one of the most centralised forms of government among developed countries, with 90 cents in every tax dollar spent by officials in Wellington. Read more

Wellington (22 January 2015): The New Zealand Initiative has welcomed the overhaul of the Resource Management Act, in particular the focus on housing affordability and the restoration of property rights, but is still concerned about the ambiguity surrounding Section 5. The latest overhaul of the legislation was announced yesterday by the Hon Nick Smith, Minister for the Environment and Minister for Building and Housing, citing economic research that indicated the RMA had cost the country 40,000 homes and added $30 billion in costs. Read more

Estimates have the economy growing above the trend rate compared to other developed nations, but other measures show the benefits of growth aren’t filtering through to all. Patrick O’Meara looks at whether New Zealand's household really are better off. Read more

Wellington (25 August 2014): National’s Homestart policy will fuel higher house prices and make it harder for Kiwis to enter the housing market, according to economic think-tank The New Zealand Initiative. Executive Director Dr Oliver Hartwich says any housing policy aimed at making housing more affordable must start by increasing supply. Read more