About our events

The New Zealand Initiative holds events throughout the year to promote debate, disseminate ideas, and connect with our supporters. Our events include public forums, conferences, and debates. We also organise outreach activities with secondary schools, universities, and young professionals.

Public Forums: The Initiative occasionally hosts larger public events with prominent international speakers. These events are a great opportunity to discuss ideas and meet new people in an informal setting.

Member-only Events: Exclusive to members to the Initiative.

Peter Square

Members' dinner with Peter Williams

We invite you to join us for a members' dinner with Peter Williams. He will be talking about Three Waters and the future of democracy. Since co-governance and the health of our democracy are of such paramount importance, we appreciate Peter's openness to talk about them. Read more

27 September, 2022
Auckland
  Member only event
Michael Profile Square small

Report launch: No evidence, no evaluation, no exit

In 2011 New Zealand’s Ministry of Education decided that large, open plan classrooms are the way of the future. They embarked on a policy to replace the country’s classrooms with these Modern Learning Environments in which children are expected to learn in a ‘self-directed’ way. Read more

20 September, 2022
Wellington
Literacy workshop 145 x 145

Literacy Workshop

The ongoing fall in the literacy capability of New Zealand’s school students and school leavers is a national scandal. New Zealand needs a fresh start for literacy education. Read more

12 May, 2022
Wellington
Web photo 145 x 145

Members' Retreat 2022

Our annual members' retreat is a chance to cover the major aspects of New Zealand politics and economics, and will provide plenty of room for discussion, engagement and networking. Please contact Chelsy at chelsy.killick@nzinitiative.org.nz for further information. Read more

7 April, 2022
Queenstown
  Member only event
Kirk and Oliver rectangle for web copy

Webinar: The Government's proposed unemployment insurance

We invite you to join us for a members' webinar with Kirk Hope, BusinessNZ and Oliver Hartwich, The New Zealand Initiative to discuss the Government's proposed unemployment insurance. Kirk and Oliver are available to answer your questions about what this will mean for your business. Read more

Webinar
22 March, 2022
  Member only event
John Cochrane web 145 x 145 copy

Members' Zoom meeting with Sir Ian Taylor

Sir Ian Taylor’s recent NZ Herald columns have documented his experience returning to New Zealand and taking part in the government's trial of self-isolation. In this members' Zoom meeting, Sir Ian will detail his experience with government bureaucracy. Read more

29 November, 2021
Webinar
  Member only event
Anne Wyllie web 2

Webinar: Why New Zealand needs better Covid testing systems, with Dr Anne Wyllie

Saliva-based PCR tests are an efficient, less intrusive, and accurate alternative to COVID-19 deep nasal swabs. Dr Anne Wyllie, a New Zealand-born researcher at Yale University, led the development of Yale’s SalivaDirect test authorised for use in the USA, and independently validated in Portugal, Mexico, Ireland and the Philippines. Read more

28 September, 2021
Webinar
Supermarkets webinar

Members' webinar: Keeping the shelves stocked: Covid-19 and retail supply chains

Chris Quin Foodstuffs North Island & Spencer Sonn Countdown The global pandemic and New Zealand’s current lockdown present challenges for everyone, but especially so for the retail sector. Both Countdown and Foodstuffs North Island have kindly agreed to share their experiences in supply chain management in a webinar with our members. Read more

9 September, 2021
Webinar
  Member only event
Web Bill and Matt v2

Webinar: A new model for disability support

Individualised Funding (“IF”) is a rapidly-growing alternative funding model for disability support. IF gives each recipient control of a personal budget they can use to obtain the support services best suited to their individual needs. Read more

27 August, 2021
Webinar

Stay in the loop: Subscribe to updates