MEDIA

Why does New Zealand need a defence force at all when no one is going to attack us? In this New Zealand Initiative webinar, retired Major General John Howard launches his research note Worth Defending, which argues that a credible, combat-capable Defence Force is not discretionary spending but the foundation on which the country's security, sovereignty and economic prosperity rest. Read more

Wellington (Wednesday, 16 September 2026) – New Zealand's prosperity depends on open sea lanes and a stable Pacific, and a new report from The New Zealand Initiative argues the country cannot secure either without a defence force able to contribute alongside its partners. In Worth Defending: Freedom, prosperity and the case for a stronger New Zealand Defence Force, Major General (Retired) John G Howard, MNZM, a Senior Fellow of the Initiative and the inaugural Chief of Defence Intelligence, argues that a credible, combat-capable Defence Force is not discretionary spending but the foundation on which the country's security, sovereignty and economic prosperity rest. Read more

Retired Major General John Howard joined Susana Lei'ataua on RNZ to discuss the current Geopolitical climate. Tensions in the Middle East have escalated again, with the US military announcing it destroyed five Iranian oil tankers in retaliation for an attempted Iranian attack on a US Navy warship. Read more

Dr Eric Crampton talks with Wallace Chapman, alongside panellists Zoe George and Tim Wilson on The Panel about the Government's announcement that it will delay increases to fuel taxes by a year. Eric shares his opinions on the decision and offers up some alternative answers. Read more

Mike Hosking recommended Dr Oliver Hartwich's New Zealand Herald column on Labour's capital gains tax on Newstalk ZB, calling it "absolutely brilliant". He worked through Dr Hartwich's account of a debate hosted by the Institute for Democratic and Economic Analysis, where no one in the room backed the policy, along with the design flaws Dr Hartwich set out, including no adjustment for inflation, exemptions that leave little beyond rental housing, and revenue earmarked for free GP visits in a country already short of doctors. Read more

Wellington (Thursday, 20 August 2026) – At its campaign launch in Gisborne on Sunday, Te Pāti Māori told its supporters to split their votes: candidate votes for the party, party votes for its allies on the left. A new research note by The New Zealand Initiative warns this call could set off a chain of tactical voting that kills MMP. Read more

Major General John Howard is a retired military leader who was Chief of Defence Intelligence for the NZDF and was also Deputy Director for Commonwealth Integration at the US Defense Intelligence Agency. He talks to Guyon Espiner about Defence Minister Paul Goldsmith cancelling an appearance at a meeting in Canberra with his Australian and Japanese counterparts. Read more

Wellington (Wednesday, 19 August 2026) – The New Zealand Initiative welcomes today’s announcement that the coming urban planning system will include a competition watchdog. Hon Chris Bishop, Minister for RMA Reform, and Simon Court, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for RMA Reform, announced today that the coming Planning Bill will include an independent Urban Land Market Officer. Read more