Nick is a Senior Fellow at The New Zealand Initiative, focusing on local government, resource management, and economic policy.
Nick brings 30 years of policy and advocacy experience both inside and outside government. He joins us after 19 years at Federated Farmers, as the National Policy Manager. Nick managed a team of policy advisors, and led work on economic policy, including fiscal, tax, monetary, banking, competition, and overseas investment policies.
He also worked extensively on local government policy issues and has been the administrator of the Local Government Business Forum, a grouping of national business organisations interested in local government policy issues.
The central Government has a local government problem. Rates have been rising too fast, regional councils are seen as inefficient and unaccountable, and the public wants action. Read more
New Zealand has been trying to fix its resource management system for the better part of three decades. The Resource Management Act has been amended virtually every year since 1991 and reviewed several times during that period. Read more
In this episode, Eric Crampton talks to Nick Clark about New Zealand's long and troubled history with the Resource Management Act — and whether the Government's 744-page replacement really fixes it. They examine the missing property rights protections, the absence of robust cost-benefit analysis, and the fail-safes needed to ensure the new framework delivers better outcomes for New Zealanders. Read more
1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 This submission on the Department of Internal Affairs’ draft proposal ‘Simplifying Local Government’ is made by The New Zealand Initiative (the Initiative). Read more
PART 1 – HIGH-LEVEL VIEWS ON THE OVERALL REFORM PACKAGE 1. Introduction and support for reform intent 1.1 The New Zealand Initiative welcomes the opportunity to submit on the Planning Bill and the Natural Environment Bill. Read more
1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 This submission on the proposed rates target model for New Zealand is made by The New Zealand Initiative (the Initiative). Read more
Parliament returned this week after a six-week holiday. It will have a lot to consider this year. Read more
The paint was still drying on the Auckland convention centre when Christopher Luxon delivered his State of the Nation speech on Monday. Some of the furniture had not arrived. Read more
INTRODUCTION 1.1 The New Zealand Initiative welcomes the opportunity to submit on the Land Transport (Revenue) Amendment Bill. 1.2 The Initiative is a Wellington-based think tank supported primarily by major New Zealand businesses. Read more
Nick Clark spoke with Paul Brennan on Reality Check Radio about the government's proposed replacement of the Resource Management Act. Clark welcomed the new approach's stronger property rights, fewer consents, and standardised zones. Read more
For over three decades, the Resource Management Act has been a significant hindrance to New Zealand's economic growth. It promised sustainable management but delivered housing crises, infrastructure delays, stifled productivity and environmental decline. Read more
In this episode, Oliver, Nick and Bryce talk about the Fast Track Approvals Amendment Bill, focusing on the use of Henry VIII clauses that allow ministers to amend legislation without full parliamentary scrutiny. The discussion examines why these powers have typically been used only in genuine emergencies, how their application in planning reform raises constitutional questions, and why the Initiative recommends clearer limits and stronger sunset provisions to protect democratic processes. Read more
In this episode, Eric, Nick and Benno talk about the Government's proposal to abolish regional councillors while retaining regional councils, shifting governance to new Combined Territories Boards made up of local mayors. They explore how this reform creates space for mayors to rethink regional governance through a function-by-function approach, potentially establishing purpose-built agencies for issues like water catchments and transport that cross council boundaries. Read more
On Monday morning, Eric Crampton and I appeared before the Environment Select Committee to present the Initiative’s submission on the Fast-Track Approvals Amendment Bill. It is well known that the Bill, and the fast-track regime more generally, is controversial among environmentalists. Read more
Nick Clark talked to Paul Brennan on Reality Check Radio about his report on New Zealand's electoral system and why it needs reform. Clark argued for moving to four-year terms, increasing MP numbers to strengthen select committees, lowering the 5% party threshold, scrapping costly low-turnout by-elections, tightening advance voting rules, and improving civics education so voters better understand how democracy works. Read more