Nick is a Senior Fellow, focusing on local government, resource management, and economic policy.
Nick brings 30 years experience in policy and advocacy inside and outside of government. He comes to us from 19 years at Federated Farmers, where he was its National Policy Manager. As well as managing a team of policy advisors, Nick led Federated Farmers' work on economic policy, including on fiscal policy, tax policy, monetary policy, banking policy, competition policy, and overseas investment policy.
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 with an interest in local government policy issues.
Nick Clark talks about his latest report urging for local government reform. Listen below. Read more
New Zealand's local government is facing a crisis of democracy, but international examples show a way forward. This is the key message from my report, Making Local Government Work, released by the New Zealand Initiative this week. Read more
New Zealand’s local government problems stem from a fundamental flaw that can be fixed, research released today reveals. “We have identified the root cause of council dysfunction: mayors and councillors lack the power to deliver what they promise voters. Read more
In this episode, Oliver and Nick discuss the fundamental problems with New Zealand's local government system, particularly how elected officials often lack real power while unelected bureaucrats and chief executives wield excessive influence. Nick's new report "Making Local Government Work" proposes five potential solutions, ranging from implementing a German-style "Super Mayor" model to giving councillors more oversight powers, with some reforms likely achievable under the current Government. Read more
Wellington (Tuesday, 10 December 2024) - New Zealand’s local government problems stem from a fundamental flaw that can be fixed, research released today reveals. “We have identified the root cause of council dysfunction: mayors and councillors lack the power to deliver what they promise voters. Read more
1. INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY 1.1 This submission on the National Infrastructure Plan Discussion Document is made by The New Zealand Initiative (the Initiative), a Wellington-based think tank supported primarily by major New Zealand businesses. Read more
When a council needs adult supervision, something has gone seriously wrong. Local Government Minister Simeon Brown's intention to appoint a Crown Observer to Wellington City Council reflects mounting frustration with the capital's governance. Read more
2024 is a significant year for elections with over 60 countries having been to the polls or are going to the polls this year. The United States election on 5 November is without doubt the most consequential. Read more
In this episode, Oliver and Nick talk to Oliver Wittke, former mayor of Gelsenkirchen. They discuss a significant local government reform in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, that could offer valuable insights for New Zealand's current system. Read more
As New Zealanders face rising costs of living, ACC's proposed levy hikes threaten to add another financial burden. It is time for a critical look at our accident compensation system. Read more
The government's Resource Management Act (RMA) reform is shaping to be a tale of two approaches: one necessary but potentially problematic, the other more fundamental and promising. Last weekend, Ministers Chris Bishop and Shane Jones unveiled a long-awaited list of 149 projects that will be included in the government’s controversial Fast Track Approvals Bill. Read more
1.1 This submission to the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) on the 2024 ACC Levy Consultation is made by The New Zealand Initiative (The Initiative), a Wellington-based think tank supported primarily by major New Zealand businesses. In combination, our members employ more than 150,000 people. Read more
The Government is determined to give local government a shake-up, with stern tellings-off about getting ‘back-to-basics’ and reforms to refocus councils on core services and efficiency. One of its ideas is that mayors could be given access to independent staff advice, separate from their chief executives and council staff. Read more
Last Friday the government made a heartening announcement that its phase 3 reforms to the Resource Management Act will make property rights a ‘guiding’ principle. The RMA has failed in good part because of two fundamental flaws from a property right perspective: first, it allowed all and sundry to object with impunity to a changed land use; second, it denied compensation for the lost value from a successful objection. Read more
The government is determined to shake up local government. It wants councils to get back to basics on core services and efficiency. Read more