Oliver is the Executive Director of The New Zealand Initiative. Before joining the Initiative, he was a Research Fellow at the Centre for Independent Studies in Sydney, the Chief Economist at Policy Exchange in London, and an advisor in the UK House of Lords. Oliver holds a Master’s degree in Economics and Business administration and a PhD in Law from Bochum University in Germany.
Oliver is available to comment on all of the Initiative’s research areas.
Phone: +64 4 499 0790
On his breakfast show on Newstalk ZB, Mike Hosking discusses Dr Oliver Hartwich's latest Newsroom column comparing Germany's MMP system to New Zealand's. Listen to the audio below. Read more
As we prepare for another election under the Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) system, it is worth noting that New Zealand is one of the few nations to have adopted this electoral model. The majority of countries still either opt for First-Past-the-Post or purely proportional systems. Another country that uses MMP is my native Germany. Read more
Imagine a typical New Zealand family. Every couple of weeks, the salary arrives in their bank account. Read more
Political campaigns often hinge on promises, and the art of selling a vision for the future is a crucial skill for any politician. But what happens when that vision strays deep into the realm of fantasy? Read more
We all know what ‘déjà vu’ is: that eerie sensation that we’ve been here before – that we are reliving a moment — often unpleasant — from the past. Many New Zealanders experienced a sense of déjà vu listening to the government’s recent statements about the economy and fiscal forecasts. Read more
Our Executive Director, Dr Oliver Hartwich, joined TVNZ Breakfast to discuss National's plan for those on jobseeker benefits. You can also read more about this discussion on the One News website here. Read more
On his breakfast show on Newstalk ZB, Mike Hosking talks to Dr Oliver Hartwich about the Initative's latest research note The Deficit Diaries: Six years of red. They discuss the Labour government's six-year fiscal record and the risk of fiscally optimistic projections. Read more
Dr Oliver Hartwich talks to Dr Bryce Wilkinson about The New Zealand Initiative’s latest research note they have written which analyses Labour’s six-year fiscal record. To listen to our latest podcasts, please subscribe to The New Zealand Initiative podcast on iTunes, Spotify or The Podcast App. Read more
In this short research note, we have focused on the fiscal performance of the Sixth Labour-led Government. We have pointed out that much of our current predicament comes down to unrealistic plans, lack of commitment to stated intentions, and not enough rigour in fiscal management. Read more
Wellington (Tuesday, 26 September 2023) - As we approach the 2023 election, New Zealanders must learn from the overly optimistic projections presented by Labour before the 2017 election. New Zealand cannot afford a repeat of this fiscal recklessness. Read more
Dr. Oliver Hartwich appeared on a One News panel to discuss Tuesday night's Leaders' debate. You can watch below or on the One News website. Read more
Dr. Oliver Hartwich is joined by Gene Tunny, of the Centre for Independent Studies in Sydney, for a discussion about Gene's most recent paper about debunking the arguments behind the Degrowth movement. The New Zealand Initiative · EPS. Read more
On 14 October, the same day Australia will vote on the Voice referendum, New Zealanders will also go to the polls, to elect a new Parliament. But where the choice in Australia is between a relatively straightforward ‘Yes’ or ‘No’, things are not quite as clear-cut in New Zealand. Read more
Who Teaches The Teachers, The New Zealand Initiative's new report, discusses the current issues with teacher training in New Zealand. Join Dr. Oliver Hartwich and Dr. Michael Johnston for a discussion about the new report. Read more
Some surveys require interpretation. Others speak for themselves. Read more