About our eventsThe 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.
Next Generation Debates: This tournament sees the best university teams engage in debates on important public policy decisions, with events held in Auckland and Wellington. The series is sponsored by the Friedlander Foundation.
Member-only Events: Exclusive to members to the Initiative.
Since Chinese President Xi Jinping established the “Belt and Road Initiative” in 2013, the strategic vision for China’s integration into the global economy has focused on Eurasian connectivity. Read more
Come along and listen to some of New Zealand’s top debaters battle it out in the grand final of the 2017 Next Generation Debates with the moot This House believes that paying down debt should be the government’s priority as tax revenues increase. The debates will be followed by a panel discussion with Nicola Willis, National Party Candidate for Wellington Central and Grant Robertson, Spokesperson for Employment and Finance, Labour Party. Read more
Victoria University goes to the grand final of The New Zealand Initiative’s Next Generation Debates. They won in the Wellington semi-final from the University of Otago on the moot This House believes that millennials need to get better with money if they want to become homeowners. Hon Peter Dunne (Minister of Internal Affairs) and Diane Maxwell (Retirement Commissioner) commented on the debate in a panel session.Said Hon Peter Dunne: “The debates showcased the talent of the four debaters from their... Read more
The University of Auckland has won the Auckland semi-final of The New Zealand Initiative’s Next Generation Debates. They prevailed against a team from the University of Canterbury on the moot This House believes that New Zealand should lower its current migrant intake. David Seymour (ACT Party Leader) and Julie-Anne Genter (Green Party MP) commented on the debate in a panel session. Said Julie-Anne Genter: “It is great to see engagement from young people in vital policy and political issues of... Read more
Have your say about the future of fishing. New Zealanders are keen fishers. But they are concerned about decreasing fish stock abundance. They are also concerned that access to stocks, we once took for granted, is increasingly coming under threat. Read more
The New Zealand Initiative invites you to a members’ lunch with Hon Steven Joyce.Hon Steven Joyce has been a key minister in the National-led government for many years. As Minister of Finance, he just delivered his budget and is responsible for the government’s fiscal strategy.Please join us for a discussion of National’s plans for the economy ahead of the September election. Read more
Parents want good schools and good teachers for their children, and most educators want to pass their knowledge to their students. The New Zealand Initiative’s analyses discovered that too many students leave school unqualified, and many others languish in low performing schools. This is why parents deserve better information to assist them to make critical schooling decisions instead of relying on current league tables. Join the NZ initiative for the launch of “Amplifying Excellence” as we propose new pathways towards a more transparent,... Read more
Ranked #1 in the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Index for the seventh consecutive year, Switzerland is one of the most successful countries in the world. Read more
After the December reshuffle, the New Zealand government includes, for the first time, a Minister for Social Investment. In Hon Amy Adams, the Investment Approach now has a prominent seat at the cabinet table - she is ranked 6th in Prime Minister English's administration. Read more
Following its decision to withdraw from the European Union, Britain will regain control over its trade policies. This opens new opportunities for the UK but also for its traditional trading partners such as New Zealand. Read more
Our Retreat is the chance to discuss social and economic issues with members and bring those issues to the attention of New Zealand’s leading politicians. Read more
Trade after Brexit: The future of UK/NZ relations with guest speaker: The Rt. Hon. Peter Lilley MP, former UK Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. Read more
Proponents of regulations and taxes on products increasingly justify interventions as “nudges” – intended to prod consumers to take better decisions. But do consumers really need government to nudge them? Are there more effective ways to enable consumers to make better decisions? Read more
Dr Jonathan Coleman is the Minister of Health and Minister for Sport and Recreation. He was elected to Parliament in 2005 and is the MP for Northcote which he holds with a 9664 majority.He has been a Cabinet Minister since 2008, and has previously held the portfolios of Immigration, Broadcasting, Associate Tourism, Associate Health, Defence, State Services, and Associate Finance.Prior to entering Parliament, Dr Coleman studied medicine at Auckland University. Read more
Local government plays an important role, one that is often overlooked. When things like roading and recycling work well, they are barely noticed. But when it goes wrong, it can have national consequences – like Auckland’s housing crisis.That is why it is important to have the right policy settings in place to ensure that councils operate in an accountable, open and efficient manner. A sober assessment of New Zealand suggests that our highly centralised system strays wide of the mark, amid... Read more
