Protecting the children

This week, the government introduced legislation intended to protect youths from online harms. If the Bill passes, covered social media platforms will be required to take ‘reasonable steps’ to stop under-16s from having accounts. Platforms that do not do enough will risk large fines. Read more

Dr Eric Crampton
Insights Newsletter
28 August, 2026

Newstalk ZB: Mike Hosking on Dr Oliver Hartwich's case against Labour's capital gains tax

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

Mike Hosking
Newstalk ZB
28 August, 2026

Podcast: Kiwis putting it on the line for Ukraine

In this episode, Michael talks to Tenby Powell ONZM, former mayor of Tauranga and leader of KiwiKARE, about his team's humanitarian work in Ukraine and how nearly five years of war have transformed the battlefield. Tenby describes evacuating civilians from areas too dangerous to stay in, and the stoves his workshops build from scrapped water cylinders to keep people alive in winter when energy infrastructure has been destroyed. Read more

Dr Michael Johnston
Tenby Powell ONZM
Podcast
25 August, 2026

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