MEDIA

EMBARGOED UNTIL 2.30 PM, TUESDAY 10 SEPTEMBER Wellington (Monday, 9 September 2024) - A new report from The New Zealand Initiative challenges common perceptions of New Zealand's state sector and calls for fundamental reforms to improve its performance. The report "Demystifying the State", authored by Dr Tony Burton, provides an in-depth analysis of how the state sector functions, moving beyond idealistic portrayals to examine its real-world limitations and potential for improvement. Read more

Our recent Health Innovators' Summit in August brought together healthcare professionals, policymakers, and industry leaders to explore solutions for improving New Zealand's healthcare system. Watch the following highlight reel where attendees share their key takeaways from the event, highlighting discussions on localism, the importance of primary care, and the need for innovative approaches to address the challenges facing New Zealand's healthcare sector. Read more

Dr James Kierstead talked to Cam Slater about free speech on Reality Check Radio. Listen here. Read more

Our Chief Economist Dr Eric Crampton talk to Jack Tame on Q + A about the ETS and the complexities of carbon pricing, emissions reduction strategies, and the balancing act between environmental and economic considerations in New Zealand's climate policy.

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Wellington (Thursday, 22 August 2024) - A new survey reveals that local councils across New Zealand want more power to make decisions for their communities, rather than having rules set by the central government in Wellington. The New Zealand Initiative, an independent think tank, surveyed New Zealand's mayors, councillors, and council chief executives. Read more

Dr James Kierstead discusses his new report Unpopular Opinions: Academic Freedom in New Zealand with Prof Grant Schofield. Dr Oliver Hartwich moderates this discussion. Read more

Dr James Kierstead appears on The Platform to talk to Sean Plunket about his latest report on Academic Freedom. Read Dr James Kierstead's report, Unpopular Opinions: Academic Freedom in New Zealand, here. Read more

Wellington (Thursday, 22 August 2024) - The New Zealand Initiative welcomes the government's newly released Regional Deals Strategic Framework, seeing it as a positive step towards empowering local communities and fostering economic growth. Nick Clark, Senior Fellow at The New Zealand Initiative, says the framework aligns with many of the recommendations the think tank has been advocating for years. Read more

Wellington (Wednesday, 21 August 2024) - The New Zealand Initiative has released a new research report examining the state of academic freedom at our universities. The report, entitled Unpopular Opinions: Academic Freedom in New Zealand, provides a detailed and thoroughly documented examination of the state of academic freedom at our universities, together with an analysis of the main threats to academic freedom in this country at present. Read more

Dr Oliver Hartwich appeared on The Platform to talk to Sean Plunket about the recent cut to New Zealand's Official Cash Rate (OCR) by the Reserve Bank. Oliver explains that while the decision was economically justified given the country's economic struggles, he criticises the Reserve Bank's communication, arguing they should have been more transparent about changing their previous stance. Read more

At our Health Innovators' Summit, Prof Lester Levy opened the event with a keynote address. Watch his presentation below. Read more

Wellington (Wednesday, 14 August 2024) - Canada’s devolution of health services to First Nations provides a strikingly different way of thinking about localism, according to Dr Eric Crampton, Chief Economist with The New Zealand Initiative. “Canada’s central government has long provided, under treaty, a ‘medicine chest’ of funded services to First Nations peoples. Read more

Wellington (Wednesday, 7 August 2024) - The New Zealand Initiative has released a new research note examining how to implement revenue-sharing between central and local government, a policy the think tank has advocated for since 2013 and which the Government has now committed to pursue. The research note, titled 'Revenue Share' for Housing, explores options for councils to receive a portion of tax revenue from new housing developments, addressing New Zealand's persistent housing shortage. Read more

Dr Eric Crampton sat down with Mark Leishman, Stephen Franks and Verity Johnson on RNZ's show The Panel. Eric discusses the results of a major three-year trial of Universal Basic Income (UBI) in the United States, exploring its effects on work, health, and well-being, while considering the broader implications and challenges of implementing such a system on a national scale. Read more

Dr Oliver Hartwich was interviewed by Sean Plunket on The Platform about tax cuts coming into play. Watch below. Read more