Oliver Hartwich argues the case for economic growth
Dr Oliver Hartwich of presents on the case for economic growth at the PortfolioConstruction Forum in Auckland on 19 May 2015. Read more
19 May, 2015
Giving Charities a Helping Hand
Charities play an important role in our society, delivering a range of social services to numerous communities and causes. Their good work is recognised by the government, which confers a range of privileges to them, such as an income tax exemption, and the state also provides a significant portion of the sector’s funding. Read more
Jason Krupp
18 May, 2015
Jason Krupp on RadioLive: Charities Legislation
Jason Krupp on discusses charities legislation on Radio Live. Read more
Jason Krupp
18 May, 2015
The future for urban transport lies with the car
For public transit advocates wondering what form transport networks will take in a future increasingly concerned with urbanisation, congestion and energy efficiency, here is one probable answer: It will have four wheels, a small seat capacity and travel on the road. Yes, it is the car. Read more
Jason Krupp
18 May, 2015
Media release: Charity rules need a helping hand
Wellington (18 May 2015): Government needs to set clearer rules, provide greater transparency and remove the tax advantage enjoyed by for-profit arms of charity groups if it wants to promote the work of the charitable sector, according to The New Zealand Initiative. The public policy think tank’s latest report, Giving Charities a Helping Hand, analysed over a decade of regulatory change in the sector, and found that the current rules are stacked against smaller operators while allowing commercial arms of large charities to claim income tax exemptions with little oversight. Read more
18 May, 2015
LVRs stretch Reserve Bank mandate
The best case we can make for the Reserve Bank’s latest round of loan-to-value home mortgage regulations (LVRs) is not particularly compelling. Or, at least, it requires stretching our understanding of the bank’s prudential regulation mandate a bit farther than I’d like. Read more
Dr Eric Crampton
15 May, 2015
Plain stupid
One of the greatest advances of civilisation is also one of the least obvious: branded products. We take brands for granted because they are everywhere. Read more
Dr Oliver Hartwich
15 May, 2015
Where there's a will, there's a way
A society without government regulation is not an unregulated society. It sounds paradoxical, but I am talking about self-regulation, or self-control, or that stuffy old Victorian concept, willpower. Read more
15 May, 2015
Investing for Success: Social impact bonds and the future of public services
This week, The New Zealand Initiative released a report assessing social impact bonds in a New Zealand context. The report identifies both opportunities and challenges. Read more
Dr Bryce Wilkinson
15 May, 2015
A Pyrrhic victory for Cameron
There is no question that the British Conservatives’ election result is way better than any pollster had predicted. Achieving an absolute majority of the seats is a major feat for Prime Minister David Cameron – and one that probably not even Cameron himself would have thought possible. Read more
Dr Oliver Hartwich
14 May, 2015
Investing for success: Social Impact Bonds and the future of public services
This report explains the concept of Social Impact Bonds (SIBs), its application worldwide, and its potential in New Zealand. SIBs are a new and innovative means of financing and delivering social services through the private sector, where the government usually only pays for what works. Read more
Dr Bryce Wilkinson
13 May, 2015
How the 'big data' revolution can guide business
Big data is one of the transformative mega trends shaping the way modern businesses operate. By analysing the vast quantities of data at their disposal, businesses can reshape their operations to meet shifting customer requirements in real time, with the benefits reaped in greater profits. Read more
13 May, 2015
Media release: Government needs new tools to deliver $34b in social services
Wellington (13 May 2015): Ahead of next week’s budget, The New Zealand Initiative is calling on government to adopt new ways of delivering social services that increase accountability on the billions spent on these programmes. That is one of the main findings of the public policy think tank’s latest report Investing for Success: Social Impact Bonds and the future of public services. Read more
13 May, 2015
Green economy needs minerals
Serial entrepreneur and visionary Elon Musk last week introduced the first truly disruptive technology in the domestic electricity markets since, well, the lightbulb. He unveiled the Powerwall, which is a simple idea: use a lithium-ion battery to store energy when electricity is cheap and then use the stored power when prices are high. Read more
Jason Krupp
8 May, 2015
Gary Born on the Bilateral Arbitration Treaty Regime
On Friday 8 May 2015, international commercial arbitration and litigation expert Gary Born presented on the Bilateral Arbitration Treaty Regime at Victoria University of Wellington. This event was held in conjunction with the University, The New Zealand Initiative and The New Zealand Centre of International Economic Law. Read more
8 May, 2015