In praise of aspiring ‘influencers’
Content creators are the fastest growing type of small business worldwide. Today, over 50 million people consider themselves 'influencers' on social media. Read more
19 November, 2021
Wanted: A long-term vision for New Zealand
Another Groundhog Day week in our never-ending Covid crisis. We got an announcement on Monday for another on Wednesday. Read more
Dr Oliver Hartwich
19 November, 2021
Three houses of up to three stories, and a supermarket
When land use planning is wrong, it is hard for anything to be right – from housing to supermarkets. Labour and National jointly support legislation allowing people to build more housing. Read more
Dr Eric Crampton
19 November, 2021
Podcast: The latest EU migrant crisis
Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko is channelling Middle Eastern migrants and refugees towards Poland in a bid to destabilise the European Union. People are now camped between the Polish and Belarusian border with nowhere to go. Read more
Dr Oliver Hartwich
19 November, 2021
A public service in decline
The news that our public service is ranked second in the world, according to a UK survey, was overshadowed by two events last week which cast it in a less positive light. New Zealand’s public service placed second in the International Civil Service Effectiveness (InCiSE) Index from Oxford University. Read more
18 November, 2021
Cynically exploiting EU’s divisions
In the past year, the 26 members of the European Defence Agency (EDA) have spent €186 billion on their militaries. But what is all that spending worth when even a few thousand refugees camping out in Belarus reveal how fragile and vulnerable Europe’s external borders are? Read more
Dr Oliver Hartwich
16 November, 2021
Submission: Resource Management (Enabling Housing Supply and Other Matters) Amendment Bill
The Initiative has, since its founding, undertaken substantial research into housing supply, zoning, and local government. About a third of the Initiative’s work for the past decade has been devoted to housing and local government. Read more
Dr Eric Crampton
16 November, 2021
Here’s why we are failing the Covid testing test
The Ministry of Health’s approach to Covid testing is going to kill people. For all of the past year, the Ministry has been horribly wrong about Covid testing systems. It has ignored substantial reviews of testing policy. Read more
Dr Eric Crampton
15 November, 2021
Mahuta on Three Waters
This week, Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta recorded a lengthy podcast with the Taxpayers’ Union. If you missed it, or do not want to spend 32 minutes unpicking platitudes, here is a summary: Taxpayers’ Union: How does taking water assets off councils save money? Read more
12 November, 2021
Unemployment Insurance - More Tax for More Unemployment
In May, Budget 2021 revealed that work was underway to develop an unemployment insurance scheme. This would see benefits tied to past employment and wages in some way, and those benefits would be generous compared to the status quo. Read more
Dr David Law
12 November, 2021
Podcast: Bryce Wilkinson and Leonard Hong on walking the path to the next GFC
Bryce Wilkinson and Leonard Hong discuss their latest report "Walking the path to the next global financial crisis" and the implications for New Zealand. To listen to our latest podcasts, please subscribe to The New Zealand Initiative podcast on iTunes, Spotify or The Podcast App. Read more
Dr Bryce Wilkinson
12 November, 2021
Believing fairy tales
Would you believe that the old story of Hansel and Gretel was based in fact? In 1963, Hans Trexler published a book I’m surprised that Oliver Hartwich hasn’t read: Die Wahrheit über Hänsel und Gretel. Read more
Dr Eric Crampton
12 November, 2021
Podcast: Dr David Law on unemployment insurance
Senior Fellow Dr David Law discusses his new paper on the Government’s plans to introduce an unemployment insurance scheme. To listen to our latest podcasts, please subscribe to The New Zealand Initiative podcast on iTunes, Spotify or The Podcast App. Read more
Dr Oliver Hartwich
Dr David Law
11 November, 2021
Research Note: Unemployment Insurance - A recipe for more unemployment?
When presenting Budget 2021 in May, Finance Minister Grant Robertson announced that an unemployment insurance (UI) scheme was being developed for New Zealand. Prior to this, the Productivity Commission had considered UI as part of its inquiry into technological change and the future of work, as had the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE). Read more
Dr David Law
11 November, 2021
Media release: Unemployment Insurance will mean more tax - NZ Initiative report
Wellington (Thursday, 11 November 2021) A new unemployment insurance scheme would be another tax on income, with little benefit, and increase unemployment, according to a new report from The New Zealand Initiative. The think tank warns that the scheme could constitute a 2 – 3% tax increase for every Kiwi worker in the medium-term. Read more
Chelsy Killick
Dr David Law
11 November, 2021