Military theatre
These days, even the German army cannot afford to neglect its green credentials. Pity if that’s the only thing it is good at. Read more
27 November, 2020
This is why housing is expensive
Last Sunday, Wellington mayor Andy Foster joined a protest at a housing development at Shelly Bay. Wearing suit and tie, he pitched tents to support the occupation but then later told media he thought it was merely a “community gathering.” Regardless, Foster’s attendance at the protest was inescapably seen as going against his own council, which days earlier voted to support the $500 million project. Read more
27 November, 2020
Education Ministry strikes fool’s gold
All too often, today’s flavour of the month is tomorrow’s failure. This truism appears to be playing out in education. Read more
Roger Partridge
27 November, 2020
Freely Speaking #4: Why is NZ’s housing market so messed up?
In this episode of the Initiative’s Freely Speaking podcast, Matt Burgess, Eric Crampton and Oliver Hartwich trade hypotheses on why the New Zealand housing market is so broken with a few comparisons in Europe and how a change of incentives for local councils might be a big part of the solution. If you would like 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 Eric Crampton
27 November, 2020
Oliver Hartwich debates housing with Mike Hosking
Oliver Hartwich wrote an open letter to Mike Hosking in the NZ Herald taking aim at some of the radio host’s recent comments on housing. They discuss their different point of views in Mike’s radio show on Newstalk ZB. Read more
Dr Oliver Hartwich
26 November, 2020
Quick take: What Mike Hosking gets wrong about housing
On this Quick Take podcast, Oliver Hartwich explains his open letter to Mike Hosking. The radio host’s position that the government has nothing to do with fixing the housing crisis is unhelpful and misses that governments – over the last decade – are responsible for the skyrocketing prices. Read more
Dr Oliver Hartwich
26 November, 2020
An open letter to Mike Hosking on housing
Dear Mike, In a country where people often hold back opinions for fear of offending others, your breakfast show is a refreshing exception. I am a fan of your clarity and boldness (though, sadly, we still haven’t met). Read more
Dr Oliver Hartwich
25 November, 2020
Quick take: Why the ETS is a great tool for fixing climate change
In this Quick Take episode, Matt Burgess explains why the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) is a simple and effective way to reduce carbon emissions overtime at the least cost. The ETS, which New Zealand has implemented, means no other climate policies are needed, so why does the Government continue to introduce them? Read more
24 November, 2020
Quick take: A bit of déjà vu with the RBNZ’s interventions?
In this Quick Take episode, Bryce Wilkinson questions the wisdom behind many of the Reserve Bank’s latest interventionist moves and worries New Zealand could be repeating mistakes of the past. If you would like 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
24 November, 2020
Building pressure
Air compressor tanks come with a maximum pressure rating. The things are built to handle pressure, but only so much. Read more
Dr Eric Crampton
24 November, 2020
That’s not how this works
Analogies are fun, but good luck using them to change someone’s mind. I’ve heard plenty of conservatives in the US (and everywhere else) say the economy is like a household and the president is like a CEO. Read more
20 November, 2020
To graduation and beyond
All around the country Kiwi students are in the thick of their long-awaited NCEA exams. Many of which will now have a new appreciation for the immense value of schooling – particularly after being locked out for several weeks this year. School is more than cheap day-care. Read more
Joel Hernandez
20 November, 2020
It’s the emissions, stupid!
The Government has declared a climate crisis, so there should be no room for bad emissions policies. But you could drive a bus through the Government’s current strategy and processes on climate. Read more
20 November, 2020
Freely Speaking #3: Is this the end of the fiat money system?
Thanks for tuning in to the New Zealand Initiative’s Freely Speaking podcast where the style is casual, the topics are important and the brakes are off. In this episode, around the table is executive director Oliver Hartwich, chief economist Eric Crampton, senior fellow Bryce Wilkinson and chief editor Nathan Smith. Read more
Dr Oliver Hartwich
Dr Eric Crampton
Dr Bryce Wilkinson
20 November, 2020
Quick take: What is Rod Carr thinking about climate change?
In this Quick Take podcast, Matt Burgess asks why Climate Change Commission chair Rod Carr wants to stop aircraft travel and container shipping to help save the climate when carbon offsets will let Kiwis do both. If you would like to listen to our latest podcasts, please subscribe to The New Zealand Initiative podcast on iTunes, Spotify or The Podcast App. Read more
19 November, 2020