Showing Up Is Half The Battle
Students who skip school are more likely to experience adverse life outcomes. This is a fact. Read more
28 September, 2018
Submission: New Zealand’s Fiscal Policy Framework: Establishing an Independent Fiscal Institution
Read The New Zealand Initiative's submission to the Treasury on New Zealand’s Fiscal Policy Framework: Establishing an Independent Fiscal Institution. Read more
Dr Bryce Wilkinson ONZM
28 September, 2018
Submission: Embedding wellbeing in the Public Finance Act 1989
Read The New Zealand Initiative's submission to the Treasury on Embedding wellbeing in the Public Finance Act 1989. Read more
Dr Bryce Wilkinson ONZM
28 September, 2018
Treasury advice challenging basis for fair pay agreements ignored
Fair risks? Well, the government won’t be able to say it wasn’t warned about the risks in its fair pay agreements process. Read more
Dr Eric Crampton
28 September, 2018
Brexit: an experiment in game theory
The hills were not alive with the sound of music last Thursday. That is when British Prime Minister Theresa May met with the European Union’s 27 other national leaders in the Austrian city of Salzburg. Read more
Dr Oliver Hartwich
25 September, 2018
The cost of irresponsible government spending
Governments spend money irresponsibly when they don’t care much whether the wellbeing outcomes for New Zealanders justify the amount being spent. This is happening on a grand scale. Read more
Dr Bryce Wilkinson ONZM
24 September, 2018
Government Waste is a Taxing Matter
Yesterday, the government released the Tax Working Group’s interim report. As foreshadowed, the Group was coy about what it will recommend in December. Read more
Dr Bryce Wilkinson ONZM
21 September, 2018
NCEA Review – Big Opportunities or Big Mistake?
As every law student learns, a rescuer owes a duty of care to a victim not to worsen the victim’s plight. The same principle applies in medical ethics. Read more
Roger Partridge
21 September, 2018
Crazy Rich Ministries
You can’t get more lavish than washing down some white gold caviar with Moet champagne while partying on top of the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. That’s how the rich and famous celebrated in Crazy Rich Asians, the latest blockbuster to hit theatres. Read more
21 September, 2018
Media release: Fair Pay Agreements too risky to rush
Wellington (21 September 2018): The New Zealand Initiative warned today that government must heed Treasury’s warnings about rushing Fair Pay Agreements. This week, Treasury released its advice about the upcoming Cabinet Paper proposing Fair Pay Agreements. Read more
21 September, 2018
Lack of focus on value for money in government has high cost
New Zealand is a high-tax country compared to prosperous non-European countries but much of the money appears ill spent. One example of poor outcomes is government spending of about $130,000 to educate an average school pupil to age 15. Read more
Dr Bryce Wilkinson ONZM
21 September, 2018
Media Release: Stephen Jennings joins The New Zealand Initiative's Board of Directors
The New Zealand Initiative welcomes entrepreneur Stephen Jennings, CEO and Founder of Africa’s largest urban development company, Rendeavour, onto its Board of Directors. “It is an honour to have Stephen join our Board,” said Roger Partridge, Chairman of The New Zealand Initiative. Read more
20 September, 2018
The problem with Treasury
Treasury’s latest stakeholder survey shows that I’m far from the only one worried about declining economic capabilities at the Government’s lead economics advisor. Keeping all the stakeholders happy is an impossible task for any organisation. Read more
Dr Eric Crampton
20 September, 2018
Taxing matter of wasteful and inefficient spending
The Tax Working Group's interim report released on Thursday rightly disposes of some unworthy proposals but confounds some others, particularly the capital gains issue. My list in the former category includes its position on tax and housing affordability, GST exemptions, and progressive company tax rates. Read more
Dr Bryce Wilkinson ONZM
20 September, 2018
Media release: Evidence of huge government waste
Wellington (18 September 2018): “Government is achieving poor outcomes for New Zealanders relative to the resources it is using.” That is the key message in the report Fit for Purpose? Are Kiwis getting the government they pay for?, released today by The New Zealand Initiative. Read more
18 September, 2018