Dr Oliver Hartwich Views from Wellington

Newsroom

Donald Trump, the Kaiser in Mar-a-Lago

Comparisons to Hitler are wrong. Trump is more like Kaiser Wilhelm II: an erratic media monarch dismantling the guardrails of democracy to satisfy his own fragile, dangerous ego. […]
Insights

Paying for growth

There is an urgent need to reform housing funding by sharing GST on new builds with local councils to incentivise growth and improve housing affordability. […]
The Australian

Trump aide’s ‘might-makes-right’ doctrine threatens Australia and New Zealand’s claims

It is timely to reflect on Münster’s town hall, birthplace of the Westphalia peace treaty, contrasting its legacy with contemporary views on sovereignty – not least the erosion of established territorial norms, particularly through the actions of U.S. leaders. […]

To stop megaphone populists triumphing, we need unlikely left-right alliance

Newsroom

20/01/2026

The Mont Pelerin Society, often misunderstood as conspiratorial, actually advocates for classical liberalism, emphasising the need to protect democracy and open society against the rise of populism and authoritarianism. […]

The Warmth of the Herd

Quadrant

28/12/2025

Voters are losing patience with democratic process, sliding from civilisation’s hard order back into the comfortable order of the tribe. Thinking in principles is hard; belonging feels good. […]

When fiscal conservatives fall out, the books are in trouble

19/12/2025

New Zealand’s fiscal crisis is highlighted by a public spat between Finance Minister Nicola Willis and former Minister Ruth Richardson, revealing deep structural deficits and political constraints in addressing them.

[…]

From blueprints to building

19/12/2025

In 2025, New Zealand experienced a shift in attitudes as the government initiated significant reforms in housing, transport, and education, aiming for practical solutions and long-term improvements despite ongoing challenges.

[…]

Greyhound racing law change is legal overreach

11/12/2025

The New Zealand Government’s bill to ban greyhound racing raises concerns about arbitrary power and lacks compensation provisions, undermining the rule of law and civil society rights.

[…]

The US ditching the rules-based order leaves NZ living on a prayer

09/12/2025

The American conservative viewpoint has drastically shifted from Reagan’s commitment to alliances and internationalism to Trump’s transactional approach, endangering global stability and leaving allies, like New Zealand, vulnerable.

[…]

Directors who dodge their tax debts

05/12/2025

Inland Revenue wrote off $694.5 million in tax debt due to companies engaging in phoenix activity, prompting proposals for stricter insolvency regulations in New Zealand.

[…]

The tax problem New Zealand cannot seem to solve

04/12/2025

New Zealand’s tax collection faces ongoing issues with tax debt write-offs. There are strategies from Germany and Australia to hold directors accountable and ensure fairness.

[…]

Dr Oliver Hartwich

Views from Wellington

Donald Trump, the Kaiser in Mar-a-Lago

Paying for growth

Trump aide’s ‘might-makes-right’ doctrine threatens Australia and New Zealand’s claims

To stop megaphone populists triumphing, we need unlikely left-right alliance

The Warmth of the Herd

When fiscal conservatives fall out, the books are in trouble

From blueprints to building

Greyhound racing law change is legal overreach

The US ditching the rules-based order leaves NZ living on a prayer

Directors who dodge their tax debts

The tax problem New Zealand cannot seem to solve

Archives

Categories

Latest interviews

Stats

Stay connected