Dr Oliver Hartwich Views from Wellington

Uncategorised

If I were PM: Fix the machine before the policies

On my first day as prime minister, I would honestly address New Zealand’s decline, prioritise government reform over new initiatives, and focus on accountability and effective leadership in departments. […]
Uncategorised

There was only one thing about Bürgen that was German and it was not the bread

New Zealand’s Bürgen bread, wrongly branded as German, originated in Auckland in 1987. Its departure to Australia highlights tensions in country branding and consumer perception. […]
Insights

Tactical voting could sink MMP

Te Pāti Māori’s campaign strategy requests candidates’ votes for itself and party votes for allies, leveraging MMP’s overhang rule. This tactic could distort election outcomes, prompting reactions from voters. […]

How to sell assets – and win elections

The New Zealand Herald

21/08/2026

The New Zealand Government sold Chorus loans for $702 million, prompting discussions on asset management strategies amid rising debt. The election will reveal contrasting views on state-owned assets and their potential sale. […]

the word election spelled out in scrabble letters

Unravelling MMP: How the 2026 election could break the voting system from two sides

Research reports

21/08/2026

Te Pāti Māori’s tactical voting strategy risks undermining MMP, prompting concerns about distorted election outcomes and calls for electoral reform to ensure voting integrity. […]

Nothing gets done in NZ’s coalitions of the unwilling

21/08/2026

New Zealand’s November 7 election presents diverse party options, yet potential coalitions may hinder fiscal reforms. A fragmented government could exacerbate public debt, leaving deficit reduction unlikely.

[…]

Vintage typographic map of New Zealand with German characters and place names

The umlaut premium

14/08/2026

Bürgen bread, often mistaken as German, was actually an Australian product created by Doug Leighton, symbolising authenticity through its umlaut rather than true heritage.

[…]

Germany silent on suspected Russian drone attack to avoid boosting far right

11/08/2026

A drone incident at Leipzig airport, intended to disrupt Ukrainian weapon supplies, raises concerns about potential Russian involvement amid cautious German governmental responses and political implications.

[…]

Embed, align, continue, refresh

07/08/2026

MBIE and Treasury’s diversity plans emphasize merit-based approaches, reflecting a shift from prior inclusion requirements, yet their strategies appear largely repetitive and self-focused.

[…]

Like shoppers, voters buy the label, not the substance

04/08/2026

Consumers often judge quality based on brand and packaging, similar to voters who prefer specific parties without deep political understanding, as evidenced in New Zealand’s Ipsos survey.

[…]

As they stand, no

31/07/2026

The RMA replacement Bills require further refinement despite containing some improvements. While they aim to streamline planning and reduce council blockages, essential protections for property rights and housing affordability may need to be added before the final vote.

[…]

Dr Oliver Hartwich

Views from Wellington

If I were PM: Fix the machine before the policies

There was only one thing about Bürgen that was German and it was not the bread

Tactical voting could sink MMP

How to sell assets – and win elections

Unravelling MMP: How the 2026 election could break the voting system from two sides

Nothing gets done in NZ’s coalitions of the unwilling

The umlaut premium

Germany silent on suspected Russian drone attack to avoid boosting far right

Embed, align, continue, refresh

Like shoppers, voters buy the label, not the substance

As they stand, no

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