Dr Oliver Hartwich Views from Wellington

Quadrant

The New Mandarinate

New Zealand’s immigration biometric project, initiated in 2018, wasted millions due to poor oversight and misleading advice from officials, raising concerns about bureaucratic accountability and governance challenges. […]
Insights

Balancing the books is only half the job

Both major parties in New Zealand promise budget surpluses and fiscal consolidation but need to address institutional reform for economic growth and competitiveness. […]
The New Zealand Herald

Why Labour’s capital gains tax policy is flawed

At a panel discussion on capital gains taxes in Wellington, speakers largely criticised Labour’s proposal, highlighting its flaws such as lack of inflation adjustment and excessive exemptions, while agreeing on the need for better tax design. […]

reykjavik cityscape with expressionist neo gothic style hallgrimskirkja church

Spurred by heat from Trump, Iceland votes on reopening frozen EU talks

Newsroom

25/08/2026

Iceland is reconsidering its EU membership following the 2008 crisis and global tensions, with a referendum set to determine whether to resume EU talks, despite mixed public sentiment. […]

If I were PM: Fix the machine before the policies

Uncategorised

23/08/2026

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. […]

artisan bread display in a berlin bakery

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

23/08/2026

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.

[…]

the beehive building in wellington new zealand

Tactical voting could sink MMP

21/08/2026

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

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

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.

[…]

Dr Oliver Hartwich

Views from Wellington

The New Mandarinate

Balancing the books is only half the job

Why Labour’s capital gains tax policy is flawed

Spurred by heat from Trump, Iceland votes on reopening frozen EU talks

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

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