Dr Oliver Hartwich Views from Wellington

The Australian

Ten years for keeping quiet? NZ eyes end to right to silence

Centuries after John Lilburne suffered brutal torture to secure the right to silence, New Zealand proposes to outlaw it in child homicide cases – a move that risks punishing the vulnerable rather than the guilty. […]
Quadrant

Promises Half-Kept

The Luxon government achieved notable policy reforms in education and housing but failed to address public finances and public service reform, risking its future after the upcoming election. […]
Insights

Judged by their peers

The 2026 ‘Mood of the Boardroom’ survey shows New Zealand’s business leaders giving mixed reviews to Prime Minister Luxon and Deputy Minister Willis, highlighting concerns over communication and spending. […]

wellington cable car in wellington new zealand

Fight over a rounding error

The New Zealand Herald

22/10/2026

The current New Zealand elections show minimal differences between National and Labour’s fiscal plans, lacking long-term solutions for an aging population’s financial challenges and transparency in costing promises. […]

cruise ship floating along majestic sydney opera house in twilight

Losing sight of the lucky country – why we need a crisis to reform again

Newsroom

20/10/2026

A reflection on Australia’s economic transformation since the 1990s, highlighting concerns about current stagnation and the need for reforms amidst political challenges. […]

senior sitting in a wheelchair in a nursing home

The false economy of aged care

16/10/2026

A new report highlights New Zealand’s aged care crisis, advocating for better funding, home care, and pricing reforms to prepare for an aging population.

[…]

people holding colored paper cardboard with white text

The day New Zealanders master Mixed Member Proportional, they may break it

13/10/2026

New Zealand’s upcoming election features a tight race influenced by its mixed-member proportional system, creating unpredictable outcomes and potential overhangs.

[…]

Uncategorised

Should the government spend less? A debate between a neoliberal and a progressive

06/10/2026

Max Rashbrooke and Oliver Hartwich debate whether the New Zealand government should increase or decrease spending, discussing economic principles, taxation, and the need for efficient public spending in addressing societal issues.

[…]

Trump’s diesel squeeze leaves NZ dangerously exposed

06/10/2026

Donald Trump’s administration has ignited tensions with Europe over diesel export bans amid ongoing global fuel challenges, revealing vulnerabilities in international fuel security, notably affecting New Zealand.

[…]

federal constitutional court building in karlsruhe

National’s proposed Foodstuffs split: would a written constitution better protect property rights?

05/10/2026

Reflections on the implications of New Zealand’s governance without a written constitution, especially the tension between parliamentary sovereignty and the need for judicial checks on state power.

[…]

When the Party Was Home

29/09/2026

Recent polling indicates that One Nation leads the Coalition in Australia, with both traditional parties losing popular support. The article reflects on the decline of established political parties, paralleling similar trends in Germany, Britain, and New Zealand. It highlights changes in political engagement, community ties, and decision-making processes as parties become more transactional and less rooted in social structures. This shift raises questions about the stability and efficacy of contemporary politics.

[…]

Dr Oliver Hartwich

Views from Wellington

Ten years for keeping quiet? NZ eyes end to right to silence

Promises Half-Kept

Judged by their peers

Fight over a rounding error

Losing sight of the lucky country – why we need a crisis to reform again

The false economy of aged care

The day New Zealanders master Mixed Member Proportional, they may break it

Should the government spend less? A debate between a neoliberal and a progressive

Trump’s diesel squeeze leaves NZ dangerously exposed

National’s proposed Foodstuffs split: would a written constitution better protect property rights?

When the Party Was Home

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