Insights – Dr Oliver Hartwich

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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The revolving door at the end of the Pacific

24/07/2026

New Zealand has high foreign-born residency and emigration rates. It offers social stability and satisfaction but faces economic challenges like low wages and housing affordability. Policy changes could retain more residents.

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the word jackpot spelled out in scrabble letters

Everyone is a winner with TOP

17/07/2026

The Opportunity Party’s radical tax proposal offers a ‘Citizen’s Income’ funded by land tax, seemingly benefiting most while raising questions about its financial viability and fairness.

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Topographic map of New Zealand with city names and layered numbers

Memory is a terrible statistician

09/07/2026

Nostalgic views of New Zealand’s past often overlook harsh realities. While some measures of well-being have improved since the 1970s, significant challenges persist, indicating a mixed narrative of progress.

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crop anonymous woman stretching elastic band near professional chiropractor

Better on the books

26/06/2026

The ACC’s efforts to improve support for injury recovery showed progress but rely on questionable metrics. Enhanced rehabilitation could significantly reduce future costs and ensure genuine recovery.

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The twenty-dollar week

19/06/2026

Labour’s proposed public transport fare caps raise questions due to unclear details. The $65 million cost versus potential savings challenges the effectiveness and fairness of the policy.

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On borrowed calm

12/06/2026

Anger over socio-economic issues has propelled populist parties to prominence in countries like Australia, Britain, and Germany, while New Zealand’s political landscape remains more stable due to moderate forces.

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