They are us
We hope that over this difficult time, New Zealand will come together. To mourn the dead. To uphold our values. To defend our common humanity. [...]
Insights
‘Insights’ is the weekly newsletter of The New Zealand Initiative. Every Friday it provides comment pieces on domestic and global policy issues and the state of the world as such. It is a newsletter serious enough for a think tank – and lighthearted enough for an enjoyable Friday afternoon read. Please subscribe to ‘Insights’ by visiting the website of The New Zealand Initiative: www.nzinitiative.org.nz
When superstition beats science
Even in a developed country like New Zealand, a significant number of parents are voluntarily keeping their children from vaccinations. With each rejection, parents are not only increasing the risks for their own family but also for others in the community. [...]
As Kiwi as pavlova
In our #localismNZ report we call for a radical shift of power from the centre to the people. [...]
No time is money
New Zealanders like the ability to kick out bad governments after only three years. But our short terms reduce the quality of any government no matter who happens to be in office. [...]
Being kind to the Fourth Labour Government
Kindness is a virtue. Let us extend it to those brave political leaders of the 1980s and 1990s. [...]
Time to un-Grinch
From a policy perspective, New Zealand’s 2018 was not quite as eventful as most observers predicted. The (now no longer) new Government established so many inquiries and working groups that we saw less policymaking and more policy preparation. [...]
Centralism attacks Tomorrow’s Schools
In one area of public policy, New Zealand is much devolved: education. Since the rollout of Tomorrow’s Schools in 1989, our schools have enjoyed relative autonomy and self-governance. That may end if the Government implements recommendations from the Tomorrow's Schools Review taskforce. [...]
The final frontier of self-determination
In our enlightened society, it should be a human right to determine one’s age. [...]
Having and eating your housing cake
If house prices go up, it is a scandal. If house prices go down, it is a disaster. That must be the logic by which the media reports on the ups and downs of the property market. [...]
Financial innovation beats Kiwibuild
Besides, the construction of 9,000 homes is more than 26 times the number of buyers who have qualified for Kiwibuild so far. It’s a pity that complex finance initiatives do not make for great photo opportunities with the Prime Minister. [...]
