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

target board
Insights

The wrong target

26/09/2025
New Zealand’s economy declined 0.9% in June, with criticism aimed at the Reserve Bank for high interest rates, though fiscal policies exacerbated inflation, complicating recovery efforts.

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Raphael's School Athens (1511) famous
Insights

The invisible architecture of prosperity

12/09/2025
Over half of New Zealanders feel the country is headed in the wrong direction, noting a decline in trust for key institutions. Rebuilding this trust requires understanding and respect for institutional limits, emphasizing education and civic engagement to protect prosperity.

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Insights

Talking in code

15/08/2025
Seemingly disjointed political conversations may actually be strategic signaling among leaders, as demonstrated in the Interislander ferries saga.

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brown and black windmill
Insights

Bridging divides through shared purpose

25/07/2025
The New Zealand Initiative delegation discovered during their Amsterdam visit that the Dutch successfully reduced regulatory burdens without political controversy, contrasting New Zealand’s contentious regulatory reform environment driven by emotional concerns.

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Insights

The Charlie Brown Pope

09/05/2025
Pope Leo XIV’s social media reveals a humorous perspective, blending wisdom with irony, showcasing a refreshing human side amidst serious papal duties.

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daughter explaining elderly mother how using smartphone
Insights

Aged care: A silent emergency

02/05/2025
Summerset’s Scott Scoullar highlighted New Zealand’s urgent aged care crisis, with a projected shortage of 10,000 beds by 2030, necessitating immediate policy reforms and better communication between providers and policymakers.

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people on a video call
Insights

Requiem for a ringtone

24/04/2025
Skype, once revolutionary in connecting families, faces retirement in May 2025 due to competition from newer platforms like Teams and Zoom, marking a nostalgic end of an era.

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person putting coin in a piggy bank
Insights

Treasury returns to economic rigour

17/04/2025
Treasury Secretary Iain Rennie’s speech emphasised sustainable government finances, advocating for debt management, rigorous analysis and targeted crisis responses to ensure New Zealand’s economic resilience.

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