Dr Oliver Hartwich

Notes from New Zealand

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Covid-19

photo of groundhog on grass
Insights

Our final Groundhog Day?

28 January 2022

Unlike Groundhog Day, there is nothing funny about Covid.

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Insights

Moving beyond the pandemic

17 December 2021

Covid dominated the headlines in 2021, other policy areas received less attention than deserved.

group of people watching on laptop
Insights

Generation Lockdown

1 October 2021

There is a major surprise hidden in the overall result of the German elections.

coronavirus news on screen
The New Zealand Herald

Don’t let ‘sunk costs’ hold New Zealand back from freedom

16 September 2021

With all these billions spent and all the sacrifices we have made, is it any wonder that people are hesitant to abandon elimination?

dream text on green leaves
Insights

A visionary dream

10 September 2021

I had a dream. It is November 2021, and I have just tuned in to the Prime Minister’s daily press conference.

gray building
Newsroom

The virus in European politics

7 September 2021

Is there anything about this worldwide pandemic that we have not talked about sufficiently after one and a half years?

person getting vaccinated
Insights

I went to the vaccination centre, and all I got was a jab and a paper card

3 September 2021

QR code certificates are for big, anonymous countries.

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Insights

What future, New Zealand?

27 August 2021

For Covid’s sake, how much freedom will New Zealanders sacrifice?

people protesting on street
Newsroom

Liberté, égalité – and Covid

27 July 2021

Countries have political rallies, of course.

people wearing diy masks
Insights

Long live Helen Clark

9 July 2021

We all wish Helen Clark a long life.

Posts pagination

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About me

Oliver Hartwich

I run The New Zealand Initiative, a Wellington think tank that argues for free markets, limited government and institutions that work. I grew up in Germany's Ruhrgebiet and worked in London and Sydney before moving to New Zealand in 2012. This site collects two decades of my columns, reports, speeches and interviews, with the occasional satire.

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Latest video

AI, context, and New Zealand’s data center future

6 October 2026 · More videos

Latest audio

  • Newstalk ZB · 9 November 2026 · 8 min

    What the 2026 election shows about MMP

    0:00
  • Free to Disagree · 6 November 2026 · 56 min

    Why hasn’t New Zealand warmed to its prime minister?

    0:00
  • Initiative podcast · 5 November 2026 · 32 min

    Why an ageing New Zealand is an opportunity, not a burden

    0:00

All interviews and podcasts

My books

Cover of The Martian Audit

The Martian Audit (2026)

Two Martian auditors land in the Wairarapa and are promptly fined for parking without consent. A satirical novella, free to download as PDF or EPUB.

Cover of In the Meantime

In the Meantime (2026)

Investing in a more tribal, less rational world. Written for the Da Vinci Lecture at the Portfolio Construction Forum. Free to read online.

Cover of Leonardo's Legacy

Leonardo's Legacy (2025)

Why investment professionals must become civilisational stewards. Written for the first Da Vinci Lecture at the Portfolio Construction Forum. Free to read online.

Free to Disagree

Free to Disagree podcast logo, with Damien Grant and Oliver Hartwich
Weekly podcast with Damien Grant

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