Dr Oliver Hartwich

Notes from New Zealand

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Economic policy

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Other publications

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

6 October 2026

As election season debate inevitably focuses on the economy and spending, researcher Max Rashbrooke and The New Zealand Initiative’s Oliver Hartwich conduct their own debate on whether the next government …

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Insights

Why we spoke up

25 September 2026

Over the past couple of months, we have heard mounting alarm from business leaders about this election campaign.

The Beehive in Wellington, New Zealand
Other publications

An open letter on the future of New Zealand

23 September 2026

New Zealand needs investment from both here and overseas to build businesses and create jobs.

Cover of Prescription for Prosperity 2026: Briefing to the Incoming Government
Research reports

Prescription for Prosperity 2026: Briefing to the Incoming Government

27 May 2026

This is The New Zealand Initiative’s 2026 Prescription for Prosperity.

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Quadrant

The End of the Golden Bargain

30 March 2026

Campaign slogans used to sell the future.

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Insights

A $110 billion illusion?

20 March 2026

KiwiSaver has $110 billion in assets and over three million members.

Speeches

How to lift New Zealand’s economic performance

26 November 2025

On New Zealand’s economic challenges and ideas for getting the country back on track.

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Insights

Asset recycling needs governance, not ideology

14 November 2025

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon this week opened the door to asset recycling.

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Insights

Labour’s Future Fund: Wrong tool for a real problem

24 October 2025

Labour wants to funnel Crown dividends into a new sovereign wealth fund restricted to domestic investments.

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Quadrant

Transparency versus Conspiracy

26 September 2025

A young TikTok activist has discovered something shocking about New Zealand policy-making.

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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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