Dr Oliver Hartwich

Notes from New Zealand

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Greece

The Reichstag building in Berlin at night
Business Spectator

Germany’s Greek stance keeps everyone guessing

18 June 2015

There is only one thing that unites all German politicians: They do not want to take the blame for whatever happens next.

One-euro coin on a pile of coins
Other publications

No good choices left in Greek crisis

14 June 2015

If Europe’s political elites had allowed the Greek crisis to run its course in 2010, Greece would be recovering by now.

Close-up of a euro cent coin
Business Spectator

After the crisis is before the crisis

4 June 2015

Crunch time or not, the Greek crisis will remain with us for much longer.

Stack of euro coins
Business Spectator

Why Germany should leave the eurozone

15 April 2015

A German departure from the euro would have some highly beneficial effects on the remaining eurozone members.

The Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood in St Petersburg
Business Spectator

Greece is Putin’s pawn in a plot to divide the EU

2 April 2015

The euro crisis has caused considerable economic and financial damage already.

Euro coins and banknotes
Business Spectator

Greece’s madmen at work

19 March 2015

Hardly a day passes that a Greek government official does not add a needless provocation to the bailout debate.

Cracked euro coin on a Greek flag
Business Spectator

‘Constructive ambiguity’ will not save Europe

26 February 2015

Europe is well past the stage at which it needs constructive ambiguity.

Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras in September 2015.
Business Spectator

The political rookies gambling with Greece’s future

19 February 2015

Tsipras and Varoufakis may not realise it but their gamble with Europe has the potential of backfiring on them and their country.

Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis in Berlin in February 2015.
Business Spectator

When German order met Greek disorder

12 February 2015

For Varoufakis and Schäuble, there really is little hope of finding any common ground.

Alexis Tsipras in Moscow.
Business Spectator

Syriza’s wrong-headed approach to Greece’s problems

5 February 2015

Barely sworn in, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras’ new cabinet went straight to work trying to turn their country upside down — and the European Union with it.

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

All TV appearances · Playlist on YouTube

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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