Dr Oliver Hartwich

Notes from New Zealand

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Karl Marx

food city people street
Newsroom

A Marxist critique of the lifestyle left

20 April 2021

There is only one regret I had after reading Sahra Wagenknecht’s new book.

A KUKA industrial robotic arm set up to draw silhouettes.
National Business Review

Stop predicting the future (and go back to work)

9 March 2018

Good policy can help to give people the flexibility and adaptability to succeed in changing circumstances.

Façade gommage® at the Bank of England, London.
Sydney Morning Herald

Look to Britain and hold the champagne

25 April 2011

The most frightening parallel between pre-crisis Britain and Australia today is more fundamental.

Universität Freiburg Kollegiengebäude I (Altbau).
Research reports

Neoliberalism: The Genesis of a Political Swearword

21 May 2009

Neoliberalism is one of the most commonly used words in political debates.

Gerhard Schröder and Vicente Fox raising their glasses.
Capital

Mehr Schröder und Rudd, weniger Lafontaine und Dunwoody

24 July 2008

Wie viel davon Tragödie und wie viel Farce ist, steht auf einem anderen Blatt.

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

  • Free to Disagree · 12 November 2026 · 59 min

    Can the overhang save National?

    0:00
  • 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

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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