Local government – Dr Oliver Hartwich

Queenstown’s visitor levy a cry for reform

Ultimately, reforming local government finance would be in central government’s interest, too. Queenstown Lakes District council probably holds little hope for such reforms to happen anytime soon. [...]

As Kiwi as pavlova

In our #localismNZ report we call for a radical shift of power from the centre to the people. [...]

Project Localism

The chances for decentralisation have never been better. [...]

On the path to localism

Having campaigned for localism over the past six years, I am excited about the shift politics toward it. But now I want to see this great idea filled with life and practical recommendations. [...]

Challenges stack up for super minister

There is no more challenging task than making New Zealand’s cities thrive in the global era of urbanisation. Quite appropriately, we now have a superminister to deal with it. [...]

Swiss lessons in subsidiarity

Our new government is committed to subsidiarity and the regions. But this should lead to more than a billion-dollar fund for development. [...]

Changing New Zealand’s government

New Zealand First has often called for such a devolution of power. If they achieve that in coalition talks, it would be a legacy to be proud of. [...]

The power of ideas

"The ideas of economists and political philosophers, both when they are right and when they are wrong, are more powerful than is commonly understood. Indeed the world is ruled by little else.” [...]

Centralist reflexes run too deep

Because central government is so dominant, New Zealanders instinctively look at central government to deal with their local issues. [...]

A tale of two countries

We have a choice in New Zealand if we are satisfied with our status quo and content to keep fighting the same old political battles for the next decades. Alternatively, we could break out of our old ways and try something radically new. [...]