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New Zealand

Kudos to Winston Peters

Winston Peters’ comments on the 30th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre were candid. Where Western politicians have turned not upsetting China over its human rights record into an art form, the Foreign Minister left diplomatic niceties behind. [...]

From localism towards localism: A personal journey of policy discovery

Nothing in my work in Germany, Britain, Australia and now New Zealand has given me reason to doubt my basic beliefs: incentives matter; councils can work effectively when given the right incentives; and decision-making removed from the people it concerns creates problems. [...]

Evidence-based policy and journalism

“What do we want? Evidence-based journalism. When do we want it? After switching off your prejudices.” [...]

Chatham housing

When Housing Minister Phil Twyford spoke at the Initiative’s retreat last week, I had only one regret about having invited him: Our event is held under Chatham House rules. [...]

Equality of esteem in tertiary education

Germany and Switzerland have long been famous for exporting cars, machinery and chemicals to all parts of the world. They are now becoming well-known as exporters of their dual education model. [...]

Brief aus Neuseeland

In der letzten Woche ist das Weltgeschehen nach Neuseeland gekommen. Als Neuseeländer wünscht man sich nichts mehr, als dass es möglichst bald wieder verschwinden möge. [...]

They are us

We hope that over this difficult time, New Zealand will come together. To mourn the dead. To uphold our values. To defend our common humanity. [...]

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. [...]

#localismNZ: Bringing power to the people

#localismNZ: Bringing power to the people explains the rationale behind localism and responds to commonly heard objections. [...]

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