In this episode, Oliver has a conversation with a special guest Viktor Vavricka, the Swiss ambassador to New Zealand. They have a wide-ranging discussion about localism from a Swiss perspective. Read more
Oliver and Matthew discuss NZ's infrastructure deficit, delivery and management which was the subject of Matthew's last column in the NZ Herald "Deficit obsession ignores abysmal state of Kiwi infrastructure delivery". To listen to our latest podcasts, please subscribe to The New Zealand Initiative podcast on iTunes, Spotify or The Podcast App. Read more
In this episode, Eric talks to Danyl Mclauchlan, one of NZ's top political writers who is often featured in The New Zealand Listener and on Substack. He has written recently on turmoil in Wellington's pipe network and writes more broadly on the state of politics and the state of the polity. Read more
Non-academic staff outnumber academic staff in NZ universities. Recently, we found the point in time when this happened. Read more
In the past, competitors could stop each other's projects through land-use planning. Although some of that has been dialled back, it's coming back in other ways. Read more
Last week, Oliver and Roger sat down to talk about the Supreme Court's decision on the Mike Smith climate change case. To listen to our latest podcasts, please subscribe to The New Zealand Initiative podcast on iTunes, Spotify or The Podcast App. Read more
Oliver talks to Professor Francis Greene from the University of Edinburgh Business School about entrepreneurship. They have a fascinating conversation about entrepreneurship as an idea, as a function and as a part of economics. Read more
This week, Eric talks to Marko Garlick and Eleanor West, formerly of Generation Zero and now co-ordinating City for People, about the Independent Hearing Panel's process and review of Wellington’s District Plan. They also discuss the research on housing affordability and zoning, and how Houston has avoided letting local objections block wider development. Read more
In this episode, Oliver had a unique discussion with marine scientist Dr Regina Eisert via Starlink en route from Antarctica to NZ. They talk about Regina's experience in Antarctica as well as biological and research links between NZ and Antarctica, NZ research funding and who gets to go to Scott Base, NZ's Antarctic research station. Read more
Our Research Fellow Max Salmon talks to our Executive Director Dr Oliver Hartwich about our current global foreign policy situation. They talk about the Middle East, such as the shipping through the Red Sea and the Houthi movement. Read more
In our final episode of the year, Oliver and Michael discuss how things are sitting now in NZ with a new government, the challenges they're facing, some of the early decisions they've made and what the prospects are for the new year. To listen to our latest podcasts, please subscribe to The New Zealand Initiative podcast on iTunes, Spotify or The Podcast App. Read more
Peter Shirtcliffe, long-time Chairman of Telecom and laureate of the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame, joins Oliver on the podcast. Telecom (now known as Spark) was NZ's largest listed company from 1990 to 1999. Read more
Andreas Heuser, Managing Director with Castalia, joins Dr Eric Crampton on the podcast to talk about the massive energy potential of deep geothermal. They discuss what supercritical geothermal is, climate policy and the need for fast-tracking consenting processes. Read more
Lord Hannan, a sitting member of the House of Lords and an adviser to the UK Board of Trade, talks to Oliver on this week's episode. They discuss Lord Hannan's background, his role in the Brexit campaign and his point of view on the UK's progress since its withdrawal from the EU. Read more
Dr Michael Johnston talks to Dr Claudia Rozas Gomez, who is a lecturer in Critical Studies in Education at the University of Auckland. In this episode, they discuss issues and criticisms around university-based teacher education. Read more