Maxim Institute Podcast
by Maxim Institute Podcast
The Maxim Institute Podcast is a chance for you to be a part of the conversations our team have as we do research and analysis of politics and policy in New Zealand. From behind the scenes chats about our research, to in depth discussion with our event speakers and experts from New Zealand and around the world, these podcasts will dig in to the deeper ideas that shape the way we live together.
Episodes
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Final Election Predictions, The Problem with Political Unity, and Campaign Fails | The Select Committee
In this episode of The Select Committee, with election day just around the corner, we’re making our final predictions. Could The Opportunity Party hold the balance of power and determine the next Government? We look at the latest polling, the possibility of split voting, and whether National or...
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Toxic Campaigning, Undecided Voters, and a Flaw in Our Electoral System? | The Select Committee
In this episode of The Select Committee, political attack ads are heating up as election day approaches. The Sensible Sentencing Trust's “Backing the Gangs” billboard has drawn criticism from the Greens, while an AI-generated ad takes aim at Chris Hipkins. Are these legitimate campaign tactics…
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Labour’s Gang Problem, Getting Kids Outside, and Voter Suppression? | The Select Committee
In this episode of The Select Committee, gang politics have put Labour on the defensive. With Green and Te Pāti Māori MPs under fire for engaging with gang members on the campaign trail, Chris Hipkins is distancing Labour from their actions. Could the controversy cost Labour votes? Next: Labour...
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Fiscal Plan Face-Off, ACT and Labour Agree, and Will TOP Be Kingmaker? | The Select Committee
In this episode of The Select Committee, National and ACT have just released their fiscal plans, outlining how they intend to manage government spending and debt. But how do their approaches differ? We look at their plans to return to surplus, the pressure on New Zealand’s finances, and ACT’s...
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National’s List MPs on the Line, Nuclear Power, and Broken Debates | The Select Committee
In this episode of The Select Committee, we look at the latest Reid Research poll, which has National on 25.9%, raising questions about which, if any, National list MPs could make it back to Parliament—and whether some familiar names could be on the way out. Next: electricity, data centres, dry...
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TOP’s Bottom Lines? Finance Minister Chlöe Swarbrick? Tactical Voting? | The Select Committee
In this episode of The Select Committee, we look at how The Opportunity Party has ruled out some of its biggest policies and laid out five bottom lines. So how workable would they be for each major party? Next: Chlöe Swarbrick wants the Finance portfolio. With Chris Hipkins ruling that out, how...
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The Government’s Highs, Lows, and Who Won the Coalition? | The Select Committee
In this episode of The Select Committee, we take stock as Parliament wraps up for the term. What did the coalition win? We look at Resource Management Act reform, education changes and falling crime rates, and ask how much credit the Government can take? Next: where has it fallen short? We look…
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Breaking Up Supermarkets, Freezing Minimum Wages, and the Rise of AI Politics | The Select Committee
In this episode of The Select Committee, National wants to break up New Zealand’s supermarket duopoly. Could the shake-up really deliver cheaper groceries, or are there trade-offs lurking beneath the headline? Next: ACT wants to freeze the minimum wage for three years—with workers under 20...
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KiwiMart, Labour’s Poll Shock, and Is Climate Politics Dead? | The Select Committee
In this episode of The Select Committee, we examine the Greens’ plan for KiwiMart, a government-owned supermarket chain designed to increase competition and bring down grocery prices. Could it really deliver cheaper food, or would the costs end up outweighing the benefits? Next: a shock poll…
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Gutting the Public Service, Attacks on an MP, and Te Pāti Māori’s Tax Plan | The Select Committee
In this episode of The Select Committee, we discuss Sir Brian Roche’s preference to consolidate the public service. Would fewer agencies improve accountability, or will this turn out to be another costly restructure? Paolo Garcia’s valedictory speech highlights the darker side of politics. He...
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Labour’s Financial Fight, Voter Fraud Claims, and ACT’s One Law for All | The Select Committee
In this episode of The Select Committee, we examine Labour’s fiscal promises for the election. Their policy includes returning to surplus by 2029/30 and keeping government spending at 33% of GDP. But do Labour’s numbers add up when further tax revenue has yet to be identified? Next: allegations…
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2026 Sir John Graham Lecture - Dr Sarah Irving-Stonebraker
Something in our cultural moment has shifted. Across the globe, people feel disconnected. They’re unsure of where they belong, yet paradoxically more tribal. Education is shaped by ideology. Politics infuses every sphere. We struggle to disagree well. These are symptoms of what Dr Sarah...
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TOP’s “Car Crash,” TPM’s Overhang Plan, and National’s Coup Fallout | The Select Committee
In this episode of The Select Committee, we examine TOP’s tax and universal income proposals after a bruising Q&A interview. Can TOP’s appeal survive the shift from political “vibe” to detailed policy scrutiny? We then turn to Te Pāti Māori’s election strategy, with its focus on winning Māori...
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National's Civil War, Labour's Polling Woes, and What's Next for the Election? | The Select Committee
In this episode of The Select Committee, we take a look at the National Party’s latest leadership drama. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has survived a coup attempt less than 90 days out from the election. We ask what this reveals about dissatisfaction within the caucus—and the media’s role in...
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NZ First Baby Bonus, Classroom Discipline, and Parliament’s Double Standards | The Select Committee
In this episode of The Select Committee, we take a look at New Zealand First’s proposed Kiwi Kids Grant: $5,000 a year for each of a family’s first three children during their first three years. We ask what this policy says about our culture and whether it would actually lift the birth rate. We...
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Russian Spy Claims, National Rules Out TOP, and Minor Party Politics | The Select Committee
In this episode of The Select Committee, we examine Russia’s allegation that a man arrested there approached the NZSIS to spy for New Zealand. We ask what the claim—true or otherwise—reveals about New Zealand’s role in the Five Eyes intelligence network. We then turn to National’s decision to…
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Kiwi Power, Council–Iwi Agreements, and Cook Strait Ferry Names | The Select Committee
In this episode of The Select Committee, we examine the Greens’ Kiwi Power proposal, support for rooftop solar, and New Zealand’s dry-winter problem. We ask whether a state-owned energy entity would lower electricity bills. We then turn to the Government’s proposed changes to council–iwi…
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Paul Henry Joins ACT, the Polls Tighten, and New Zealand–India Ties Deepen | The Select Committee
In this episode of The Select Committee, we consider ACT’s acquisition of broadcaster Paul Henry, and ask whether celebrity cut-through can translate into the discipline and compromise required of an MP. We then turn to the latest polls, examining why individual results can mislead and how the…
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Voting Rights, VPNs, and China’s Missile Diplomacy | The Select Committee
In this episode of The Select Committee, we discuss New Zealand First’s proposal to remove voting rights for permanent residents, and whether tying the vote more closely to citizenship would give it greater meaning. We then turn to the proposed under-16 social media ban, asking whether a law...
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Emergency Housing Targets, Political Centrism, and the Data Centre Panic | The Select Committee
In this episode of The Select Committee, we examine the Government’s emergency housing targets and ask whether an indicator of housing need has been mistaken for the problem itself. We discuss the inherent tension between reducing reliance on emergency housing and ensuring people are not left...
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The Greens’ Wealth Tax, Compulsory KiwiSaver, and Political Neutrality | The Select Committee
In this episode of The Select Committee, we examine the Greens’ proposed wealth tax and ask what lies behind their claim that the tax system is unfair. We then turn to National’s KiwiSaver announcement, weighing compulsory saving against concerns that making KiwiSaver mandatory and lifting...
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Public Sector Scandal, Election-Year Sparring, and Wellington Hears a Hooton | The Select Committee
In this episode of The Select Committee, we discuss a $31 million public sector scandal and ask whether it strays into the realm of corruption. We then turn to Labour’s disputed policy costings, election-year sparring over fiscal credibility, and whether an independent costing agency would…
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The China Ban, Labour’s Campaign Kick-Off, and will the Rural Vote Turn Red? | The Select Committee
In this episode of The Select Committee, we look at China’s one-year ban on four New Zealand MPs after their visit to Taiwan, and ask how a small country like ours should respond. We then turn to Labour’s unofficial campaign launch, following its first policy announcement in more than six months....
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Defence Freeloaders, AI Welfare Decisions, and Winston’s Rugby Rescue | The Select Committee
In this episode of The Select Committee, we discuss US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth’s claim that New Zealand is freeloading on defence, and whether New Zealand should reopen the conversation about nuclear propulsion. We then turn to the Social Security (Modernisation) Amendment Bill and the...
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Budget Cake, Climate Courts, and Duck-Faced Horses | The Select Committee
In this episode of The Select Committee, we unpack Budget 2026 and ask whether an earlier surplus, tighter spending, and new defence funding help the Government look like a safe pair of hands heading into the election. We then turn to Mike Smith’s climate case against major emitters and the...
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Slashing the Public Service, Banning Social Media, and Buying BNZ | The Select Committee
In this episode of The Select Committee, we ask whether the Government’s proposed public service cuts are a serious attempt at fiscal discipline or simply campaign-season signalling. We then turn to the proposed social media ban for young people, weighing the good it seeks against the privacy...
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Corruption, Superannuation, and Fake Polls | The Select Committee
In this episode of The Select Committee, we examine allegations of corruption in transport contracting and ask whether they reveal a deeper problem with institutional accountability. We then turn to superannuation, following National’s campaign pledge to raise the age of eligibility. Can New...
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The Modern Slavery Bill
Can a bipartisan bill meaningfully reduce instances of modern slavery? In this episode, we speak with MP Greg Fleming about his Modern Slavery Bill and the process of bringing it before the House. He outlines how the bill evolved from a narrow amendment into a broader attempt to address forced...
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Immigration, Marriage, and National Defence | The Select Committee
In this episode of The Select Committee, we discuss ACT’s new immigration policy and ask whether it’s shaping up to be a major issue at the election. We then turn to new marriage and divorce statistics, exploring what declining marriage rates reveal, the limits of public policy, and what...
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Truancy, Trade Deals, and the National Party Pivot | The Select Committee
In this episode of The Select Committee, we examine the government’s push to lift school attendance by prosecuting parents, and whether a more consistent approach will make a lasting difference. We then turn to the newly signed free trade agreement with India, asking who stands to benefit and…
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Luxon, Supermarkets, and the State of the Planet | The Select Committee
In this episode of The Select Committee, we break down New Zealand First’s proposal to break up the supermarket duopoly and ask whether it would actually bring grocery prices down. We then turn to the Green Party’s “State of the Planet” address. With environmental issues now a crowded political...
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Clickbait, Selective Framing, and Trust in Media
Trust in New Zealand media remains low. According to the Edelman Trust Barometer, it’s our country’s least trusted institution. In this episode, we discuss how selective reporting, misleading headlines, and other journalistic sins have contributed to this verdict. We look at recent examples that...
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Euthanasia Amendment Bill Threatens Conscience Rights
Should ease of access to euthanasia take precedence over medical practitioners’ conscience rights? Should care facilities such as hospices and rest homes be required to allow euthanasia on site—even if that conflicts with their founding ethos? In this episode, Ethos Alliance CEO Alex Penk…
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National’s Billion-Dollar Gas Terminal
Everyone wants cheaper power, but they don’t always agree on how to get it. Executive Director Tim Wilson sits down with Researcher Thomas Scrimgeour to discuss the government’s $1 billion LNG terminal, which it says will reduce energy costs for consumers. They reflect on the quality of the…
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NZ’s Housing Debate: What’s Driving the Divide
New Zealand’s housing debate is often framed as a contest between affordability and community. But the real story is more complicated. In this episode, Executive Director Tim Wilson is joined by Researcher Thomas Scrimgeour to unpack an apparent policy “U-turn” on housing intensification. They...
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Why Palliative Care Matters: A Conversation with Hospice NZ’s Wayne Naylor
Nearly everyone might benefit from hospice services, whether for themselves or for loved ones, but access to specialist palliative care is still patchy and it’s only sustained by private fundraising. In this episode, Research Manager Maryanne Spurdle speaks with Hospice NZ Chief Executive Wayne...
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The $200m Initiative Changing Social Housing: Steven Moe on Impact Investing
Can your money do good and make a return? In this episode, lawyer and community finance leader Steven Moe explains how organisations are using investment—not just donations—to fund projects that change lives. From community housing to employment pathways for ex-prisoners, Steven shows how impact...
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The Promise of Social Impact Bonds
As New Zealand expands its social investment approach, Social impact bonds (SIBs) are emerging as a promising tool for reform—one that could reshape how we support our most vulnerable while offering a new pathway for those who want to invest in real change. What are SIBs, why do they matter, and...
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Stephenson’s Euthanasia Amendment Bill Is Not What Kiwis Voted For
In 2020, two-thirds of New Zealanders voted to legalise euthanasia on the basis of certain safeguards. Now, ACT MP Todd Stephenson’s amendment bill proposes to remove them, allowing euthanasia for people without a six-month prognosis, letting doctors offer it to patients, and requiring all care...
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End of an Error: What Replaces NCEA?
NCEA is being scrapped. What comes next could transform New Zealand schools. Education experts Dr Michael Johnston and Stephanie Martin unpack what went wrong, from fragmented learning and grade inflation to inconsistent grading and weak vocational pathways. They explore how a knowledge-rich...
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Dignity, Death, and Choice: Amanda Achtman on Euthanasia and Culture
What does it mean to die with dignity? And how does the legalisation of euthanasia shape the way we value life, suffering, and care? In this episode of the Maxim Institute Podcast, Research Manager Maryanne Spurdle speaks with Canadian writer and educator Amanda Achtman. A former political…
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Lessons from Canada: Euthanasia in New Zealand
Canada has become “the euthanasia capital of the world,” according to Amanda Achtman. Since legalising assisted death in 2016 and expanding access in 2021, what began as an exception with supposed safeguards has quickly become routine, now accounting for around 5% of Canadian deaths. In this...
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Tim Wilson | Grievance Rules? Why Distrust Needn’t Destroy Us
Distrust in New Zealand isn't just growing—it's curdling into grievance. Executive Director Tim Wilson unpacks alarming new data showing Kiwis now distrust every institution—government, media, even business—more than ever before. He asks whether there are times when distrust can actually be…
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Dr Juliet Chevalier-Watts | Why an Atheist Academic Changed Her Mind on Churches’ Tax Status
She used to believe churches should pay taxes. But after over a decade of research, atheist law professor Dr Juliet Chevalier-Watts has had a change of heart. Listen to the podcast to discover why. Read the column on Substack.
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Maryanne Spurdle | Our Jenga towers are tipsy
Jenga towers aren’t just a game—they’re a reality in our public sector. Researcher Maryanne Spurdle examines how government departments keep stacking bureaucrats at the top while disconnecting from the front lines—leaving critical services unstable and ready to collapse. From a $1 billion health...
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Jason Heale | Feeding our children or dependence?
Is the school lunch programme feeding more than just kids? Communications Manager Jason Heale examines how free school meals reflect a deeper shift—from self-reliance to state dependence. When government takes over, what happens to families and communities? Read the column on Substack.
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Thomas Scrimgeour | The world is cooling
We fooled ourselves into thinking the rules-based order had replaced great-power politics. It hasn’t. Researcher Thomas Scrimgeour examines why last week’s Chinese naval exercises should be a wake-up call for New Zealand—because wishful thinking won’t protect our trade routes. Read the column on...
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Tim Wilson | Posie Parker, Destiny Church, and Policing Protest
A recent IPCA review calls for more police power and better training after failures to protect free speech at the Posie Parker Let Women Speak event. Executive Director Tim Wilson explores the growing threat of the “thug’s veto” in the wake of Destiny Church’s counter-protest at Te Atatū…
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Josiah Brown | Can we rebuild together?
New Zealand’s public services are struggling, and political bickering isn’t helping. But are we really as divided as we seem? Communications Coordinator Josiah Brown examines how constructive debate, common ground, and a commitment to truth can help us rebuild—if we’re willing to engage with...
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Maryanne Spurdle | Tech advances won’t fix humanity’s reckless streak
Are we about to repeat history’s mistakes? Researcher Maryanne Spurdle unpacks the potential dangers of New Zealand’s Gene Technology Bill and calls for greater transparency, accountability, and safety.
About this show
The Maxim Institute Podcast is a chance for you to be a part of the conversations our team have as we do research and analysis of politics and policy in New Zealand. From behind the scenes chats about our research, to in depth discussion with our event speakers and experts from New Zealand and around the world, these podcasts will dig in to the deeper ideas that shape the way we live together.
Hosted by
Maxim Institute Podcast