All Episodes
The New Zealand Initiative — 369 episodes
Better education requires better teaching
Nothing routine about the CIA in Moscow
Free to Disagree: Do celebrity candidates actually win votes?
Free to Disagree: The social media ban National couldn't sell to its coalition
Kiwis putting it on the line for Ukraine
Free to Disagree: Could MMP break?
Unravelling MMP: How the 2026 election could break the voting system from two sides
Why New Zealand can no longer afford to be naive about security
Free to Disagree: Luxon survives his third coup attempt
Free to Disagree: Are voters just going on vibes?
Why the West has forgotten how to think about history
No off-ramp in the Iran conflict and what it costs New Zealand
Getting New Zealand's primary literacy reforms right
Why New Zealand should attract data centres now
New Zealand by Comparison: how we measure up against the world
A recent history of school qualifications
Ukraine and the future of war
What China's missile demonstration means for New Zealand
Should retirement villages have to repay residents faster?
Head Start Done Right: A better way to reorganise local government
Half a Turnaround: Why ACC's recovery must be built on rehabilitation, not exits
Iran, Hormuz and New Zealand’s readiness
Finance Freedom: Rediscovering how New Zealand built itself
The under-16 check every adult has to pass
The Australian ideas New Zealand should watch rather than copy
Budget 2026: The fingers crossed budget
Beyond Targets: Helping communities get the economics of their plans right
Splendid isolation meets geopolitical reality
Who keeps the courts in their lane?
The Martian Audit: Or, how New Zealand repelled an Invasion through procedural complexity
Why free speech is losing ground even in free societies
An operational pause is not peace
Thanked Once a Year: An Anzac Day Conversation with Bob Davies
What New Zealand's 19th-century teachers knew but progressive educators forgot
Why children can't learn unless they feel safe
Who runs the country?
Why New Zealand can't assume the fuel will keep flowing
Let prices do the job when fuel is scarce
Will the Planning Bill actually deliver housing affordability?
Academic freedom and institutional neutrality in New Zealand’s universities
Alain Bertaud on what planners control — and what they don't
Iran, three weeks on
Why the RMA replacement falls short on property rights
The Iran war and what it means for New Zealand
Renovating the Nation: How Asset Recycling Can Help Solve the Infrastructure Deficit
What went wrong between the RMA blueprint and the bills
New Zealand's 14-day fuel problem and the Iran crisis
Hope is not a strategy: What a more dangerous world means for New Zealand
Understanding the highly sensitive learner
New Zealand's falling fertility and the limits of immigration
New Zealand faces rare earth ultimatum
Why vague codes of conduct threaten free speech on campus
Housing Affordability: NZ at the Global Policy Frontier (Part 3) - Finishing the Revolution
Wrapping up 2025: policy wins and what's ahead for New Zealand
Fast track reform and parliamentary oversight
How mayors could replace regional councillors
Housing Affordability: NZ at the Global Policy Frontier (Part 2) - From Heresy to Reform
How New Zealand ends up writing off $700 million in corporate taxes every year
Universities, democracy and cultural shifts: A farewell to Dr James Kierstead
Housing Affordability: NZ at the Global Policy Frontier (Part 1) - Clarity Emerging from the Mists
Sir Ian Taylor on literacy, AI and what schools should teach
How better data could fix New Zealand's struggling health system
MMP After 30 Years: Time for Electoral Reform?
Sir Nick Gibb on what works in education reform
Owning less to achieve more: Refocusing Kāinga Ora
Why New Zealand's productivity lags behind small European nations
Building Nations: What Canada’s First Nations can teach us about devolution and development
What's driving grade inflation?
Building cyber resilience in New Zealand
When authoritarians silence universities
When tax policy goes wrong
What Adam Smith can teach us about regulating technology
Unscrambling Government: Less confusion, more efficiency
Breaking down barriers not breaking up supermarkets
Why getting an A at university is so easy now
How Trump lost ground to Putin in Anchorage
How professional licencing restricts competition
Going Dutch: Lessons from the Netherlands
Calling time on NCEA
A fresh perspective on learning: Barbara Oakley's NZ odyssey
Going for Housing Growth (Part 3): The Government’s proposals
Going for Housing Growth (Part 2): The way out
Going for Housing Growth (Part 1): How we got into this mess
When do jobs need occupational licences?
How to legislate for academic freedom
Gambling reforms that actually work
A Fast-Track to stronger grocery competition
Empowering local government through AI
When universities take sides
Putting student learning at the centre of school governance
Is NZ unprepared for its ageing population?
Rethinking NZ's three-year parliamentary cycle
Regulating credit card interchange fees
Does the new academic freedom legislation have teeth?
From Austria to the Initiative: Benno Blaschke's journey
The Heart of Healthcare: Renewing New Zealand's Primary Care System
Building better pathways for vocational education in New Zealand
Transforming maths education in New Zealand with Professor Barbara Oakley
Rural council challenges in scattered communities
Trade Routes: Charting New Pathways from Secondary School to Industry Training
Former Australian Home Affairs Secretary calls for integrated ANZAC defence force
Meet Jemma Stevenson: Tackling government complexity
The People's Portfolio: A $571 Billion Question
How local planning rules block retail competition
The day the West Died: A wake-up call for New Zealand
The Trouble with Hate Crime Laws
Responding to Salmond: Democracy, Classical Liberalism, and the Regulatory Standards Bill
What the Regulatory Standards Bill really means
2024: A year of hard truths
From Dependency to Development: A First Nations Governance Success Story
Why Doubt Makes Democracy Stronger
Making Local Government Work
NZ's ETS Forest Controls
The Long Road to Better Regulation
How would age limits for social media work?
Breaking Down Healthcare Supply Barriers
An Accidental Berliner
Empire, Ethics, and Academic Freedom: A Conversation with Nigel Biggar
Defending academic freedom on NZ university campuses
What NZ and Australia learned from handling COVID
German lessons for NZ councils: How merging mayor and CEO roles transformed local government
Who makes the law? Reining in the Supreme Court
Learning, Behaviour, and the Future of New Zealand Classrooms
Unpopular Opinions: Academic Freedom in New Zealand
American Democracy at a Crossroads: The 2024 Election and Beyond
Rethinking the Government's role in competition
Auckland Univerisity's controversial new courses
Eastern German state elections reshape political landscape
The state of geopolitics and liberal democracy
Germany's political shift and its global impact
The Pulse of Local Government: Insights from New Zealand's Councils
Unpacking New Zealand's $9 billion alcohol cost
Boosting housing development through revenue sharing
Debunking education myths: A response to Prof Peter O'Connor's critique of curriculum reforms
Transforming education: Lessons from England's school reforms with Nick Gibb
Reforming New Zealand's Curriculum
Driving Change: How road pricing can improve our roads
Free Speech, Education, and Democracy: A Conversation with Toby Young
AI in Education: Navigating the opportunities and risks
City and Regional Deals
Fixing New Zealand's university funding
Jonathan Rauch and the Constitution of Knowledge
Murray Horn and New Zealand's fiscal challenges
John Morris and the state of NZ's education system
Protecting free speech in UK universities
China's Belt and Road Initiative
Victoria University's postponed free speech event
Evaluating global polices on safer nicotine
Germany's dual education system
Are councils debt constrained?
Education for neurodivergent students
New Zealand's a-maze-ing government structure
New Zealand's fairy godmother
Fast-Track Approvals Bill
Localism: A Swiss perspective
New Zealand's infrastructure deficit
What's going on with Wellington?
Rise of non-academic staff in NZ universities
Competition and land-use planning
Mike Smith climate change case
Entrepreneurship
The Independent Hearing Panel's review of Wellington's Distric Plan
Antarctic research
Current global foreign policy situation
2023: A year of new beginnings
Peter Shirtcliffe and our MMP electoral system
Massive energy potential of deep geothermal
Lord Hannan on Brexit and CANZUK
University-based Teacher Education
Class divides? The impact of classroom streaming
How can we improve Initial Teacher Education?
Structured Literacy
Conflict in the Middle East: A conversation with the Israeli Ambassador
Lord Sumption on free speech
Sir Bill English on the state of NZ politics
Technology's effect on education
Teacher education in NZ: Past and present
Post-election: our reaction and what happens next
The 2023 New Zealand general election
Teacher education
MMP vs FFP
The Deficit Diaries
EPS. 179 - Debunking Degrowth
EPS. 178 - Issues With Teacher Training
EPS. 177 - Who Teaches The Teachers?
EPS. 175 - Teaching Science
EPS. 176 - The Government Policy Statement on land transport.
EPS. 174 - Exploring Literacy in New Zealand
Prescription For Prosperity: A Discussion
EPS. 173 – New Zealand's Tobacco Policies
GST off fruit and vegetables: NZ's dumbest policy proposal ever?
Podcast: Unlocking New Zealand's Potential
Podcast: Media funding and regulation
Podcast: Learning from the Emerald Isle
Podcast: The changing landscape of higher education
Podcast: Data analytics for social impact (part two)
Podcast: Data analytics for social impact (part one)
Podcast: The economics of free speech
Podcast: Universities In Crisis
Podcast: Retail crime in New Zealand
Podcast: Culture & Economics
Podcast: Teacher training
Podcast: Rail transport funding
Podcast: Planning urban futures
Podcast: NCEA and the school curriculum
Podcast: Australia vs. New Zealand: Where to Thrive?
Podcast: The science of learning
Podcast: Tony Burton joins the team
Podcast: Average Effective Tax Rates
Podcast: Higher education in New Zealand
Podcast: New Zealand university administrative bloat
Podcast: The history of New Zealand's infrastructure
Podcast: Vocational education and training
Podcast: Save our Schools - New Zealand's Education Crisis
Podcast: Mātauranga Māori & Science
Podcast: Localism with Malcolm Alexander
Podcast: Public Service Political Neutrality
Podcast: The Flaws of the Charities Amendment Bill
Podcast: Benchmarking New Zealand's infrastructure delivery costs
Podcast: The economic effects of Cyclone Gabrielle
Podcast: Benjamin Macintyre joins the team
Podcast: Economic Roundtable
Podcast: Building market failure
Podcast: Challenges proposed in new legislation for Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act
Podcast: Michael Johnston talks with Holly Gooch about a project to help twice-exceptional students
Podcast: The Initiative's state of the nation with Josie Pagani and Oliver Hartwich
Podcast: Michael Johnston and Emma Chatterton on improving teacher supply through immigration
Podcast: Oliver Hartwich and Eric Crampton discuss NZ's immigration woes with June Ranson
Podcast: Christoph Schumacher on the OCR, Taylor Rule and GDP Live
Podcast: Martien Lubberink talks with the Initiative about bank profitability, regulation, and taxes
Podcast: The state of the nation with Josie Pagani and Oliver Hartwich
James Kierstead and Michael Johnston on new NCEA trial results
Podcast: Oliver Hartwich and Eric Crampton on barriers to supermarket entry
Podcast: Australia’s Universities: Can They Reform?
Podcast: Oliver Hartwich with Simon Court on the Clean Car Scheme
Europe’s mega crisis – Michael Johnston in conversation with Oliver Hartwich and Eric Crampton
Podcast: Oliver Hartwich and Michael Johnston on the modern learning environment experiment
Podcast: Reducing anxiety through self-leadership
Podcast: Eric Crampton and Scott Wilson on the history of funding and financing NZ's roads
Podcast: Every Life Is Worth The Same
Podcast: The cost of doing business - Oliver Hartwich with Greg Harford, CEO, Retail NZ
Podcast: Oliver Hartwich with Professor David Rozado on sentiment words from news media outlets
Podcast: Michael Johnston discusses improving our childrens' reading and writing
Podcast: Eric Crampton, Matthew Birchall and Scott Wilson on funding and financing NZ's roads
Podcast: Oliver Hartwich and Michael Johnston on New Zealand's education emergency
Podcast: Germany is stumbling towards an uncertain future
Eric Crampton speaks with Peter Nunns
Podcast: How central bank mistakes after 2019 led to inflation
Podcast: Dr Oliver Hartwich interviews two new colleagues
Podcast: Dr Eric Crampton speaks with Chris Snowden on making NZ a smokefree nation
Podcast: Dr Michael Johnston on resetting literacy standards
Podcast: Oliver Hartwich Talks With John McDermott
Podcast: Dr Oliver Hartwich and the crook who invented the modern world
Podcast: Oliver Hartwich talks with James Allan about his academic review of the He Puapua Report
Podcast: Oliver Hartwich Talks With Eric Crampton About The Government's Rushed Policy Making
Podcast: Eric Crampton Talks With Len Cook About Changes To The Stats Act
Podcast: Economic Roundtable
Podcast: Europe’s Path To Mexico’s Debt Crisis
Podcast: Fears of a global recession
Podcast: The supermarket study – Foodstuffs’ perspective
Podcast: Reassessing the regulators
Podcast: The Emissions Reduction Plan And Transport
Learning from Germany’s foreign policy errors
Michael Johnston And Oliver Hartwich On Te Hurihanganui
Climate change corporate welfare
Putin’s influence on the French election
Problems in the university
What is the future of media?
Understanding Ukraine with Alex Sundakov
International Outlook: Germany's response to the war in Ukraine
Celebrating ten years of The New Zealand Initiative
The rising cost of living for Kiwis
Addressing James Shaw’s dubious climate claims
Pretence of Necessity: Why further climate change action isn't needed and won't help
Understanding Putin’s dictatorship
Introducing Dr Michael Johnston
Who’s to blame for high inflation?
What do economic experts agree on?
International Outlook: Update on the Russia-Ukraine conflict
Effects of the CCCFA on financial services
International Outlook: Taxonomic vandalism, EU-style
Unemployment Insurance with Kirk Hope and Oliver Hartwich
Why inflation looks here to stay
International Outlook: Icarus In Downing Street
Energy and emissions in 2022
Understanding New Zealand’s high inflation
International Outlook: The Russia/Ukraine conflict
2021 in review
Social unemployment insurance lessons from Germany
Roger Partridge discusses our latest literacy research
The new German "traffic lights coalition"
The Government’s Emissions Reduction Plan
Oliver Hartwich discusses the effects of the Reserve Bank's Quantitative Easing programme
The latest EU migrant crisis
Bryce Wilkinson And Leonard Hong On Walking The Path To The Next GFC
Dr David Law On Unemployment Insurance
Climate of fear: How the Reserve Bank is overstepping its mandate
What the Three Waters reforms will mean for councils
Austrian media funding scandal
The Illusions of History
The Government’s Emissions Reduction Plan
Dr Eric Crampton discusses his latest research note on Covid policy
Feebate – the government’s reverse Robin Hood scheme
Oliver Hartwich discusses the German election results and possible government coalitions
The security implications of the new AUKUS alliance
Eric Crampton speaks to Graeme Jarvis about Covid-19 medicines
David Law on the Government's unemployment insurance proposal
Podcast: Matt Burgess on the increasing carbon price
Sir Bill English On The Individualised Funding Model For Disability Support
The blackout on 9 August with Carl Hansen
Podcast: What will rising inflation mean for first home buyers?
Podcast: Prof Des Gorman on New Zealand’s response to Covid-19
The government’s response to blackouts
Why New Zealanders should be worried about the government’s RMA reforms
Matt Burgess and Oliver Hartwich discuss competition in the supermarket industry
Matt Burgess on Catherine Leining’s article ‘Why the ETS is not enough’
Podcast: The government’s mistreatment of migrants raises human rights concerns
Graham Rich - A Kiwi Entrepreneur In Sydney
Podcast: A $50 carbon price – and then what?
Podcast: Oliver Hartwich on politics in football
Podcast: The pulse of the property market
Podcast: Eric Crampton on the skyrocketing ETS price
Podcast: Oliver Hartwich on the politicisation of central banks
Podcast: David Law on changes to Kiwisaver
Podcast: Matt Burgess on agriculture’s place in climate policy
Podcast: Oliver Hartwich, Eric Crampton and Carsten Hallwass on immigration policy
Podcast: Oliver Hartwich on the new normal
Podcast: Steen Videbeck on literacy In New Zealand
Podcast: The Practical Problems Of The Government's Feebate Scheme
Podcast: Oliver Hartwich on the next Euro crisis
Podcast: The Government's Feebate Scheme
Podcast: Joel Hernandez On His IDI Journey With The New Zealand Initiative
Podcast: Oliver Hartwich On An Unusual Scandal In German Politics
Podcast: Matt Burgess On The Climate Commission's Final Recommendations
Podcast: Interpreting Dr Rod Carr - With Matt Burgess And Oliver Hartwich
Podcast: Eric Crampton and Prof Josh Gans discuss effective covid response strategies
Podcast: David Law discusses unemployment insurance for New Zealand
Podcast: Eric Crampton On Budget 2021
Podcast: Oliver Hartwich on the history of Eurozone troubles
Mike Hosking discusses Eric Crampton's column on skilled migrants
Eric Crampton and Graeme Jarvis discuss Covid-19 vaccine manufacturing and distribution
Podcast: Roger Partridge And Oliver Hartwich on Fair Pay Agreements
Podcast Oliver Hartwich, Eric Crampton and Damien Grant on recessions and insolvencies in NZ
Podcast: David Law on the perils of rent controls
Podcast: Oliver Hartwich on becoming a New Zealander
Podcast: Oliver Hartwich and Jordan Williams discuss fiscal incentives for councils
Podcast: Oliver Hartwich and Eric Crampton share what's on their minds this week
Mike Hosking discusses NZ Herald article by Matt Burgess
PODCAST: Dr Eric Crampton discusses safety measures around the opening of the Trans Tasman bubble
Podcast With David Law On The Housing Package
Dr Bryce Wilkinson discusses the Government's review into Pharmac
Matt Burgess and Oliver Hartwich discuss emissions policy
The Government's Housing Package
Podcast - Who Will Succeed Angela Merkel?
Podcast: David Law discusses education spending and performance in NZ
Eric Crampton & Leon Grice discuss Saliva - Based PCR Testing
Podcast: Leonard Hong discusses demographic changes in NZ and what this means for our housing crisis
Podcast: Matt Burgess with an update on the Climate Change Commission's report
Podcast Oliver Hartwich on the New Zealand history curriculum
PODCAST: Oliver Hartwich on the EU vaccine rollout scandal
Podcast: Matt Burgess on the Climate Change Commission's draft emissions report to Government
Government's response to Climate Change Commission's report
Podcast: Matt Burgess on climate change policy
Leighton Smith podcast with Oliver Hartwich
Oliver Hartwich on the NZ election and why voters chose health over wealth
Eric Crampton the problem with climate policy
Are we making NCEA credits too easy for kids to get?
Oliver Hartwich ABC Radio Australia - NZ, Covid and the election
Oliver Hartwich talks to Leighton Smith about a wide range of topics affecting New Zealand