The New Zealand Initiative

The New Zealand Initiative
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Podcast by The New Zealand Initiative

  1. 4 HRS AGO

    Why the RMA replacement falls short on property rights

    In this episode, Nick talks with Bryce about the government’s proposed replacement of the Resource Management Act and what it means for property rights. Bryce argues the bills fall short of the government’s stated commitment to property rights, lacking the economic disciplines needed to ensure regulation delivers net benefits for New Zealanders.

    30 min

  2. 6 DAYS AGO

    The Iran war and what it means for New Zealand

    In this episode, Oliver talks to retired Major General John Howard about the first week of US–Israel strikes on Iran — what the opening strikes reveal, how Iran is responding, and why the risk of escalation remains real. They then zoom out to the global ripple effects (Russia and Ukraine, China and Taiwan, NATO cohesion) and the practical consequences for New Zealand, from fuel and supply-chain disruption to the need for more proactive national security planning.

    35 min

  3. 2 MAR

    Renovating the Nation: How Asset Recycling Can Help Solve the Infrastructure Deficit

    In this episode, Oliver talks to Roger Partridge about his new report, Renovating the Nation, which proposes selling around $25 billion worth of government-owned commercial assets and reinvesting the proceeds into critical public infrastructure. Drawing on the success of New South Wales's asset recycling programme, Roger argues the Crown has too much capital tied up in businesses it doesn't need to own, and that ring-fencing sale proceeds in an independently governed fund could deliver the roads, hospitals, and public transport New Zealand desperately needs.

    22 min

  4. 26 FEB

    What went wrong between the RMA blueprint and the bills

    In this episode, Eric Crampton talks to Nick Clark about New Zealand's long and troubled history with the Resource Management Act — and whether the Government's 744-page replacement really fixes it. They examine the missing property rights protections, the absence of robust cost-benefit analysis, and the fail-safes needed to ensure the new framework delivers better outcomes for New Zealanders.

    26 min

  5. 24 FEB

    New Zealand's 14-day fuel problem and the Iran crisis

    In this episode, Oliver talks to retired Major General John Howard about escalating US–Iran tensions, what 'phase zero' military build-up signals, and the pathways from diplomacy to potential strikes. With New Zealand holding, as Howard notes, around 14 days of fuel reserves, they explain why disruption in the Strait of Hormuz matters, and why energy security and national resilience deserve far greater urgency.

    29 min

  6. 19 FEB

    Hope is not a strategy: What a more dangerous world means for New Zealand

    In this episode, Oliver Hartwich speaks with retired Major General John Howard, whose 40-year military career included a senior executive role at the US Defense Intelligence Agency. Howard explains New Zealand is strategically underprepared for a more contested world, lacking clear national security and intelligence strategies, modern capability and sustained investment to protect a trading nation's interests.

    31 min

  7. 17 FEB

    Understanding the highly sensitive learner

    In this episode, Michael Johnston speaks with Kaaryn Cater of MindWise Connection about sensitivity – a temperamental trait that makes some people more affected by their environment. They explore why open-plan classrooms can overwhelm highly sensitive children, how social cues and sensory stimuli shape learning, and practical strategies teachers and workplaces can use to reduce overload and better support highly sensitive people.

    29 min

  8. 9 FEB

    New Zealand's falling fertility and the limits of immigration

    In this episode, Michael talks to demographer Marion Burkimsher about New Zealand's falling fertility rate and looming population decline. They explore whether immigration can fill the gap as birth rates drop, the psychological implications of ageing societies and what might actually help young people form families - from affordable housing to healthier relationships and realistic expectations about parenthood.

    41 min
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4.6
out of 5
36 Ratings

About

Podcast by The New Zealand Initiative

Information

  • Creator
    The New Zealand Initiative
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    327
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    The New Zealand Initiative

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