The New Zealand Initiative

The New Zealand Initiative
  • 4.7 (29)
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  • UPDATED WEEKLY
The New Zealand Initiative

Podcast by The New Zealand Initiative

  1. 19 HRS AGO

    What NZ and Australia learned from handling COVID

    In this episode, Dr Eric Crampton and Prof Steven Hamilton explore why New Zealand and Australia's COVID responses shared similar successes and failures despite their different paths. Their conversation draws from Hamilton's new book "Australia's Pandemic Exceptionalism: How we crushed the curve but lost the race," examining how both countries excelled at initial elimination and wage subsidies but stumbled with testing regulations and vaccine procurement, ultimately revealing important lessons about institutional capacity and adaptable policy responses for future pandemics.

    35 min

  2. 17 OCT

    German lessons for NZ councils: How merging mayor and CEO roles transformed local government

    In this episode, Oliver and Nick talk to Oliver Wittke, former mayor of Gelsenkirchen. They discuss a significant local government reform in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, that could offer valuable insights for New Zealand's current system. The German state transitioned from a model similar to New Zealand's current setup - with separate mayor and chief executive roles - to a unified, directly elected mayoral position with executive powers, a change that has been widely regarded as successful and could inform potential reforms in New Zealand's local government structure.

    26 min

  3. 15 OCT

    Who makes the law? Reining in the Supreme Court

    In this episode, Oliver talks to Roger and Richard Ekins. They discuss concerns about judicial overreach by New Zealand's Supreme Court, as outlined Roger's latest research report for the New Zealand Initiative. They argue that the court is effectively making law rather than interpreting it, and they propose several legislative measures to reassert parliamentary authority and maintain the proper constitutional balance between Parliament and the courts.

    48 min

  4. 3 OCT

    Learning, Behaviour, and the Future of New Zealand Classrooms

    In this episode, Michael talks to Rachel Cooper, a Resource Teacher for Learning and Behaviour, about the complex challenges facing New Zealand's education system. The conversation covers a wide range of interconnected issues, from classroom behaviour and learning difficulties to teacher training, school governance, and the impact of societal changes on education, while also exploring potential solutions to improve the quality of education and support for students.

    37 min

  5. 27 SEPT

    Unpopular Opinions: Academic Freedom in New Zealand

    In this episode, Michael talks to James about his recent report about the state of academic freedom in New Zealand universities, highlighting concerns about censorship, institutional bias, and self-censorship among academics. Their conversation explores the causes of these issues, including commercialisation of universities and the influence of progressive politics, and proposes recommendations such as new legislation, annual audits, and better training for administrators to protect and strengthen academic freedom. To read James' report, "Unpopular Opinons: Academic Freedom in New Zealand", visit: https://www.nzinitiative.org.nz/unpopular-opinions-academic-freedom-in-new-zealand/

    37 min

  6. 19 SEPT

    American Democracy at a Crossroads: The 2024 Election and Beyond

    In this episode, Oliver talks to special guest US broadcaster and historian Alexander Heffner, the host of The Open Mind on PBS. They talk about the current state of American politics and media, focusing on the 2024 presidential election and the decline of intellectual discourse in public debate. They explore various aspects of the campaign between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, the erosion of civil political discourse, and broader trends in American democracy, with Heffner providing insights from his experience as host of The Open Mind

    50 min

  7. 12 SEPT

    Rethinking the Government's role in competition

    In this episode, Eric and Ben Hamlin, Barrister at Clifton Chambers, explore how government policies and regulations can unintentionally stifle competition in New Zealand, affecting everything from healthcare to supermarkets. They discuss the challenges posed by current laws, particularly the 'Crown exception' in competition law, and propose reforms aimed at creating a more competitive economy, including regular reviews of competition restrictions and greater justification for government-imposed market limitations.

    49 min

  8. 12 SEPT

    Auckland Univerisity's controversial new courses

    In this episode, James and Dr Nick Matzke discuss recent changes at the University of Auckland, including a push to cut some existing courses and a special University Senate meeting where a vote was held on a motion to pause the Curriculum Framework Transformation for further discussion. Dr Nick Matzke, a biogeography professor, provides insights into the tensions between incorporating mātauranga Māori and maintaining scientific rigour in university curricula, while also addressing broader issues of academic freedom and faculty governance.

    49 min
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4.7
out of 5
29 Ratings

About

Podcast by The New Zealand Initiative

Information

  • Creator
    The New Zealand Initiative
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2024
  • Episodes
    250
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    The New Zealand Initiative

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