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Artwork for The New Zealand Initiative

The New Zealand Initiative

The New Zealand Initiative
New Zealand
Academic Freedom
Education
United States
Housing Affordability
Grade Inflation
Regulatory Standards Bill
Australia
Germany
Local Government
Artificial Intelligence
Free Speech
Literacy
New Zealand Government
Auckland
Infrastructure
Commerce Commission
Free Speech Union
First Nations
Critical Thinking

Podcast by The New Zealand Initiative

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes351Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
News

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Artwork for The New Zealand Initiative

Latest Episodes

In this episode, Oliver talks with Michelle Palmer, Executive Director of the Retirement Villages Association, about the retirement village business model and the debate over how quickly operators should repay residents and their estates once a unit ... more

In this episode, Oliver talks with Nick Clark about the Government's Head Start process, which asks councils to put forward their own reorganisation proposals or have changes imposed on them. Nick draws on his report Head Start Done Right to question... more

In this episode, Jamuel talks with Oliver Hartwich about his report Half a Turnaround, which examines how ACC's outstanding claims liability more than doubled over a decade as more injured New Zealanders became stuck on long-term support. Oliver argu... more

In this episode, Oliver talks with retired Major General John Howard about his recent trip to Washington and what the conflict centred on Iran and the Strait of Hormuz reveals about American power and the international order. They then turn to New Ze... more

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Recent Guests

Jillaine Heather
From the Free Speech Union
Free Speech Union
Episode: The under-16 check every adult has to pass
Chris Berg
Economist at RMIT University, co-founder of the blockchain innovation hub
RMIT University
Episode: The Australian ideas New Zealand should watch rather than copy
Benno Blaschke
co-author of Beyond Targets; housing policy researcher
The New Zealand Initiative
Episode: Beyond Targets: Helping communities get the economics of their plans right
Chris Parker
housing economist, principal at Principal Economics; former NZ Treasury and Auckland Council economist
Principal Economics
Episode: Beyond Targets: Helping communities get the economics of their plans right
Oliver Hartwich
Executive director of The New Zealand Initiative; author of The Martian Audit
The New Zealand Initiative
Episode: The Martian Audit: Or, how New Zealand repelled an Invasion through procedural complexity
Sarah McLaughlin
Representative, Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression
Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression
Episode: Why free speech is losing ground even in free societies
Bob Davies
Veteran, former Sergeant Major of the Army
New Zealand Army
Episode: Thanked Once a Year: An Anzac Day Conversation with Bob Davies
Elizabeth Rata
Professor of Education
University of Auckland
Episode: What New Zealand's 19th-century teachers knew but progressive educators forgot
Lynda Knight
Principal of Glenview Primary School
Glenview Primary School, Parirua
Episode: Why children can't learn unless they feel safe

Hosts

Oliver Hartlich
Host with multiple in-sample appearances; co-leads discussions on policy and economics.
Oliver Hartwig
Host with policy background; contributes analysis on planning, economics, and governance.
Michael Johnston
Host providing policy critique and governance perspectives.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 73 ratings
  • Very insightful

    I listen to this to fall asleep and it’s good for that but also when I actually listen I learn a lot

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    dyniol53
    United Kingdom3 months ago
  • Look deeper

    Just because you hear some news like immigrants are eating pets in Springfield Ohio, and it seems preposterous, doesn’t mean it isn’t true . You need to research outside the main stream and you will find plenty of evidence it did occur , videos and council meeting testimonies . Debunked you say …. Sorry , you’re wrong …

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    woz145
    New Zealand2 years ago
  • The art of conversation

    Great conversations. Just listened to the Bill English episode. Sensible, pragmatic and wise. He’s very in tune with Kiwis who go along with things until they don’t. Listen to the very end when Sir Bill talks about the use of data and its importance.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    spiritedcrone
    New Zealand3 years ago
  • These people make sense

    They are very pragmatic and to the point. Great podcast for quickly exposing yourself to somewhat unheard, sensible ideas.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Dunners breather
    New Zealand5 years ago
  • Breath of fresh air

    I’m not a Kiwi, but it’s refreshing to hear opinions that aren’t based on “group think”. Same Apple does not allow individual episodes to be rated.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ctoime
    Australia5 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Offers sensible, independent perspectives that challenge groupthink.
High-quality guests and thoughtful policy analysis are common strengths.
Clear, pragmatic conversations with data-backed insights.
Listeners appreciate accessible, policy-focused discussions that translate to real-world impacts.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#75
New Zealand/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Australian ideas New Zealand should watch rather than copy
Q: What should New Zealand consider before adopting a similar approach?
New Zealand should examine the empirical outcomes, assess whether the goals (accurate, diverse journalism, public trust, privacy) are actually improved, consider unintended consequences (surveillance, censorship, operational costs for platforms), and ensure there is transparent evaluation and public accountability rather than rushing to replicate a foreign model for political reasons.
The Australian ideas New Zealand should watch rather than copy
Q: From a policy design perspective, what have been the practical consequences of these rules in Australia?
Platforms have pushed back or reduced news presence; Facebook stopped certain news services in Australia, and there has been a shift toward privacy-preserving or age-verification measures that increase surveillance and age checks. The policy also created a perception that success is political viability rather than measurable public benefits, complicating implementation and long-term effectiveness.
The Australian ideas New Zealand should watch rather than copy
Q: Can you walk us through the basic idea of the News Media Bargaining Code and why Australia pursued it?
The policy is framed as a bargaining code to compel tech platforms, particularly foreign ones, to pay news media for linking to or using their content. In practice, it aims to rebuild a disrupted 'multi-sided market' by shifting some value back to publishers, but it is not a tax and is designed as an incentive with direct payments to media companies rather than contributions to general revenue.
What New Zealand's 19th-century teachers knew but progressive educators forgot
Q: What should we do about teacher education to fix the weak link in the system?
A dual approach is needed: teachers must be deeply knowledgeable themselves and also trained in effective teaching methods and the science of learning; reform should include a strong, tiered career structure for teachers and alternative in-school training models with highly competent mentor teachers.
What New Zealand's 19th-century teachers knew but progressive educators forgot
Q: So where does that kind of thinking fit into the picture in your mind?
It's difficult to reconcile the Rousseau-inspired romantic view of the child with the prior tradition that balanced instruction and activity, and the shift in the 60s–70s toward more egalitarian, race-based group identities undermined that balance, leading to years of reform that prioritized process over content.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
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Age Range
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Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The New Zealand Initiative

What is The New Zealand Initiative about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show centers on policy, economics, and governance with a pragmatic, data-driven lens. Across episodes, discussions frequently dissect budgeting, housing policy, planning reform, energy security, and constitutional issues, often contrasting market signals with public-sector incentives. Guests include academics, policymakers, and practitioners who bring technical analysis to current NZ and global policy debates. Notable strengths include a clear preference for independent thinking, willingness to challenge conventional narratives, and an approachable style that translates complex topics into actionable insights for business and policy audiences. The format tends to favor rigorous argumentation, scenario planning, and real-world implicatio... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The New Zealand Initiative?

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1. The Leighton Smith Podcast
2. The Detail
3. Gone By Lunchtime
4. The Front Page
5. Nine To Noon

How many episodes of The New Zealand Initiative are there?

The New Zealand Initiative launched 6 years ago and published 351 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The New Zealand Initiative?

Recent guests on The New Zealand Initiative include:

1. Jillaine Heather
2. Chris Berg
3. Benno Blaschke
4. Chris Parker
5. Oliver Hartwich
6. Sarah McLaughlin
7. Bob Davies
8. Elizabeth Rata

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