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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
Australia
Germany
Grade Inflation
Housing Affordability
Regulatory Standards Bill
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 weeklyEpisodes370Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
News

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Artwork for The New Zealand Initiative

Latest Episodes

Here is a full episode of Free to Disagree, our new weekly show with Oliver Hartwich and Damien Grant. National has announced it would split Foodstuffs into separate Pak'nSave and New World chains, in the name of more competition. Oliver and Damien a... more

In this episode, Michael talks to Kevin Donnelly, an Australian educator and author who co-chaired the review of Australia's national curriculum. They discuss why schools across the Anglosphere turned away from knowledge-rich teaching in the 1970s an... more

In this episode, Oliver talks to John Howard, senior fellow at the New Zealand Initiative, about the CIA director's public visit to Moscow and what it says about the security of Western Europe. They also discuss Germany's decision to name Russia over... more

Here is a full episode of Free to Disagree, our new weekly show with Oliver Hartwich and Damien Grant. Paul Henry is standing for ACT and Taine Randell for New Zealand First. Oliver and Damien ask whether celebrity candidates actually win votes, and ... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Tenby Powell
Former mayor of Tauranga, KiwiKARE leader
KiwiKARE
Episode: Kiwis putting it on the line for Ukraine
Sarah Irving-Stonebraker
Associate Professor of History at the Australian Catholic University
Australian Catholic University
Episode: Why the West has forgotten how to think about history
Dr. Helen Walls
Foremost expert on children's handwriting; member of Ministerial Advisory Group on literacy and numeracy
Ministerial Advisory Group on literacy and numeracy (NZ)
Episode: Getting New Zealand's primary literacy reforms right
Adam Jarvis
Emergent Ventures Fellow; works in local government; public-service substack author
Mercatus Center / Emergent Ventures
Episode: Why New Zealand should attract data centres now
Doug Blackmur
Former Chief Executive of NZQA
NZQA
Episode: A recent history of school qualifications
Ben Stallworthy
Writer focusing on defense matters and geopolitics; ex-soldier
Episode: Ukraine and the future of war
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
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

Hosts

Oliver Hartwich
Executive Director and regular host, with policy-focused analysis across NZ governance and reform.
Michael Johnston
Host contributing to policy discussions and governance analysis.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 75 ratings
  • Refreshing

    So good to hear from people resisting cosy groupthink.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    absharp
    Australiaa month ago
  • 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 Kingdom5 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

Listeners Say

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

Engaging guest mix and clear policy explanations.
Pragmatic conversations that challenge groupthink.
Polished discussions that connect domestic policy to global issues.
A thoughtful, data-driven take on NZ policy and governance.
Appealing to listeners seeking nuanced, non-partisan analysis.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#68
New Zealand/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Why New Zealand can no longer afford to be naive about security
Q: How should New Zealand approach open-source intelligence versus other intelligence methods?
Open-source intelligence can cover a large portion of information needs when used correctly, but should be complemented by targeted intelligence to validate decisions and fill gaps.
Why New Zealand can no longer afford to be naive about security
Q: What practical steps should individuals take to reduce security risks?
Adopt a 'see something, say something' approach, use trusted channels to report concerns, and implement basic security hygiene like strong authentication and cautious handling of sensitive information, recognizing that the information age has raised the baseline risk.
Why New Zealand can no longer afford to be naive about security
Q: What is the value of the latest SIS threat assessment for the public and policymakers?
The assessment is more robust and transparent, naming actors and emphasizing that attribution matters for deterrence and for informing both the public and allied partners about risks.
Why New Zealand can no longer afford to be naive about security
Q: How does the Leipzig drone incident fit into New Zealand's security landscape?
It illustrates how dual-use, commercially available drones can carry dangerous payloads, challenging traditional defense postures and underscoring the need to anticipate non-conventional threats beyond conventional warfare.
Why New Zealand can no longer afford to be naive about security
Q: What does the leadership change mean for security, defence, and ongoing projects?
It introduces additional strategic stress and delays, slowing decision-making and placing more burden on the new minister and chief executives to lift and drive accountability while many big capital decisions will be deferred during caretaker periods.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Frequently Asked Questions About The New Zealand Initiative

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

This show offers high-signal policy discussions grounded in current affairs, with a distinctive focus on governance, economics, and national security through a New Zealand lens. Episodes frequently unpack leadership dynamics, public policy reform, and long-term implications for society—ranging from education and infrastructure to energy resilience and defense—often featuring data-driven critique and pragmatic reforms. A notable strength is the willingness to challenge conventional wisdom, pair policy critique with international context, and translate complex issues into actionable insights for leaders, policymakers, and business audiences.

Listeners likely value clear reasoning, evidence-based argumentation, and conversations that connect ... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The New Zealand Initiative?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The New Zealand Initiative:

1. The Detail
2. The Front Page
3. The Leighton Smith Podcast
4. The Mike Hosking Breakfast
5. Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

How many episodes of The New Zealand Initiative are there?

The New Zealand Initiative launched 7 years ago and published 370 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The New Zealand Initiative?

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What guests have appeared on The New Zealand Initiative?

Recent guests on The New Zealand Initiative include:

1. Tenby Powell
2. Sarah Irving-Stonebraker
3. Dr. Helen Walls
4. Adam Jarvis
5. Doug Blackmur
6. Ben Stallworthy
7. Jillaine Heather
8. Chris Berg

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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