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The New Zealand Initiative

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

Podcast by The New Zealand Initiative

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes382Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
News

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Artwork for The New Zealand Initiative

Latest Episodes

In this episode, Eric talks to Nick Clark and Paul Melville about the illustrative national policy direction, the draft document that will put the detail into the two acts replacing the Resource Management Act. They go through what the draft gets rig... more

In this episode, Oliver talks with Major General (Ret) John Howard about the White House reversing its own sanctions to import Russian diesel and pressuring Ukraine to replace its president, even as Russia continues striking Ukrainian energy infrastr... more

Here is a full episode of Free to Disagree, our new weekly show with Oliver Hartwich and Damien Grant. Chris Bishop passed the new Planning Act with one working day to spare, and may not be in the next Parliament to see it work. Damien accused him of... more

Here is a full episode of Free to Disagree, our new weekly show with Oliver Hartwich and Damien Grant. Three polls landed this week, with National under 30 per cent on the party vote while holding 44 electorate seats, and Opportunity sitting either s... more

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Recent Guests

Paul Melville
New addition to The New Zealand Initiative space, expert advisor and commentator
The New Zealand Initiative
Episode: Replacing the RMA (Part 1): a new system, but the rules are still to come
Benno Blaschke
Expert in urban land markets
(not specified in transcript)
Episode: A referee for the price of land
Chris Parker
Expert in urban land markets
(not specified in transcript)
Episode: A referee for the price of land
Dame Elizabeth Rata
Historian and documentary lecturer on the history of education in New Zealand
Dame Elizabeth Rata (independent)
Episode: How New Zealand built its education system on classical liberal values
John Howard
Author of Worth Defending paper on defence and national security
The New Zealand Initiative
Episode: WEBINAR: Worth Defending: Freedom, prosperity and the case for a stronger New Zealand Defence Force
Kevin Donnelly
Educator, author, and adviser on education policy; discussed as a guest in the episode
Episode: Better education requires better teaching
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

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
    Australia3 months 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 Kingdom6 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
#131
New Zealand/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Breaking up the supermarkets is hard to do... and a bad idea
Q: What would you advise to politicians and the public about this proposal?
If Sense Partners' numbers hold and the Commerce Commission finds them credible, the guest argues that restructuring private businesses on such a small potential gain would be risky and could undermine property rights, urging a cautious, evidence-based approach.
Breaking up the supermarkets is hard to do... and a bad idea
Q: Shall we listen to Luxon first?
They introduce Luxon's position, which emphasizes thorough analysis and a high bar for intervention, followed by a discussion of his and the Finance Minister's claims about independent analyses and price effects.
WEBINAR: Worth Defending: Freedom, prosperity and the case for a stronger New Zealand Defence Force
Q: What would you like to see for the future of the Army Reserve given hollowing out and low attendance of exercises?
Reservists should be mobilizable through a modern, education-focused pathway that leverages private sector and civil service experience, with clearer gateways into the national security workforce and sustained incentives to participate, including training and leadership development rather than old-style entry requirements.
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.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
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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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How many listeners does The New Zealand Initiative get?

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

How many episodes of The New Zealand Initiative are there?

The New Zealand Initiative launched 7 years ago and published 382 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. Paul Melville
2. Benno Blaschke
3. Chris Parker
4. Dame Elizabeth Rata
5. John Howard
6. Kevin Donnelly
7. Tenby Powell
8. Sarah Irving-Stonebraker

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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