The Spinoff becomes an unlikely fiscal conservative: Tourism minister Louise Upston was excited when she announced that Robbie Williams will play two shows in Auckland and Christchurch later this year. “It’s fantastic to welcome a showstopper act like Robbie, giving fans the chance to see him entertaining us,” she said in a press release. The…
A good corporate welfare expose
A good corporate welfare expose
11 Apr 2026 Leave a comment
in income redistribution, Music, politics - New Zealand, Public Choice
Oil and monetary policy
10 Apr 2026 Leave a comment
in applied price theory, defence economics, economic history, economics of bureaucracy, energy economics, financial economics, history of economic thought, labour economics, macroeconomics, monetary economics, politics - New Zealand, Public Choice, unemployment, war and peace Tags: 1973 oil crisis, monetary policy, oil shocks
I didn’t have too much problem with either the Reserve Bank Governor’s speech a couple of weeks ago on a framework for how monetary policy might deal with the oil shock, or with this week’s OCR review release from the Monetary Policy Committee. It was really all very orthodox stuff, much as any of the […]
Oil and monetary policy
Abolish the BSA
04 Apr 2026 Leave a comment
in economics of media and culture, economics of regulation, industrial organisation, politics - New Zealand
The Broadcasting Standards Authority announced: The Broadcasting Standards Authority has confirmed it has jurisdiction to consider a complaint about content transmitted by an online broadcaster. In a decision published today, the Authority determined it can accept, and is required to consider under the Broadcasting Act, complaints about The Platform’s Live Talkback programme, because the programme meets…
Abolish the BSA
Diversity has its limits: Georgina Beyer made it as a Mayor and MP but the Greens bar Bianca Beebe
03 Apr 2026 Leave a comment
in labour economics, labour supply, occupational choice, occupational regulation, politics - New Zealand Tags: nanny state
Bob Edlin writes – The Green Party has brought its promotion of diversity into question by deciding not to select a former sex worker as a candidate. It denies the decision has nothing to do with her background but has not explained why she did not pass muster with the party big-wigs who make these […]
Diversity has its limits: Georgina Beyer made it as a Mayor and MP but the Greens bar Bianca Beebe
Keep history on bank notes
03 Apr 2026 Leave a comment
in macroeconomics, monetary economics, politics - New Zealand
The Bank of England has announced that they plan to replace famous historical figures from their banknotes, and replace them with cute animals. No I’m not joking. They cite a poll and the fact animals are harder to counterfeit. Their current notes are: All great choices – their most famous PM, author, painter and mathematician.…
Keep history on bank notes
Not sweeping, but good
02 Apr 2026 Leave a comment
in economics of regulation, health economics, politics - New Zealand Tags: nanny state
Stuf reported: Government proposes sweeping changes to alcohol laws The changes are far from sweeping. They are good, and tidy up some stupid stuff, but it is not a major change. As I said, all pretty minor but useful changes. It is good that someone living in Auckland can’t object anymore to an application in…
Not sweeping, but good
THE CORE LEGAL TRUTH: IWI HAVE NO REGULATORY AUTHORITY OVER PRIVATE LAND
01 Apr 2026 Leave a comment
in law and economics, politics - New Zealand, property rights
Guest Post By Ivan Barnett To all readers, I have put this document together in the hope that it may be useful to others who are facing similar issues in their own districts. I have researched the material carefully and done my best to present it clearly and accurately. I am a retired dry‑land farmer, […]
THE CORE LEGAL TRUTH: IWI HAVE NO REGULATORY AUTHORITY OVER PRIVATE LAND
Govt can be quick to pass new laws but putting English ahead of te reo on names of public agencies is a challenge
31 Mar 2026 Leave a comment
Bob Edlin writes – My email in-tray today included a newsletter from the source pictured above which – when opened – was found to be Land Information New Zealand (LINZ), That’s the government agency which manages land titles, surveying, crown property, and topographic/hydrographic information.
Govt can be quick to pass new laws but putting English ahead of te reo on names of public agencies is a challenge
The biggest enemies of renewable energy are … environmentalists
30 Mar 2026 Leave a comment
in energy economics, environmental economics, environmentalism, politics - New Zealand Tags: renewable energy
Radio NZ reports: A plan to fast-track a controversial West Coast hydro scheme has been given an initial go-ahead. The West Coast lines company, Westpower, has applied to fast-track its controversial plans to build a run-of-river hydro scheme on the Waitaha River, and in its draft decision the fast-track expert panel has given it approval.…
The biggest enemies of renewable energy are … environmentalists
Hipkins under-performing and underwhelming
29 Mar 2026 1 Comment
Opposition leader Chris Hipkins does a regular slot with host Nick Mills on the Wellington NewstalkZB morning show.On Wednesday, much of the half hour was consumed by the host trying to extract from Hipkins what Labour would be doing about the fuel ‘crisis’ if in government. This was fastidiously avoided with various excuses, one being that,…
Hipkins under-performing and underwhelming
Labour’s fuel crisis policy is silence
27 Mar 2026 Leave a comment
in defence economics, energy economics, politics - New Zealand, transport economics, war and peace Tags: Iran
The Herald reports: Labour leader Chris Hipkins isn’t providing an alternative plan of action to help struggling New Zealanders facing pain at the pump and the threat of rising prices elsewhere. Asked repeatedly what alternatives Labour could suggest, Hipkins said the onus to present ideas was on the current Government. He gave some principles, such…
Labour’s fuel crisis policy is silence
Taking comfort from the 1970s
27 Mar 2026 Leave a comment
in defence economics, economics of regulation, energy economics, politics - New Zealand, war and peace Tags: Iran
When a story recently emerged about the government getting advice on carless days under the Petroleum Demand Restraint Act, older New Zealanders will have felt a warm flush of nostalgia. The 1979 restrictions brought coloured windscreen stickers announcing the weekday car owners had promised not to drive. Thursday proved the most popular choice. A thriving black market followed. Forty-three percent of vehicles secured exemptions.
Taking comfort from the 1970s
The truth about TOP
27 Mar 2026 Leave a comment
in environmentalism, politics - New Zealand
TOP isn’t above Left and Right. It’s just the Left in better packaging Every election cycle, like clockwork, Opportunity (TOP) reappears. It refreshes its branding, gets a new leader, rolls out a new slate of candidates, and the media, just as predictably, froths over them. Since Gareth Morgan founded the party in 2016, this has become a […]
The truth about TOP
A worthwhile trade off
25 Mar 2026 Leave a comment
in politics - New Zealand, law and economics, labour economics, human capital, occupational choice, economics of regulation, property rights, applied price theory, labour supply Tags: offsetting behavior, unintended consequences, employment law
Susan Hornsby-Geluk writes: Among the most controversial aspects of the recently enacted Employment Relations Amendment Act 2026 is the introduction of a high-income threshold for personal grievance claims. Under the new provisions, employees earning $200,000 or more in annual remuneration will lose the right to bring a personal grievance for unjustified dismissal, or an unjustified…
A worthwhile trade off
What power would allow Ministers to close down a community?
22 Mar 2026 Leave a comment
in economics of crime, economics of religion, law and economics, libertarianism, politics - New Zealand
The Herald reports: Senior Government minister Louise Upston visited Gloriavale in late January, months after refusing to rule out closing the religious community following allegations of child abuse in the community. Newstalk ZB has confirmed Upston visited the sect on January 30, alongside officials from the Ministry of Social Development. This story is puzzling. As…
What power would allow Ministers to close down a community?
Utopia, you are standing in it! 
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