NZ's cannabis referendum 2020: Some facts and recommendations about the process of cannabis legalisation

April 30, 2020

A referendum this year will ask the public whether they support legalising the use of cannabis, accompanied by regulation, education and taxation. We recommended a similar approach in 2016, after concluding that prohibition of cannabis in New Zealand has been an expensive and failed a … Read more

Getting the balance right: The effect of water quality proposals on the New Zealand economy

September 16, 2019

NZIER report to the New Zealand Fish and Game Council, Forest and Bird and Greenpeace. Read more

There has to be a better way

September 22, 2017

If you ask a typical economist if migration is good for a country, they are likely to say yes. Read more

Defining social investment, Kiwi-style

December 20, 2016

The current New Zealand Government is following a “social investment” approach to improving the lives of disadvantaged New Zealanders. The background to this approach is widespread agreement that for a small proportion of New Zealanders, improved economic performance has not been refl … Read more