Memento mori! (Thou art mortal!) Researcher Thomas Scrimgeour reminds policymakers that fundamental truths about reality cannot be reshaped through wishful thinking. Prices convey information, and money represents trust—these are axiomatic principles that leaders must keep in mind when making decisions.

⁠⁠Read⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ the column on our website and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠watch⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ the video podcast on YouTube.

What makes a Kiwi? Is it birthplace, years spent here, or something else? Communications Manager Jason Heale asks these questions in light of Tennis New Zealand’s move to persuade Lulu Sun to play under our flag. When it comes to national identity, he says we should focus more on character and a person's genuine affinity for our country, rather than seeking vicarious validation through their international achievements or status.

⁠Read⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ the column on our website and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠watch⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ the video podcast on YouTube.

The term "populist" is often ambiguously deployed and misunderstood. Communications Coordinator Josiah Brown clarifies what it means and highlights some pitfalls we should avoid. When it comes to preserving our political system, he argues that we should all be populists.

Read⁠⁠⁠⁠ the column on our website and ⁠⁠⁠⁠watch⁠⁠⁠⁠ the video podcast on YouTube.

What's your handwriting like? Executive Director Tim Wilson describes his as “loops, smears, and burnouts” that desecrate a page. Yet, he supports making handwriting compulsory in the curriculum, as suggested by a Ministerial Advisory Group. Tim argues it's time to reconnect our bodies to our thoughts. In a world of Chromebooks and chatbots, can the pen prove mightier than the keyboard?

⁠Read⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ the column on our website and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠watch⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ the video podcast on YouTube.

No parent in their right mind would give their child a harmful substance, yet many readily hand over smartphones. Madeleine Smith, a former intern, delves into the alarming rise in adolescent anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts linked to early device use. She argues that government intervention is needed to support parents in protecting the mental health of their children by restricting smartphone access.

Read⁠⁠⁠ the column on our website and ⁠⁠⁠watch⁠⁠⁠ the video podcast on YouTube.

Two narratives about education are battling in the public square: one side claims public education is threatened by independent schools, while the other argues for reforming an outdated system. Researcher Maryanne Spurdle highlights the compelling benefits of a diverse educational ecosystem, pointing to substantial international evidence supporting school choice.

Read⁠⁠ the column on our website and ⁠⁠watch⁠⁠ the video podcast on YouTube.

Is there a lesson for the National Party in the demise of the UK Tories? Researcher Thomas Scrimgeour suggests that Prime Minister Christopher Luxon must carefully consider whether to lead as a "moderate" or a "reformer". National may find themselves without many fans if Luxon fails to cast a vision more comprehensive than simply getting the country "back on track”.

Read⁠ the column on our website and ⁠watch⁠ the video podcast on YouTube.

As global tensions escalate, Communications Manager Jason Heale advocates for compulsory military service in New Zealand. He argues that this initiative would bolster national defence readiness, encourage social unity, and drive economic development.

Read the column on our website and watch the video podcast on YouTube.

Auckland CBD is experiencing an exodus, with businesses fleeing and retail offences soaring. Communications Coordinator Josiah Brown warns against tunnel vision when addressing our crime problem, advocating for a more comprehensive approach. He emphasises the need to repair broken families and strengthen community structures for effective reintegration and long-term crime prevention.

Executive Director Tim Wilson analyses the deceptive tactic of "squid ink," which is used to blur facts and manipulate debates, often employed by vested interests to their own advantage. Using the recent controversy between universities and the Education Review Office as a case study, he demonstrates how "ink" is used to defend institutional turf and offers a practical framework for identifying the real motives often obscured by rhetoric in a variety of policy debates.