This week, Eric talks to Marko Garlick and Eleanor West, formerly of Generation Zero and now co-ordinating City for People, about the Independent Hearing Panel's process and the review.

They also discuss what's been going on in Houston, housing affordability and density and other research.

You can find links to their research at: www.nzinitiatve.org.nz

This research includes:
• City for People’s five requests for the Wellington district plan
• Eric’s “Yes, and…” request for the Wellington district plan
• Ryan Greenaway-McGrevy’s work on Auckland zoning and house prices
• The Urban Land Markets Group’s work on housing affordability and urban planning. 
• Eleanor West & Marko Garlick on Upzoning New Zealand, at Works in Progress
• Marko Garlick on Houston’s opt-out form of upzoning.
• Eric's NZ Herald article, "The incapacity of development capacity"

www.nzinitiative.org.nz

The Independent Hearing Panel's review of Wellington's Distric Plan

News

In this podcast episode, Oliver and Nick discuss their recent report on China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and its implications for New Zealand.

They caution that while BRI investments could potentially help fund New Zealand's large infrastructure deficit, the country needs to be very careful about engagement to avoid becoming locked into China's geopolitical sphere of influence.

You can find their report "Belt and Road Initiative: Implications for New Zealand" on our website www.nzinitiative.org.nz

China's Belt and Road Initiative

In this episode, Oliver Hartwich interviews Dr Michael Johnston about the free speech event at Victoria University that was postponed due to backlash within the university. 

They discuss the importance of free speech in liberal democracies, the changing perception of free speech as a partisan issue, and the concerning trend of young people trying to shut down events featuring disagreeable viewpoints.

Victoria University's postponed free speech event

In this episode, Eric Crampton talks to Frederico Fernández, Founder and CEO of We Are Innovation, about their recent global index ranking countries' policies on safer nicotine alternatives. 

They explore how allowing access to options like vaping, snus and heated tobacco can drive down smoking rates more effectively than traditional tobacco control measures alone.

Additional links:
• We Are Innovation https://weareinnovation.global/ 

• The Health of the State https://www.nzinitiative.org.nz/reports-and-media/reports/the-health-of-the-state/

• Smoke and Vapour: The Changing World of Tobacco Harm Reduction https://www.nzinitiative.org.nz/reports-and-media/reports/smoke-and-vapour-the-changing-world-of-tobacco-harm-reduction/

Evaluating global polices on safer nicotine

Oliver and Michael talk about Germany's dual education system with Rachel Simpson, Manager for Education, Skills and Immigration at Business NZ.

Recently, Michael and Rachel were on a business delegation to Germany to find out about their dual education system first-hand.

In this episode, they discuss what this system looks like in Germany, what makes it successful and what might be stopping us from doing it here in NZ.

Germany's dual education system

In this episode, Eric and Nick talk to Peter Nunns and Graham Campbell from New Zealand Infrastructure Commission, Te Waihanga. They discuss council debt and infrastructure funding and financing.

The Independent Hearing Panel's review of Wellington's Distric Plan

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