By Stevie Hoesel In baseball, a curveball refers to a pitch that appears to be heading in a straight line toward a point but deviates from its path just before the batter takes a shot at it. It is a strategic move in the game, where, after three strikes, you are out — similarly, political parties pitch policy strategically when it’s their turn. In April 2024, Aotearoa New Zealand’s National Government announced its intention to reinstate the three-strikes sentencing law, previously repealed by the Labour government in 2022. After several years of data overseas and domestically showing three strikes to

By Lewis Mugonyi Introduction  Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly evolving globally, and its incorporation in various sectors of the economy makes it a pertinent policy issue for governments today and for the foreseeable future. Aotearoa New Zealand unequivocally illustrated this on the 11th of September when The Science, Innovation, and Technology Minister Judith Collins unveiled the AI Activator program focused on enhancing the espousal of Artificial Intelligence amongst New Zealand businesses. (Collins, 2024) Automating cumbersome tasks in businesses through AI has the potential to ramp up efficiency in New Zealand’s primary sectors, particularly banking, agriculture, retail, and manufacturing. AI is

By Riley Parnwell The final He Arotake Pōtitanga Motuhake | Independent Electoral Review report was published last November. Experts comprising its panel made over 140 recommendations for change covering almost all of our electoral system.1 Some of the recommendations overlap with commitments between coalition parties. The panel, for example, recommended increasing the length of the parliamentary term to four years and the National-Act agreement promises to hold a referendum on that question at the next election.2 Action the Government could take on implementing parts of the report may define its agenda in Parliament. This article contextualises some of the major

By Oscar Lin Olympics. For many athletes, participating in this rare, once-every-four-year event is a dream. Achieving the world ranking necessary to qualify requires years of relentless training and dedication. But for New Zealand athletes, there’s an additional hurdle: nomination by the New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC). The NZOC holds the final authority over the composition of New Zealand’s Olympic Team, imposing an extra rule that goes beyond the qualification standards set by international federations. This secondary selection criterion requires athletes to demonstrate the capability to achieve a top-16 placing, with the potential to win an Olympic Diploma (awarded to

By Aamy Roshan Just last month, thousands of Aucklanders marched down Queen Street to protest the Fast-Track Approvals Bill, which was created to accelerate economic growth through development.1 Introduced in March, the Bill would essentially give three Ministers, Chris Bishop, Simeon Brown and Shane Jones, the unchecked power to consent to major development projects.2 Despite public outcry, polling has indicated that 44 per cent of respondents support the Bill.3  However, the Bill’s current form poses concerns about its ability to balance economic objectives with matters of impartiality and sustainability. The Fast-Track Approvals Bill was included as part of National’s 100-Day

By Lewis Mugonyi   Introduction On the 9th of July 2023, New Zealand and the European Union signed a lucrative Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in Brussels, marking a significant milestone in Aotearoa’s international trade relations. The agreement has been in negotiation for several years with the aim of bolstering the economic ties of both parties, enhancing market access, and fostering closer cooperation between New Zealand and the 27 EU member states. Both sides have completed the necessary international and domestic procedures and requirements that saw it materialise on the 1st of May 2024 (NZTE, 2024).  Reasons For the New Zealand-EU

By Laura Oh   In a move that has generated widespread concern, the Government’s decision to remove funding for section 27 cultural reports has the potential to unravel the progress made in ensuring fair and equitable access to justice for all. This action, part of National’s 100-day plan [1], is posited as a crucial step towards effective spending of taxpayer funds [2] and restoring law and order to Aotearoa New Zealand [3].  But who will be impacted most by this decision? And is this act of urgency an effective way to achieve these objectives?  What are “Cultural Reports”?  Cultural reports,

By Thomas Li Colonialism is an aggressive doctrine that derives its inherent roots from imperialism. The purpose of colonialism is geostrategic, as it involves establishing control of a country, invading and occupying it with settlers, and exploiting its resources for the benefit of colonisers. It has been argued that colonisation in the Pacific did not significantly tamper with the region’s development. However,  colonialism played an integral role in changing Pacific people’s lifestyle culturally, economically, politically and socially. Throughout the colonisation process, colonisers heavily relied upon an appalling worldview that encompassed racial ideologies to undermine Pacific peoples. Colonisers utilised a colonial

By Maggie Long There is a stereotype that adults have a hatred towards teenagers and their phones. Whilst previously exaggerated, this stereotype is increasingly becoming a reality. Parenting blogs about ‘the dangers of screens’ and ‘how to get children off social media’ are becoming more prominent. Our society is at a crossroads with social media. People do not know whether to embrace it or see social media as the enemy. In New Zealand, the government has made that decision for us. In April, the Government officially banned children and adolescents from using cell phones in schools. This Bill was a

By Riley Parnwell   Fair pay agreements: gone. Te Aka Whai Ora: out by the end of June. Three Waters: not happening. The Acts behind each policy have been repealed by the government under urgency at all stages of the legislative process. And yet, they represent only a few of the bills considered under urgency so far—most also at every stage.1 The changes mentioned above were campaigned on. They were also part of the government’s 100-day plan.2 But are those good reasons to violate democratic principles? Putting aside the validity of each policy, we need to confront how urgency is

Privatisation of the domestic airline scene has undoubtedly been financially lucrative for New Zealand’s two biggest players. In late August 2023, Air New Zealand announced a net profit of $213M (RNZ, 2023). Although finances are yet to be released for Jetstar’s domestic New Zealand operations, indications suggest that 2023 has also been a lucrative year for the Qantas subsidiary. Shareholders have mostly been elated by the stellar performances of both carriers so far this year, with Air New Zealand shareholders receiving plentiful dividends as an added bonus (RNZ, 2023).  However, the travelling public is less pleased. Both carriers have been

By Eden Li Co-governance: Friend or Foe? The recent focus on strengthening co-governance within Crown policy has been received with both confusion, and even outrage in some quarters. But what does co-governance actually entail? Will this contentious form of policy work in practice? One of the biggest questions in public policy has become whether government entities should encompass novel co-governance models, or stick with the status quo. From the swirling response to Three Waters, to the tensions boiling over Te Urewera, co-governance has undoubtedly become one of the most polarising policy issues facing Aotearoa today. However, it is also simultaneously

ACT has recently made headlines after releasing its proposal for a new gun policy if they come into government and what consequences this will have.

By Kaisheng Wu Among economists, carbon pricing mechanisms have often been touted as a singularly effective policy response to climate change. As such, the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme (NZ ETS) has been prioritised as the country’s key tool in meeting climate targets. Climate Change Minister, James Shaw, recently stated in April of this year that “a well-designed system for pricing emissions is a central part of our Government’s climate change policy framework”.1 Just a month later, Lawyers for Climate Action NZ sought to take the minister to court over the cabinet’s decision to ‘water down’ NZ ETS.2 Conversely, NZ ETS and other

By Aamy Roshan After our tumultuous history with the Dawn Raids era, overstayer amnesty has remained a sensitive topic. The Dawn Raids are what Dr Anae calls “the most blatantly racist attack on Pacific peoples by the New Zealand government in New Zealand’s history.” 1 It was a period in the 1970s that saw Pacific overstayers as the target of deportation over illegal overstaying, as police were given the right to stop people and ask for proof of legal status. Police powers were extended by the government so far as to allow them to enter the homes of individuals, without

By Sophie Steel With a promise to increase New Zealand’s literacy rates and classroom attendance whilst also scrapping teacher registration fees, the National Party’s new education policy has raised eyebrows nationwide.  The New Curriculum – ‘Teaching the Basics Brilliantly’ In a day of iPad kids and merged classrooms, the National Party have argued that the core fundamentals of education are getting lost. This factor drives the key part of their policy: a mandatory dedication of an hour to reading, an hour for writing and an hour for mathematics every day.   This comes at a time where recent pilot NCEA testing

Interview by Emilie Baldauf and Genna Hawkins Kia ora and welcome to the third and final instalment of Meet the Mayor. Voting for your local elections are now open and Public Policy Club is excited to introduce you to another leading mayoral candidates; finding out more about their policies and what they can do for you as a voter.  Today, we are joined by mayoral candidate Efeso Collins! Efeso is currently sitting councillor for the Manukau ward and previously has worked in a range of roles across the private and public sector, including a few at the University of Auckland! Today we

Kia ora and welcome to the second episode of Meet the Mayor. With your local elections only weeks away, Public Policy Club is excited to introduce you to your leading mayoral candidates; finding out more about their policies and what they can do for you as a voter.  Today, we chatted with mayoral candidate Craig Lord! Today we are joined by mayoral candidate Craig Lord, a former engineer and a current freelance media operator, who is making a bold entry into the political world. Today we discussed Craig’s ambitions for his mayoralty, his vision for Auckland CBD, and his proposal for an independent

Kia ora and welcome to the debut episode of Meet the Mayor. With your local elections only weeks away, Public Policy Club is excited to introduce you to your leading mayoral candidates; finding out more about their policies and what they can do for you as a voter.  Today, we chatted with mayoral candidate Viv Beck! Viv has had a diverse range of experiences across the public, private, and non-profit sectors, including her most recent position as Chief Executive of Heart of the City.  In our interview, we discuss her vision for Auckland, including what her mayoralty would mean for

Written By Samuel Hill In June, the Government introduced its first piece of legislation as part of its planned Three Waters Reform Programme [1]. There is general consensus that reform is needed in the water sector, but the response to the proposed reforms has been mixed.  The Case for Reform The ‘three waters’ being referred to here are wastewater, drinking water, and stormwater, each requiring infrastructure to adequately deal with them. This infrastructure is often neglected, however. Pipes and underground networks are less visible to the public and to local councils, resulting in a tendency to pay less attention to

By Simran Sonawalla  A new law designed to improve the oversight of agencies responsible for protecting children, and young people who are at-risk is currently being debated in parliament. As it stands, there have been several critiques and support for this bill.  The Oversight of Oranga Tamariki System and Children and Young People’s Commission Bill aims to establish independent monitoring and complaints oversight for Oranga Tamariki, with the overarching goal of providing greater advocacy for children and young people’s issues [1].  This Bill proposes to:  Establish the office of the Independent Monitor of the Oranga Tamariki System to assess how

Written by Shirin Ranjbar The New Zealand government is due to abolish the twenty District Health Boards by July this year. The new health system will include a new Māori Health Authority. Instead of twenty different decision makers, the country will have a singular decision maker.  The current system is characterised by fragmentation, where a decision that could be made once is made multiple times. The emergence of the proposed Māori Health Authority has come after years of outrage over the health system’s breaches of Te Tiriti. Māori suffer from poor health outcomes under a variety of measures. For starters,

Islamic Women’s Council national co-ordinator Aliya Danzeisen. [xvi] By Jingshu Xu The Search and Surveillance bill [i] will be up for review this year as part of the government’s response to the Royal Commission of Inquiry’s recommendations about the Christchurch masjidain terrorist attack on March 15, 2019[ii] [iii]. The bill was originally created in 2012 and allows law enforcement to carry out a warrantless search of a person or property if they suspect a licensed gun owner is in danger of harming themselves or others, allowing the police to move quickly and initiate searches without oversight of the courts[iv]. The

The Right Honourable Trevor Mallard, Speaker of the House of Representatives By Nicholas Langrell-Read I The Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives (herein the House) holds an important constitutional office and performs crucial roles with regard to the functioning of the House. Two such roles are chairing meetings of and maintaining order in the House. Necessary for these roles is interpretation of the rules and traditions that govern the conduct of the House, thereby defending the rights and privileges of Members of Parliament (MPs). Despite being elected as an MP, according to the political will of the electorate,

Written by Ethan McCormick  In 2016 the John Key government announced that New Zealand would eradicate all rats, possums, and mustelids by 2050. It’s a goal of mind-boggling scale that was dubbed “New Zealand’s moon shot” by the late Sir Paul Callaghan [1]. Since the announcement, the mission of Predator Free 2050 has received support from a range of stakeholders. However, success hinges on a major breakthrough in pest eradication within the next thirty years. With the 2050 deadline fast approaching, will New Zealand achieve a world first?   A Forgotten Past Isolated for from the southern continents for 80 million

Pictured above: David Parker, Attorney-General of New Zealand.  By Emilie Paris Baldauf  The Rotorua District Council Representative Arrangements Bill was drafted by the Rotorua Lakes Council and brought to Parliament by Rotorua-based Labour MP Tamati Coffey. It would grant 21,700 Māori roll voters three seats in the electorate, the same number of seats given to the 55,600 General roll voters [1]. The Bill’s purpose is to change the electoral rules for the district to provide the “Council’s ideal representation arrangement” for the Rotorua District [2]. This arrangement would allow the Māori roll and General roll to have an equal influence

By Simran Sonawalla After three years in the making, Hon Chris Hipkins announces the release of Aotearoa New Zealand history curriculum, which will be compulsory in every school throughout years 1 to 10 [1]. The programme — officially known as Aotearoa New Zealand’s histories/Te Takanga o Te Wā — is part of the social sciences learning area of The New Zealand Curriculum, which will be taught in all schools and Kura from 2023 [2].  Announcing the new curriculum, Hon Chris Hipkins says that ‘All young people will understand key aspects of Aotearoa New Zealand’s histories and how they have influenced

An artist’s depiction of light rail in Mt Roskill [1]. By Samuel Hill After several years of talks about light rail coming to Auckland, the Government confirmed earlier this year that work will proceed on a partially-tunnelled light rail line extending from the CBD to Auckland Airport [1]. The project has been the subject of much debate and it is worth exploring the history and goals of the project to see how the current proposal has taken shape. The Beginnings of Light Rail in Auckland When people think about rail, the first thing that comes to mind is probably heavy

By Raphaël Rauner As the Russo-Ukrainian conflict intensifies, the global geopolitical narrative is shifting. It impacts every actor on the world stage- from small to large. It also raises questions about New Zealand’s place in the world and our dependence on international partners. This article is not about foreign policy. It’s about New Zealand’s fuel resilience and future without an oil refinery.  This fuel resilience issue arose in August 2021 when Refining NZ decided to close the Marsden Point Oil Refinery for cost reasons. The ensuing months saw the Cabinet’s refusal to intervene and keep the refinery operating (RNZ, 2021).

By Maddison Lewis Gun violence has become a prominent issue in the public eye. In 2020, New Zealand saw a record-breaking level of gun violence, and Auckland saw a 49 percent increase in firearms-related injuries over a year and a half at the end of 2021 [1]. Against this background, the Justice Select Committee is currently taking submissions on a new bill that would introduce Firearms Protection Orders (FPOs) into the criminal justice system.  The bill, known as the Firearms Prohibition Orders Legislation Bill, would allow courts to issue an FPO to adult offenders convicted of specified offences if such

Amendments to the Resource Management Act (RMA) promise up to 105,000 houses over eight years [1]. But are these changes going to help end New Zealand’s housing crisis? By Charlie Matthews The Changes Parliament has recently passed the Resource Management (Enabling Housing Supply and Other Matters) Amendment Bill. The main aim of the changes is to cut the red tape, or the number of rules and procedures, to follow when building houses. Removing such rules is expected to make it cheaper and easier to construct more homes. The changes include allowing townhouses of up to three storeys and up to

The government is seeking to repeal the controversial three strikes law, which mandates maximum penalties for third-time violent offenders. The debate over the proposed repeal has raised claims that the three strikes framework disproportionately impacts Māori, that it is in breach of the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act, and that the sentencing law is ineffective at reducing recidivism. This article will explore the arguments around those claims and what repealing this law means for New Zealand.  By Maddison Lewis  What is the Three Strikes Framework?  It all starts with a baseball analogy. A batter, a fielder, and a ball.

By Matt Fletcher The complex realities of Covid-19 have had profound effects on economies across the globe – impacting consumers directly in their pockets. Disruptions to supply chains, shifts in consumer spending, and heightened government expenditure have culminated in decades-high inflation. These figures scarcely remain absent from headlines, from the United States witnessing annual inflation of 7% for 2021, to the United Kingdom’s rate at 5.4%. Aotearoa’s inflation rate for 2021 was 5.9% – the highest in over three decades.[1] Increasing household costs have disproportionate adverse impacts on low-income households and young people.[2] Understanding the root causes of inflation –

Chief Justice Helen Winkelmann has said the legal aid system is “broken” and on the brink of “collapse” (Hancock, 2021). Have successive governments driven the system into crisis as CJ Winkelmann alludes? Is the system now a game between the haves and the have not? This article will take a closer look at the current legal aid framework. By Raphaël Rauner Before diving into the depths of this issue, it is important to understand what legal aid entails and the public policies behind it. In a snapshot, the current framework was created by the Legal Aid Act of 1969 as

By Callia Drinkwater Bested only by China and Australia, the European Union is New Zealand’s third-largest trading partner. [1] In 2008, New Zealand entered a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with China, [2] and in 2018 an agreement with Australia, but in 2020 we’ve still got standard tariffs with Europe. From the outset, it would seem that the EU and NZ both have similar environmental and social objectives and policies, and want to push back against protectionism. So why was the eighth round of discussions concluded in July of 2020 with no agreement to show? Three big issues stand in the

By Pau Sicat The Rwandan genocide in 1994 is widely regarded as the deadliest and “the fastest mass killing in history”. It was led by the Rwandan military with at least 600,000 Tutsis and Hutus killed within the short span of a few months. To answer what the common causes of genocide are, we can identify various political, economic or ideational conditions that may have allowed and caused the Rwandan society at the time to become genocidal.  Defining Genocide According to the UN, Genocide can be defined as: “acts committed with the intent to exterminate, in whole or in part,

By Pau Sicat It is quite rare that a government would propose drastic solutions like decriminalising all drugs as a way to alleviate the country’s drug problems, yet Portugal has done just that. Current day Portugal is like a dream come true for recreational drug users. In 2001, the government decriminalised all drugs, and sought to implement drug policies which effectively shifted the government’s focus from penalising recreational drug use and redirected it towards more rehabilitative measures that focus on health, treatment and reintegration. However, the question on whether or not Portugal’s drug reform would bring about similar success in

By Nick Howell Labour is leading the pack coming up to the general election of 17 October. How have they gained such a formidable lead? Is it due to their handling of the COVID-19 crisis or the fumbling of the National Party? Labour is contesting the upcoming election from an unprecedented position of power; the most recent Colmar Brunton One News Poll put them at 53 percent – dwarfing National’s 32 percent [1]. What led to such a result? Is Labour’s polling proportionate to their performance in dealing with Covid-19? Or, are New Zealanders clinging to familiarity in a time

by Callia Drinkwater If the cannabis referendum pamphlet seemed slightly out of touch to you when it claimed that “The proposed Bill does not cover medical cannabis… These are covered by existing laws.” you’re not alone. New Zealand legalising medicinal marijuana slipped entirely under the radar for many, and for good reason – it only came into force on the 1st April 2020, six days after the beginning of lockdown and more pressing matters were occupying the headlines. While we now look ahead to the 2020 election, with two incredibly controversial ballots attached, it’s time to reflect on how the

By Callia Drinkwater Since the 2017 election, six new parties have registered to be included on the 2020 ballot. Among these are a variety of Christian value parties, centerism parties, and a conspiracism party. A familiar face can be found in the Sustainable New Zealand Party, led by former Green Party MP, Vernon Tava. The party was created in August of 2019, and has received a mix of support and pushback from both sides of the benches. The question for those involved in the 2020 general election is whose votes are at stake to the new arrival – if any?

This is the fifth of our Bants with Baby Back Benches interviews. Through this series we want our readers to get to know the youth leaders of our political parties, ready for our eventual youth leaders debate, and the upcoming election. If you’d instead like to listen to our complete conversation click here By Paul Simperingham, interview with assistance from Liam Davies Liam and I interviewed Aryana together so that at least once an interviewee would get to see that we both did in fact exist. Aryana was the chair of the Alfred Street Young Nationals in 2019, however, since then she

This is the sixth and final of our Bants with Baby Back Benches interviews. Through this series we want our readers to get to know the youth leaders of our political parties, ready for our eventual youth leaders debate, and the upcoming election. If you’d instead like to listen to our complete conversation click here By Liam Davies Artie, President of The Opportunities Party (T.O.P) on campus, turned up to the interview sporting a T.O.P t-shirt, he said he wears them everywhere, and a different one everyday. If this doesn’t show commitment to the party, I don’t know what does! T.O.P is

This is the third of our Bants with Baby Back Benches interviews. Through this series we want our readers to get to know the youth leaders of our political parties, ready for our eventual youth leaders debate, and the upcoming election. This edition is with Adam Brand, the Chair of Princes Street Labour If you’d instead like to listen to our complete conversation click here By Liam Davies, interview by Paul Simperingham Paul started by asking Adam why he chose to join young Labour and why he became Chair. Adam described his upbringing, stating that he came from a traditional Labour background.

This is the fourth of our Bants with Baby Back Benches interviews. Through this series we want our readers to get to know the youth leaders of our political parties, ready for our eventual youth leaders debate, and the upcoming election. This edition is with Felix Poole, the President of Young ACT NZ If you’d instead like to listen to our complete conversation click here By Paul Simperingham PCC So first of all, how did you get involved with Young ACT? Felix   I got involved all the way back in 2017. There wasn’t really a Young ACT or an ACT on campus

This is the second of our Bants with Baby Back Benches interviews. Through this series we want our readers to get to know the youth leaders of our political parties, ready for our eventual youth leaders debate, and the upcoming election. This edition is with Jay McLaren-Harris the chairperson of Young New Zealand First. By Paul Simperingham   PCC First question, how did you get into the business you’re in? What drew you to New Zealand First? Jay   I grew up in Dargaville, and when the Northland by-election happened and Winston won the election, that was kind of my first taste

This is the first of our Bants with Baby Back Benches interviews. Through this series we want our readers to get to know the youth leaders of our political parties, ready for our eventual youth leaders debate, and the upcoming election. If you’d instead like to listen to our complete conversation click here By Liam Davies On the day of our interview, Natalie, Co-Convenor of Greens on Campus, and I attended our mutual friend’s campaign launch, for a party I will not mention and of which neither of us belong. Having arrived at the launch and after sitting through a couple of

The widespread protest regarding the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minnesotan police officers has brought the issue of systemic racism – both in America and NZ – into the open. Can we make a change? New Zealand’s history of social activism suggests yes. By Nick Howell The killing of African-American George Floyd on May 25 has brought the issue of systemic racism squarely into the spotlight, with many seeing how differently minorities are treated in the Western world. Many are showing their frustrations at systemic injustice through wide-scale protest and rioting, mostly throughout the cities of America

By Liam Davies As New Zealand’s battle with COVID-19 comes to an end, is an economic battle on the horizon? Comments made by Winston Peters have created quite the fuss with China. How will NZs economy fair as China decides how to respond?  A few ‘wrong’ statements A word that comes to mind when thinking about the political career of Winston Peters is ‘provocative’. Peters, New Zealand’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister, did not miss that mark when he commented on Taiwan’s participation status in the World Health Organisation (WHO)[1]. Although Peters states he has supported Taiwan

The potentiality and limitations of the role of evidence on decision-making in policy formulation By Pau Sicat In light of the recent rapid changes happening around the world due to COVID-19, many are arguing that adopting a purely evidence-based policymaking approach is required. That it has become more crucial than ever that evidence and science should be guiding the government response. For most, it would be easy to presume the role of evidence in policymaking taking centre-stage. That policy actors, such as politicians or even institutions, could simply make decisions based on scientifically-backed data provided to them by experts. However,

By Callia Drinkwater While the sixth week of lock-down comes to a close and the number of COVID-19 continues to fall, the fight  is far from over. From the economy to domestic violence, the lock-down has touched every aspect of our lives. For the majority of us, the psychological impact of social distancing, falling job prospects, and an uncertain future will play on our minds and make staying mentally healthy significantly more challenging. We can see this reflected in the 50% increase in texts received by Youthline from young people. One in four of these concerned depression, self-harm, anxiety, or

By Paul Simperingham COVID-19 has and will continue to have a drastic impact on the New Zealand economy. Global travel has ground to a halt, trade has been reduced, people have lost jobs, and the stock market is extremely volatile. OECD secretary-general Angel Gurria has warned that the economic fallout of this virus will last far longer than the pandemic itself [1]. New Zealand’s current level 4 alert level and lockdown will likely end on the 23rd of April. After that, it’s unknown what will happen. It will likely be a descent down alert levels, and it could be a

The Public Policy Club has some amazing initiatives planned for 2020, and we’d love to give our wonderful members the opportunity to help out! There are 3 distinct roles that you can apply for: an Event Organiser, a High Schools Coordinator, or a Content Creator. APPLY TO BE A DELEGATE HERE Content Creators Positions available: 6-10 The content team will write engaging and thought-provoking articles for the PPC content website and Facebook page. This may also organise crowdsourcing content from other university groups. The team will also be involved in the process of creating and contributing to a PPC newsletter.

The Public Policy is opening Executive Committee positions for 2020! We are looking for passionate and self-led students to be a part of our team during a critical election year. In this role, you can work with other PPC team members to create content, competitions or events that increase youth engagement with public policy. You should be able to take the initiative to manage your team and your relevant projects, as well as collaborate with other teams. It’s important that you understand your commitments beforehand and can attend regular team and committee meetings. Every role will have delegates available to

By Yi Xin Heng Healthcare remains a perennial concern of New Zealanders, which is why the local elections for District Health Board (DHB) candidates should be closely watched. Candidates will be competing against a backdrop of mounting dissatisfaction expressed by both DHB employees and the public. In 2018, for instance, 30,000 nurses were involved in a pay dispute and went on strike, [1] while 3,300 junior doctors deployed the same tactics to negotiate better working conditions in January this year.,[2] Candidates will have to contend with the frustrations expressed by mental health service users, which were brought to light by

By Paul Simperingham Voter turnout for local elections in New Zealand has been falling since the 1980s, with the 2019 Auckland race set to be the lowest in our city’s history. From 1989 to 2016, mayoral turnout has gone from 57% to 42%, and council voter turnout has fallen from 56% to 43% [1]. Meanwhile, the 2019 election in Auckland is showing a turnout of 6.04% as of September 30th, a number which the three previous local elections all beat [2]. General election turnout has also been falling, but not to the same low levels [3], and  it appears to

By Jonathan de Jongh With voting papers now out, the local elections offer important decisions regarding local government for the coming few years. Auckland is currently facing issues regarding transport, housing, the environment, and social policy. It is the Council’s role, along with its members and civil servants to implement strategies that help better the Auckland region its members, and all of the civil servants that help keep the city running. A role heard about frequently which people often do not know about is the Mayor for Auckland Council. As Mayor of the largest and most populous city in New Zealand,

By Alfred Kim Auckland Council’s Pre-Election Report stated that “there’s more that could be done; the challenge [of protecting our natural environment] is to decide what should be done and how.”[1] This article will highlight the solutions that mayoral candidates have for this challenge. For further information on these environmental policies and more, you can get in touch with the candidates, contact details are provided from the website. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/top/309544/more-high-density-housing-for-auckland Tricia Cheel – STOP Trashing Our Planet Cheel says that she is “standing to give voters the opportunity to take full responsibility for the legacy we are leaving future generations and ALL life

By Ellis Pike So, you’re enrolled to vote in the local elections? For most people, probably not, and for those who are, you might not know what’s going on. This article will outline the key things to know and the websites to visit to best use your vote. The first step when looking into the local elections should be determining the ward and board that you are in. This is based on where you live. Auckland Council has a search bar that will tell you what ward and board you are in.[1] Once you know this, you can see who is

By Paul Simperingham Recently, Paul Simperingham of the Public Policy Club’s content team sat down with three of the University of Auckland’s most prominent economists to discuss pressing policy matters in New Zealand and around the globe today. Meet the Economists Dr Asha Sundaram is a senior lecturer in the University of Auckland’s Economics Department, where she focuses on international trade and development economics.  Dr Sundaram grew up in Mumbai where she first became interested in economics and trade when she saw how India changed completely when it opened up to trade in 1991. From there she studied at the

By Alfred Kim The New Zealand Government proposed a new approach to the Budget on 30 May 2019: one that aims to instil hope for better “living standards over the long-term,” by providing support for the “many possible definitions of wellbeing.” This purpose of this article is to make sense of how the Government plans to achieve these aims. The Budget Policy Statement introduces key concerns of New Zealand Wellbeing, including: “In any 12-month period, about one in five New Zealanders will have a diagnosable mental illness, with three-quarters of lifetime cases starting by the age of 25.” “Material standards

By Yi Xin Heng When asked to identify the biggest existential threat to the United States, four candidates in the first night of the US Democratic Debate firmly uttered “climate change”.[1] Such recognition is no surprise at a time when local councils have been declaring climate emergencies, Europe is hit by searing temperatures and the world is grieving for the first glacier lost to global warming.[2] Perhaps this sense of urgency has been bolstered by the hard-line rhetoric employed by climate change denialists in office – such as Donald Trump and Jair Bolsonaro. In New Zealand, the Government has consistently

By Ellis Pike The End of Life Choice Bill is a private member’s bill introduced by ACT Party leader David Seymour in 2017. It passed its second reading on the 26th of June and is now before the Whole House Committee for review. Considering the controversial nature of this Bill, this article will clarify its content, as well as the process and safeguards that it currently would establish. Arguments for and against euthanasia, and the approaches that other countries have taken, will be assessed as well. https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2019/07/euthanasia-eligibility-changes-made-in-david-seymour-s-end-of-life-choice-bill.html   The Bill: 1. Who is Eligible: Section 4 outlines that only  New

By Jonathan de Jongh The popular mobile app ‘FaceApp’ has come under fire recently after a media scare alluded to the app being able to collect sensitive information from the phones of its users. Allegedly, the app has the ability to access photos on the phones of its users, even those that were not used for the app’s entertaining purposes – aging, de-aging, and gender reversing faces.[i] The sweeping phenomenon of seeing what we’ll look like in 70 years attracted such celebrities as Kevin Hart, Miley Cyrus, and Gordon Ramsey, and FaceApp allowed users to use its features on any

By Alfred Kim The future holds exciting prospects with the development of artificial intelligence (AI). Public policy will have to develop accordingly to facilitate this new tool; AI may also become an asset for public policy itself. There is a common misconception that there have been signs of conscience development. Although no one is ruling out the possibilities of science fiction becoming a reality, recently published papers show that AI entities only perform tasks involving human level intelligence, without human consciousness. Automation and AI are used interchangeably, but it is important to distinguish the two. AI entity involves machine learning,

By Ellis Pike In the wake of the horrific Christchurch attacks on the 15th of March that killed 51 people, the government will be looking at introducing new laws that make social media platforms responsible for the content that is posted. Reasons for the Law One of the most horrifying aspects of the tragedy was the fact that the shooter livestreamed the shootings on Facebook, and posted his manifesto on the platform. Facebook removed the video when asked, and they claimed to have removed versions of the video over 1.5 million times in the first day.[1] This shows the difficulty

By Yi Xin Heng The state’s duty to intervene when situations go awry for children has been imprinted in the nation’s consciousness as early as 1890. However, the same recognition has not been extended to a group who experience abuse at a comparable rate – the elderly.    Apart from experiencing a brief spike in news coverage in June (when World Elder Awareness Day is commemorated), there is hardly any momentum to demand for an urgent response. Elder abuse is only mentioned four times in the Ministry of Health’s Healthy Ageing Strategy and an arguably toothless directive to “update the

By Jonathan de Jongh Due to continued disagreements and compromises behind the walls of the Beehive, several laws have been stopped in their tracks or have failed to even see the light of day due to party politics. The latest victim is the capital gains tax proposed by the Tax Working Group earlier this year. According to Prime Minster Jacinda Ardern, a capital gains tax will not be enacted – at least not in this current government. However, this policy has not been the first victim of politics in the lawmaking and law reform sphere, and it certainly will not

By Jasper Poole In 2015, the Supreme Court of New Zealand became the unlikely scene of what is perhaps the first of many legal battles regarding the term “climate refugee”. It is this term that may identify one of the largest issues facing the world in the coming years as millions of people flee their homes and nations to seek safety across the globe. In 2007, Ioane Teitiota and his wife Angua Erika arrived on a permit in New Zealand from the Island of South Tarawa, Kiribati [1]. According to the account left by Ioane and the Immigration and Protection

By Paul Simperingham What is the One Billion Trees Programme? The incumbent coalition government has set the goal of planting one billion trees in New Zealand by 2028 [1]. The initiative is led by Te Uru Rakau (Forestry New Zealand) and funded by the Provincial Growth Fund, a three billion dollar fund for investment in regional economic development over a three year period [2]. $240 million is allocated to Direct Landowner Grants and Partnership Grants [3]. The two grants target different groups in New Zealand, but are both intended to fund increased tree plantings – specifically 50 million trees a

By Matt Fletcher Last December, the Labour-led Government of New Zealand announced its intention to raise the national minimum wage to $17.70 per hour, effective on the 1st of April 2019 [1]. This rise of $1.20 serves as the most substantial minimum wage increase in over three decades, and is the most recent step towards fulfilling the coalition Government’s goal of $20 per hour by 2021 [2]. The new enactments have been developed with the goal of reducing income inequality, stimulating economic growth, and making daily life easier for New Zealand’s minimum wage workers [3]. With this announcement, however, there

The Public Policy Club is looking for dedicated students to join the club as general delegates, content writers or to be a part of our High School Civics team. You will be working alongside various teams and members of the executive committee. We welcome applications from all faculties and year levels. The following positions in dark purple are available: APPLY TO BE A DELEGATE HERE This year, we have TWO delegate categories. Team specific delegates (indicated by the smaller dark purple boxes). You’ll be working with one team throughout the year based on specific skills required in that position (see below

Last month’s United Nations General Assembly revealed a stark division along New Zealand party lines. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern refused to sign the US-led initiative to reduce the consumption and production of drugs. Ardern cited the incumbent Government’s intention to adopt an approach to drug policy that treats it as a health issue. The National Party’s objection to this decision, as well as their legislative efforts to employ a more punitive approach to the pressing issue of synthetic cannabis, reveal that the following few years will determine this country’s position in the international war against drugs. New Zealand’s Synthetic Cannabis

By Matt Fletcher The incumbent Government’s proposed Electoral (Integrity) Amendment Bill passed its first and second readings earlier this year and has strengthened its place as a point of contention within Parliament. The colloquially-named “Waka-Jumping Bill”, if signed into law, would seek to drastically alter the face of New Zealand’s legislature, as well as the landscape of party politics. Waka-Jumping — History and Controversies “Waka-jumping” in New Zealand refers to the act by which a sitting Member of Parliament changes their party affiliation between elections [1]. Waka-jumping is not an uncommon part of New Zealand’s parliamentary history. The practice, however, has

By Harshaa Prasad The Public Policy Club was honoured to host four remarkable Kiwi wahine toa last week to celebrate the 125-year anniversary of women’s suffrage in New Zealand. Dame Jenny Shipley, Helen Clark, Chlöe Swarbrick and Louisa Wall spoke to a full room at the Heritage Hotel about intergenerational change in New Zealand’s feminist movement. Reflecting on the night, PPC looks at the issues that those wahine set about answering. What have the struggles been in getting where we are 125 years on? What issues still need tackling today? Getting here: 125 years The road to gender equality in New

By Eilish Buckley Almost one year on — how is the government’s fees-free tertiary education policy doing? With many students disenfranchised about their mounting debt (worth collectively more than 15 billion dollars[1]), now is a good time to reflect on the fees-free policy that was brought into effect by the Labour government this year. Has it had a positive or negative impact on tertiary education in New Zealand? The Road to a Policy Every year, the Ministry of Education sets a cap on how much tertiary education fees can be increased for students studying in New Zealand. The government decided

By Katie Cammell The Zero Carbon Bill was developed by Generation Zero, a national, youth-led organisation dedicated to achieving a zero carbon future in New Zealand. It aims to address the issue of climate change in New Zealand at a national level. We are already seeing the effects of climate change in New Zealand, with potentially irreversible damage to the natural systems on which we depend.  Glacier melting, together with warming oceans, has driven a rise in sea levels of around 14-22 cm at four main ports in New Zealand since 1916. From 1977 to 2016, it is estimated that

125 years ago, New Zealand passed the Electoral Act 1893 and thereby became the first self-governing nation to grant women the right to vote in parliamentary elections. This landmark legislation followed years of courageous and persistent effort, injecting suffrage campaigns worldwide with hope and momentum. Since then, women have held each of New Zealand’s key constitutional positions: Prime Minister, Governor-General, Speaker of the House, Attorney-General and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. The 2017 general election saw a record number of women elected to Parliament. Today, the idea that women should not vote is unthinkable. However, suffrage was merely a

By Nancy Chen The Crime of Aggression In the context of international law, “aggression” refers to state conduct that either initiates war directly or drives another state to war. The Crime of Aggression makes an individual liable for an act of aggression committed by a state. As such, state actors (e.g., political and military leaders) who order the invasion of a foreign country may be guilty of the Crime of Aggression under the Rome Statute and punishable at the International Criminal Court in the Hague. This is a direct result of the 2010 Kampala Amendment.[1] The Rome Statute entered into

By Katie Cammell Obesity is a growing policy problem in New Zealand. The New Zealand Health Survey 2016/17 found that around 32 per cent of adults were obese, and a further 34 per cent of adults were overweight but not obese [1]. Moreover, around 12 per cent of children were obese, and a further 21 per cent of children were overweight but not obese. According to the Ministry of Health: Although some people are more genetically susceptible to weight gain than others, the rapid increase in the prevalence of obesity in recent years has occurred too quickly to be explained by genetic

Making its debut in 2018,  the “Social Hackathon” is a 2-day challenge run by Social Innovation New Zealand and the University of Auckland Public Policy Club, taking place over the weekend of 11-12 August. The purpose of the competition is to provide a platform for students to gain experience in real-world problem solving and analysis, ultimately strengthening their understanding of the needs and challenges of industry. Click here for our Facebook event for the latest updates.   SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS The Social Hackathon problems will be based on five Sustainable Development Goals, with a different company aligned to each goal.

By Elzanne Bester Does New Zealand engage in contradictory policies when it comes to immigration policy and New Zealand’s stance on asylum seekers? New Zealand displays exemplary international adherence to international human rights law and exerts positive political rhetoric about refugee resettlement. However, at the same time, New Zealand also prepares for the potential storm of mass arrivals of asylum seekers by toughening immigration regulations authorising entry and eligibility for protected status. This article not only addresses the contradictory interrelationship between New Zealand’s protection and punishment policies around refugee and asylum seekers but seeks to understand the current policy around

By Nancy Chen The Government has finally decided on the future of New Zealand’s oldest prison, Waikeria, with Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis announcing yesterday that a small prison will replace the current facilities.[1] This comes on the back of problems and proposals surrounding Waikeria after a report detailing its deteriorating condition was released last year. Past governments have had different approaches to Waikeria, reflective of their overall attitude to prisons and sentencing in New Zealand. Whilst these policies have various merits and shortcomings, the problems that surround our current criminal justice system require more than increasing prison capacity. Short-term and

By Matt Fletcher With the formation of the new Labour-led Government, Auckland’s congested and unsustainable transport network may see new solutions to vastly improve the lives of Aucklanders, and enhance New Zealand’s status as one of the fastest growing economies in the world. This article will discuss the merits and drawbacks of the new Government’s infrastructure plans for transport in Auckland. The Current State of Transport in Auckland New Zealand’s largest city, due to its increasing economic power and prosperity, has seen a significant rise in residents over the past few years. Auckland’s population grew by 2.6% in 2017 alone

By Katie Cammell In 2017, the Green Party proposed a new policy which would see all students in New Zealand up to year ten required to learn te reo Māori [1]. This policy proposal sparked huge debate and controversy, with many people asking: why should we have compulsory te reo education? History of te reo in New Zealand schools Historically, the use of te reo within schools was systematically prohibited and devalued.  The Education Ordinance introduced by Sir George Grey in 1847 required all education to be carried out in English, with the aim of converting the primary language of

Semester One is coming to a close, and PPC knows no better way to celebrate than some friendly competition accompanied by a Shadow’s jug. That’s right – it’s pub quiz time. *** CATEGORIES *** We’re going back to basics with old school categories. Do you have movie trivia that none of your friends seem to appreciate? More general knowledge than knowledge relevant to your degree? Is pop culture your one true love in life? This is the event for you. We haven’t forgotten we’re supposed to be a politics club though – so expect some politics questions mixed in there

By Eilish Buckley In the wake of the 2017 election and the loss of the Māori Party from our Parliament, the relationship between Māori constituents and government processes has been called into question. With a new bill set to be debated before Parliament that seeks to entrench provisions relating to Māori electoral seats, our society is starting to question: what place do the Māori seats have in New Zealand today? What is the Māori Roll? The Māori roll is an electoral roll for New Zealand Māori and descendants of New Zealand Māori [1]. It is an optional roll, which means

The Public Policy Club is proud to present our 2018 Policy Brief Competition supported by the Public Policy Institute! This is a great opportunity to develop your policy brief making skills. You will be analysing a topical issue, synthesising information, evaluating competing viewpoints and making recommendations. Key details: Entry is free for all paid PPC members. Registrations open on Thursday 26 April. Submissions are due by Sunday 13 May. Not sure how to write a policy brief? We’ll be hosting a workshop on Tuesday 1 May at 5pm. For more detailed information and to register, visit the Facebook event here. And make sure

Applications CLOSE on Monday the 30th of April at 6pm   The Public Policy Club invites any students interested in working in the public sector to apply for our professional mentoring programme. Successful applicants will be mentored by professionals in the industry. This is a great opportunity to grow your professional network and gain insights into career paths in various industries from those with real experience! A launch event will be held on a night between the 7th and 11th of May, with three meetings throughout the year, and a closing function in October. To apply, follow the link –> https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1VbOHNP2L81POQmhWy4P-6JaghkhCztw-dlrF1_hFJq4/edit?ts=5ad718f7