Articles

Enjoy the articles written by our Content Team. If you have any questions or feedback, please email us at ppccontentteam@gmail.com

Blog | Meet Your Mayor: Efeso Collins

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…

Blog | Meet Your Mayor: Craig Lord

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…

Blog | Meet Your Mayor: Viv Beck

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…

Blog | Three Waters Reforms: The Solution to Our Water Woes?

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…

Blog | Proposed Changes to Oranga Tamariki – Ministry for Children 

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…

Blog | Māori Health Authority: Bureaucracy?

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…

Blog | Search and Surveillance; the price of safety?

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…

Blog | Attorney-General, David Parker, rejects Rotorua District Council Representative Arrangements Bill

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…

Blog | Everything You Need to Know About Auckland Light Rail

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…

Blog | The Black Gold: A Look Into New Zealand’s Fuel Resilience Among Shifting Global Winds. 

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…

Blog | Do Planning Reforms Spell An End to the Housing Crisis?

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…

Blog | Government Seeks to Repeal Three Strikes Law

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…

Blog | Inflation in Aotearoa: The Facts, The Roots, and Policy Responses.

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…

Understanding the Public Sector Wage Freeze

By Cole Reyno On 4 May, the Labour Government announced a three-year extension to the public sector pay freeze. This freezes the wages of public sector workers earning over $100,000 per year, and most earning over $60,000 per year except in “exceptional circumstances”.[1] This policy will largely impact those workers described as Labour’s traditional voter…

Shift in Foreign Policy: New Zealand, Five Eyes, China and the Uyghur:

By Sara Khatau New Zealand, though a small country, has gained a big reputation for being a moral superpower. In the aftermath of the March 15th terror attacks, the world celebrated New Zealand’s strong rejection of Islamophobia. New Zealand recently signalled a desire to assert its brand of value-based politics at the Christchurch call. However,…

Blog | Experts on Housing Policy Reform

On March 23rd the Government announced a package of policies designed to improve housing affordability and slow down the rapidly increasing price of property. We’re here to break that down and see what the experts think. What is the government actually trying to accomplish? We need to firstly define what the government sees as the…

DELEGATE APPLICATIONS FOR 2021 ARE NOW OPEN!!

APPLY TO BE A DELEGATE HERE The Public Policy Club has some amazing initiatives planned for 2021, and we’d love to give our wonderful members the opportunity to be involved! There are THREE distinct roles that you can apply for: a High Schools Coordinator, a Content Creator, or a Competitions/Event Coordinator High Schools Coordinator Tertiary Coordinator…

Meet the PPC Executive for 2021!

CO-PRESIDENTS Hi everyone! My name is Heejoo and I’m a fourth-year Law and Arts student, majoring in Politics and Sociology. I joined PPC because I believe in the power of youth engagement in politics. I am especially passionate about women’s rights and fair criminal procedure. In my spare time I like listening to music, going…

Blog | Leaving 2020 Without an EU-NZ Free Trade Agreement in Sight

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…

Apply to be in the Public Policy Club Exec for 2021!

The Public Policy is opening Executive Committee positions for 2021! We are looking for passionate and self-led students to be a part of our team. 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…

Blog | Nothing To Lose: Lessons from Portugal’s Drug Policy Reform

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…

Blog | Governing In Times Of Crisis: Poll Booster?

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…

Blog | Green Doctors: How Medical Marijuana is Progressing in New Zealand

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…

Blog | The New Party on the Block: Who are the Sustainability party?

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…

Blog | Baby Back Benches: Aryana from Young National

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…

Blog | Bants with the Baby Back Benches: Artie of TOP on Campus

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…

Blog | Bants with the Baby Back Benches: Felix of Young ACT

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…

Blog | Bants with the Baby Back Benches: Natalie of Greens on Campus

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…

Blog | The Struggle for Change: Is it Time?

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…

Blog |Left Behind: The Story of New Zealand’s Gig Workers

By Avinash Govind Left Behind: The Story of New Zealand’s Gig Workers Earlier this year, amid the unveiling of the government’s COVID-19 economic response packages, many individuals in a small but growing section of our workforce were left without the ability to access the wage subsidy scheme. While the government programs were designed to ease…

Blog |Evidence-based Policymaking, A Double-edged Sword?

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…

Blog | The New Health and Wellness Commission

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…

2020 Delegate Applications Now Open!

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:…

Apply to be in the Public Policy Club Exec for 2020!

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…

Blog | Local Election Watch 2019: The Role of Mayor

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…

Blog | Local Election Watch 2019: Protecting the Natural Environment

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…

Blog | Auckland’s Economists on New Zealand: Policy Problems, Solutions, and Misconceptions

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,…

Blog | Wellbeing Budget 2019: The Five Priorities

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…

Blog | Three Environmental Policies to Watch

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…

Blog | The End of Life Choice Bill and Euthanasia

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…

Blog | The Implications of Artificial Intelligence in Public Policy

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…

Blog | The Speech Coin: Freedom v Hate

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…

Blog | Elder Abuse is Left in the Grey

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…

Blog | The One Billion Trees Programme: Demystified

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…

2019 Delegate Applications Open

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…

Applications for PPC 2019 Executive Committee

The Public Policy is opening Executive Committee positions for 2019! We are looking for passionate and self-led students to be a part of our team. 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…

Blog | New Zealand and the Expanding Global War on Drugs

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…

Blog | The Waka-Jumping Bill and the Revival of Unsettled Parliamentary Divisions

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…

Suffrage 125: Reflections, and Looking to the Future

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.…

Blog | University Fees: Do We Have a Problem?

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…

Blog | Action on Climate Change: The Zero Carbon Bill

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…

Suffrage 125: Dame Jenny Shipley and Helen Clark

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…

Blog | Should We Introduce a Sugar Tax in New Zealand?

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…

SINZ and PPC Present: Fix the Future – A Social Hackathon

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,…

Blog | Protection or Punishment? New Zealand Asylum and Refugee Policies Under the Spotlight

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…

Blog | The Growing Problem of Prisons in New Zealand

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.…

Blog | Transport in Auckland: Prospects Under the New Government

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…

Blog | Universal Te Reo Māori Education

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…

The PPC Pub Quiz 2018

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…

Blog | The Future of Māori Seats in New Zealand

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…

Policy Brief Competition 2018

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.…

Mentoring Programme 2018

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…

Blog | End of Life Choice Bill: An Open Conversation – ANALYSED

By Harshaa Prasad The Public Policy Club was thrilled to host David Seymour (MP) and Dr Jane Silloway Smith last Friday for a debate on Seymour’s End of Life Choice Bill (click to read). If passed, the Act will legalise euthanasia for those who meet its requirements, thereby overturning legislation — namely the Crimes Act…

Apply to be a PPC Team Member for 2018

NOTE: Applications have now CLOSED.   Can’t get enough of PPC? Join the team! Apply now to be a team member for 2018 – applications are open until the 26th of March. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdSQnidgtXPavMDFyjwStsOg8s5GtZXPwMEaCvX895MqEmksQ/viewform The roles available are: – Competitions (3 positions) – Professional Development (1-2 positions) – Civics Engagement (4 positions) – Graphics (3 positions) -…

The End of Life Choice Bill: An Open Conversation

The UoA Public Policy Club is hosting a balanced and open discussion to cover the various arguments relating to the The End of Life Choice Bill. The event will feature David Seymour, the MP who prepared the bill, and Jane Silloway Smith, director of Every Life. The bill passed its first reading in December last…

PPC Political Forum

The PPC Civics team is piloting a new initiative this year – the political forum! Come along every second Tuesday to discuss a variety of political ideas. You can find the next available opportunity on our Facebook page under ‘events’.   We’ll provide the pizza and the topic, then you’re free to discuss as you wish.…

Applications for the PPC Executive 2018

The Public Policy Club is looking for self-led change makers to be part of our Executive Committee in 2018. Our goal is to inspire and empower exec members to achieve the change they want to see. We want people with passion, a strong work ethic and confidence to get things done. You must have the…

Policy Pizza Party

As part of our ongoing election initiatives, we hosted a PPC Policy Pizza Party on the Monday before the general election. Starting from 12 pm on the 18th of September, students came along to i-Space, ate some pizza, and read some policy. The policy sheets were A5 page prints of The Spinoff’s policy tools. Early voting…

PPC Speaker Series: Water

Following an interesting an informative event on Auckland Transport in Semester One, the Public Policy Club hosted a second Speaker Series in Semester Two. The topic for the evening was New Zealand’s water policy: “we’re proud of our environment, our “100% pure” image, and fresh water matters to us. But conversations on the topic can be…

Application for 2018 Co-President Positions

We are looking for two Co-Presidents to lead the PPC team in 2018. The process of application is as follows: Administer your interest  here.  Applications close on the 6th of October at 11 am.   You will need to attend a meeting with the incumbent Co-Presidents to discuss the role. This is a quick, informal chat to…

Blog: Youth Justice – where do the bigger parties stand?

Youth justice has become a large issue this election – with each party taking a different stance on how best to rectify the problem. The four largest parties each view the problem and its solutions differently.    Who do you side with? National plan to focus on young people who commit serious offences by introducing a Young Serious…

NZ Politicians Read Mean Tweets

This election has had its twists and turns, but one thing remains constant – people trolling politicians on twitter. The PPC is delighted to present ‘NZ Politicians Read Mean Tweets’: a showcase of some of the best (and worst) tweets about your favourite politicians, read by the politicians themselves. We love the enthusiasm, but remember,…

PPC High School Civics Programme 2017

In 2017, our civics team visited the year 13 cohorts of Aorere College and Onehunga High School to about the importance of voting. A team of two PPC leaders and five PPC delegates hosted workshops that inspired, empowered and educated the first time voters on the importance of voting and how important their voices are.…

PPC PRESENTS: Baby Back Benches 2017

It’s that time of year again! Get your squad together for a night of beer, banter and baiting at PPC’s annual ‘Baby Back Benches’! Being #woke about what each political party is bringing to the table this election has never been so important, and PPC, along with each major party’s youth wing, have you covered.…

Policy Pop-Ups!

In 2017, we set up “Policy Pop-Ups” all around campus in the lead up to the election. Each ‘Pop-Up’ covered a key issue young people care about and had fun, informational activities and documents to help students engage with the issues. Thanks to the fantastic sponsors of our election initiatives, Spark​ and ANZ​, there were loads of…

Mentorship Programme 2019

The PPC Mentorship Programme is targeted at a hand-selected group of students with a curiosity and drive to develop a career in the public sector. Our mentors provide guidance in terms of career advice, and insight into the industry based on their expertise. Students are connected with a mentor in a field of expertise relevant…

Policy Brief Competition 2017 Winners!

Congratulations to Tim Hu (pictured), the winner of our Policy Brief Competition for 2017! Tim also won a commendations award for superior use of language.   Congratulations also to Elisha Chye for winning the commendations awards for effective use of graphics and for creativity. Thank you to our fantastic judge, Dr Tim Tenbensel and to…

PPC Speaker Series 1: Auckland Transport

The University of Auckland Public Policy Club is excited to present their Speaker Series on Auckland Transport in association with Russell McVeagh and MartinJenkins Auckland Transport is primarily responsible for delivering a transport system that best meets the needs of Aucklanders, but there is no doubt that the unprecedented growth of the City has been…

Blog: The 2017 Budget – A Snapshot

  What’s happening?  The Family Incomes Package The Family Incomes Package comprises the accommodation benefit and supplement, tax credits, and changes to two of the income tax thresholds. This ‘package’ is said to benefit 1,340,000 families in New Zealand by, on average, $26 per week from 1 April 2018. Around 750,000 superannuitants and around 41,000 students will also…

Blog: Immigration policy and the future workforce of New Zealand

By Jenny Lincoln   This article is not intended to be an exhaustive analysis of all types of immigration and the current and proposed policies surrounding them. It focuses largely on policy surrounding skills based immigration. Net migration came close to 72,000 people in 2016. That’s an increase of roughly 13,700 people from the year ending…

Blog: The Party Politics of New Zealand’s Abortion Law

Abortion law is a controversial topic; one many politicians shy away from for fear of alienating their constituents. But the majority of New Zealanders are pro-choice. Amid growing calls for reform, doctors have identified several issues with the practical application of a 40-year-old law. This article will not examine the pro-life vs pro-choice debate, but…

Blog: Crisis Point – The Future of New Zealand’s Journalism

By Jasper Lau  Although a complex and challenging topic to cover in one article, the state of New Zealand’s media and overall journalism remains a shadow topic that is hardly talked about by our politicians. That is perhaps understandable, given the press has commonly been denoted as the ‘fourth-estate’ whose job is to inform the…

Blog: Syrian airstrikes, future New Zealand involvement?

On the 6th April, President Trump launched a missile attack against the Assad regime in Syria. This strike is the US Government’s first direct military involvement in the region, which has been caught in the throes of a vicious civil war for six years. It could be interpreted by the Syrian Government as an act…

Blog: Auckland Transport Woes, Policy Solutions

Over the next 30 years, Auckland’s population is expected to increase by more than 700,000 people. Local roads are already pushing the upper limit on how many cars they can hold without reaching a complete gridlock. Auckland’s transport woes have been a hot topic of debate between New Zealand’s major political parties. This article will…

Policy Brief Competition 2017

The PPC Policy Brief Competition Want to develop your policy brief making skills? Learning these skills will help you to read, analyse, and condense large amounts of information and present it in an effective and engaging way – a skill you can apply in many different fields of work. There are also a number of awards up for grabs…

Applications for the PPC 2017 Exec

As the year is coming to an end, we are ready to recruit executive committee members for 2017. Being a part of the exec is a fantastic opportunity to get involved on campus, improve your CV, learn vital leadership and teamwork skills, and contribute to politics without aligning yourself with a political party. To apply for…

Blog: Milo with the Mayors

              This post covers covers the discussion that occurred at the University of Auckland Milo with the Mayors event on Wednesday the 17th of August. The proportion of speaking time allocated to each candidate, and the questions asked were completely out of the Public Policy Club’s control and none…

PPC Policy Brief Competition 2016

The PPC Policy Brief Competition This is your chance to develop your policy brief making skills. Practicing these skills will  help you to read, analyse, and condense large amounts of information. It will also help you present information in an effective and engaging way – a skill you can apply in many different fields of…

Blog: Tobacco Tax Increases by 10%

In the 2016 budget, the government increased the tobacco tax by 10%, rejecting the Ministry of Health’s proposal for a 12.5% increase in tobacco tax. The Ministry wanted an immediate Budget night increase followed by a further four annual increases of 12.5% from January next year. However, the government rejected both these proposals and opted…

Blog: Labour’s Birthday Housing Policies

In the past week, the Labour Party has announced a number of housing policies that have been both applauded and criticized. Check out our breakdown of the two main policies below. With concerns for inequality, representation and social fairness continuing to grow—public frustration having been demonstrated recently in the surging support for Labour parties in…

Re-Orientation Week

We are incredibly excited to host our very first orientation week from the 18th-22nd of July! Visit our PPC stall at the city campus recreation centre to sign up for our club and to participate in all the great opportunities we have created to celebrate our birth. Signing up is a breeze, and will only…

We’re Recruiting!

  – APPLICATIONS FOR EXEC POSITIONS FOR 2016 HAVE NOW CLOSED –   If you care about politics and want to do something meaningful, apply for the UoA Public Policy Club executive committee by the 1st of June 2016. Not only will you develop vital life skills and deepen to your political knowledge, your CV…

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