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 | Speak For Yourself: Balloting the House of Representatives on their Speaker 
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…
Blog | “New Zealand’s Moonshot”: The Road To Predator Free 2050
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…
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 | Multiple Sides to Every Story: Revamping the New Zealand History Curriculum
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…
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 | Firearm Protection Orders: A Silver Bullet for New Zealand’s Gun Violence?
By Maddison LewisGun 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…
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…
Blog | A Game Between the Haves and the Have-nots: A look into legal aid
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…
Trans-Tasman Bubble: A Bubble Worth Popping?
COVID-19 is one of the most defining issues in recent history. What seemed like a distant problem that propped up in Wuhan, China, in 2019, quickly transformed the world – locking down countries, economies, and borders.
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…
Blog | Road to Reconciliation: Theorizing Rwanda 1994 and Post-Conflict Resolution
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…
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: Adam of Princes Street Labour
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…
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: Jay of Young New Zealand First
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…
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 | The Dragon and the Kiwi: Where are NZ-China Relations headed?
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…
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…
Blog | The COVID-19 Economy: The Crisis and the Government’s Response
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…
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: Electing the Leaders of Our Healthcare System
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…
Blog | Local Election Watch 2019: Declining Voter Turnout – Causes and Solutions
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,…
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 | Local Election Watch 2019: The ABC’s of the Auckland Race
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…
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 | Saving Face – Social Media, Photos and Privacy Issues Facing New Zealand
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…
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 Policy Graveyard: Where Controversial Laws Come to Die
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.…
Blog | Climate Refugees: New Zealand’s New Humanitarian Obligations in the 21st Century.
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…
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…
Blog | The Labour Government’s Minimum Wage Ambitions: A Hindrance or Stimulus for Working-Class Incomes?
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…
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 | The Crime of Aggression: How to Stop a War (or at Least Make Politicians Think Twice)
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)…
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.…
Blog: “Why don’t they vote?” The myth of the apathetic non-voter
As the 2017 general election approaches with frightening speed, it’s time to start thinking about voting. Young people are often harassed in the media for their low turnout at the polls. Many are quick to call us lazy and apathetic when it comes to politics. While it may be said that some people truly do…
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: Why you should know about the Domestic Violence Victims Protection Bill
By Claudia Russell A bill is quietly in the works in New Zealand’s parliament, a bill which could help tackle one of our country’s biggest social problems. New Zealand has a shocking history with domestic violence. A third of partnered women report having experienced sexual and/or partner violence in their lifetime. On average police…
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…
PPC PRESENTS: BABY BACK BENCHES 2016
The University of Auckland Public Policy Club is excited to host our annual ‘BABY BACK BENCHES’! We will be hosting our 2017 Back Benches before the general election. Check out our Facebook page to stay up to date. This event emulates the Back Benches concept you can check out here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCBc_Da4HGc 2016 BACK BENCHES: 2016…
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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