Maxim Institute Podcast

In this episode of The Select Committee , we discuss New Zealand First’s proposal to remove voting rights for permanent residents, and whether tying the vote more closely to citizenship would give it greater meaning. We then turn to the proposed under-16 social media ban, asking whether a law intended to protect children can be enforced without sacrificing online privacy. Finally, we consider Chin...

In this episode of The Select Committee , we examine the Government’s emergency housing targets and ask whether an indicator of housing need has been mistaken for the problem itself. We discuss the inherent tension between reducing reliance on emergency housing and ensuring people are not left sleeping rough. We then turn to The Opportunity Party, weighing its centrist branding against a universal...

In this episode of The Select Committee , we examine the Greens’ proposed wealth tax and ask what lies behind their claim that the tax system is unfair. We then turn to National’s KiwiSaver announcement, weighing compulsory saving against concerns that making KiwiSaver mandatory and lifting contribution rates changes the scheme people signed up for. Finally, we consider ACT’s Regulated Professions...

In this episode of The Select Committee , we discuss a $31 million public sector scandal and ask whether it strays into the realm of corruption. We then turn to Labour’s disputed policy costings, election-year sparring over fiscal credibility, and whether an independent costing agency would clarify the debate. Finally, we discuss Matthew Hooton’s appointment as editor of The Post , and what it rev...

In this episode of The Select Committee , we look at China’s one-year ban on four New Zealand MPs after their visit to Taiwan, and ask how a small country like ours should respond. We then turn to Labour’s unofficial campaign launch, following its first policy announcement in more than six months. We also discuss the controversy around Labour candidate Rakesh Naidu and the party’s newly unveiled l...

In this episode of The Select Committee , we discuss US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth’s claim that New Zealand is freeloading on defence, and whether New Zealand should reopen the conversation about nuclear propulsion. We then turn to the Social Security (Modernisation) Amendment Bill and the broader powers it grants to use artificial intelligence tools in welfare decisions. We ask whether the pro...

In this episode of The Select Committee , we unpack Budget 2026 and ask whether an earlier surplus, tighter spending, and new defence funding help the Government look like a safe pair of hands heading into the election. We then turn to Mike Smith’s climate case against major emitters and the Government’s plan to respond with legislation, asking whether Parliament is protecting legal certainty or i...

In this episode of The Select Committee , we ask whether the Government’s proposed public service cuts are a serious attempt at fiscal discipline or simply campaign-season signalling. We then turn to the proposed social media ban for young people, weighing the good it seeks against the privacy risks, enforcement problems, and unintended consequences it may create. Finally, we consider Winston Pete...

In this episode of The Select Committee , we examine allegations of corruption in transport contracting and ask whether they reveal a deeper problem with institutional accountability. We then turn to superannuation, following National’s campaign pledge to raise the age of eligibility. Can New Zealand afford to keep the pension age at 65 in the face of mounting fiscal and demographic pressure? Fina...

Can a bipartisan bill meaningfully reduce instances of modern slavery? In this episode, we speak with MP Greg Fleming about his Modern Slavery Bill and the process of bringing it before the House. He outlines how the bill evolved from a narrow amendment into a broader attempt to address forced labour within global supply chains. The conversation explores how modern slavery is defined and its conne...

In this episode of The Select Committee , we discuss ACT’s new immigration policy and ask whether it’s shaping up to be a major issue at the election. We then turn to new marriage and divorce statistics, exploring what declining marriage rates reveal, the limits of public policy, and what governments can do to address these kinds of social challenges. Finally, we examine growing concerns about New...

In this episode of The Select Committee , we examine the government’s push to lift school attendance by prosecuting parents, and whether a more consistent approach will make a lasting difference. We then turn to the newly signed free trade agreement with India, asking who stands to benefit and what the deal signals for New Zealand’s economic future. Finally, we consider whether the National Party...

In this episode of  The Select Committee , we break down New Zealand First’s proposal to break up the supermarket duopoly and ask whether it would actually bring grocery prices down. We then turn to the Green Party’s “State of the Planet” address. With environmental issues now a crowded political space, can the Greens still stand out? Finally, we analyse the drama around Christopher Luxon’s leader...

Trust in New Zealand media remains low. According to the Edelman Trust Barometer, it’s our country’s least trusted institution. In this episode, we discuss how selective reporting, misleading headlines, and other journalistic sins have contributed to this verdict. We look at recent examples that help explain why, including headlines about fuel shortages and reporting on crime. If the media want to...

Should ease of access to euthanasia take precedence over medical practitioners’ conscience rights? Should care facilities such as hospices and rest homes be required to allow euthanasia on site—even if that conflicts with their founding ethos? In this episode, Ethos Alliance CEO Alex Penk discusses these questions with Maryanne Spurdle, Maxim’s Research Manager. As the End of Life Choice Amendment...

Everyone wants cheaper power, but they don’t always agree on how to get it. Executive Director Tim Wilson sits down with Researcher Thomas Scrimgeour to discuss the government’s $1 billion LNG terminal, which it says will reduce energy costs for consumers. They reflect on the quality of the public debate so far, from semantics over whether the funding mechanism constitutes a tax, a levy, or someth...

New Zealand’s housing debate is often framed as a contest between affordability and community. But the real story is more complicated. In this episode, Executive Director Tim Wilson is joined by Researcher Thomas Scrimgeour to unpack an apparent policy “U-turn” on housing intensification. They examine the rumoured changes and what they could mean for the future of housing. Along the way, the conve...

Nearly everyone might benefit from hospice services, whether for themselves or for loved ones, but access to specialist palliative care is still patchy and it’s only sustained by private fundraising. In this episode, Research Manager Maryanne Spurdle speaks with Hospice NZ Chief Executive Wayne Naylor about what hospices do, the challenges they face, and what would improve Kiwis' end-of-life c...

Can your money do good and make a return? In this episode, lawyer and community finance leader Steven Moe explains how organisations are using investment—not just donations—to fund projects that change lives. From community housing to employment pathways for ex-prisoners, Steven shows how impact investing is generating real outcomes across the country.  We explore the rapid growth of New Zealand’s...

As New Zealand expands its social investment approach, Social impact bonds (SIBs) are emerging as a promising tool for reform—one that could reshape how we support our most vulnerable while offering a new pathway for those who want to invest in real change. What are SIBs, why do they matter, and how can they move us from good intentions to measurable impact?   Maxim Institute Executive Director Ti...

In 2020, two-thirds of New Zealanders voted to legalise euthanasia on the basis of certain safeguards. Now, ACT MP Todd Stephenson’s amendment bill proposes to remove them, allowing euthanasia for people without a six-month prognosis, letting doctors offer it to patients, and requiring all care facilities to permit it on site. This is not what Kiwis voted for. Communications Officer Rebekah Bermin...

NCEA is being scrapped. What comes next could transform New Zealand schools. Education experts Dr Michael Johnston and Stephanie Martin unpack what went wrong, from fragmented learning and grade inflation to inconsistent grading and weak vocational pathways. They explore how a knowledge-rich curriculum might lift achievement and how schools can prepare young people for a future reshaped by AI—one...

What does it mean to die with dignity? And how does the legalisation of euthanasia shape the way we value life, suffering, and care? In this episode of the Maxim Institute Podcast, Research Manager Maryanne Spurdle speaks with Canadian writer and educator Amanda Achtman. A former political adviser, Amanda has worked on the front lines of Canada’s euthanasia debate and founded  Dying to Meet You ,...

Canada has become “the euthanasia capital of the world,” according to Amanda Achtman. Since legalising assisted death in 2016 and expanding access in 2021, what began as an exception with supposed safeguards has quickly become routine, now accounting for around 5% of Canadian deaths. In this episode, Research Manager Maryanne Spurdle speaks with Canadian writer and advocate Amanda Achtman about ho...

Distrust in New Zealand isn't just growing—it's curdling into grievance. Executive Director Tim Wilson unpacks alarming new data showing Kiwis now distrust every institution—government, media, even business—more than ever before. He asks whether there are times when distrust can actually be useful. Read⁠ the column on ⁠ Substack⁠ .