Replacing the RMA (Part 1): a new system, but the rules are still to come
In this episode, Dr Eric Crampton talks to Nick Clark and new senior fellow Paul Melville about the two new acts replacing the Resource Management Act and what the new system gets right, including standardised zoning and a new Urban Land Market Officer. They also weigh up how much has been left for ministers to decide later, and where the acts could still end up in court.
6 Oct 2026
Diesel, choke points and New Zealand's strategic blind spot
In this episode, Oliver talks to Major General John Howard about Russia's escalating pressure on NATO, the diesel squeeze working its way through global supply chains and why New Zealand's just-in-time fuel system leaves it exposed. They also discuss John's new paper with Dr Reuben Steff on how Cabinet gets its information, before turning to the NZDF personnel whose use of Strava exposed their locations while deployed overseas.
1 Oct 2026
A referee for the price of land
New Zealand has new planning laws. They passed in September and replace the Resource Management Act. Right at the end, Parliament added something no other country has: a land markets officer.
Think of the officer as a referee. Councils make rules about what can be built and where. If those rules leave too little land for homes, land gets scarce and prices climb. People then expect prices to keep going up, so buyers rush in before they miss out.
The officer will keep a close eye on land prices and check council plans. If a council's rules are pushing prices up, the officer can say so in public. The council must then fix its plan, and do it in good time. Councils still get to choose where new homes go.
In this episode, Eric Crampton and Benno Blaschke are joined by Chris Parker, Director at Principal Economics. They talk about the efforts to help shape the idea. They explain why the officer works a bit like the Reserve Bank, which tries to stop prices rising too fast. They tell the story of the debate in Parliament, when Minister Chris Bishop and Labour's Phil Twyford put party politics aside to make it happen. Then they look at the work still left to do.
Benno also shares why watching it made him proud to be a Kiwi.
Who has been a guest on The New Zealand Initiative
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Benno Blaschke
Stu Donovan
Darwyyn Deyo
Professor Ian Pace
Tom Mungham
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Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Spotify
4.6 / 5
25 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 59 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
82
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
90
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