Dr Oliver Hartwich

Executive Director, The New Zealand Initiative

Dr Oliver Hartwich is the Executive Director of The New Zealand Initiative, an independent public policy think tank based in Wellington. Born in Germany, Oliver holds a Master's in Business Administration and Economics as well as a Ph.D. in Law from the University of Bochum, Germany.

Before joining The New Zealand Initiative in 2012, Oliver worked as a Research Fellow at the Centre for Independent Studies in Sydney, Australia, and as the Chief Economist at Policy Exchange, a London-based think tank. He also held positions at the House of Lords in the UK Parliament and at the University of Bonn, Germany.

As the Executive Director of The New Zealand Initiative, Oliver leads a team that conducts research and provides commentary on various public policy issues, including economic policy, housing, education and local government. He is a frequent contributor to media discussions on these topics and has written numerous articles, reports and policy papers.

Oliver's expertise and research interests include housing affordability, the economics of cities, and international affairs. He has authored and co-authored several books and reports, including A Global Perspective on Localism, Why Europe Failed and Quiet Achievers: The New Zealand Path to Reform.

Under Oliver's leadership, The New Zealand Initiative has become an influential voice in the country's public policy debates, advocating for evidence-based policies and market-oriented solutions to New Zealand's challenges.

In addition to his role at The New Zealand Initiative, Oliver is a columnist with The Australian, with New Zealand magazine Newsroom and Australian magazine Quadrant.