Leilani Tamu Podcast

In November we launched our 2020 Summer issue of Flint & Steel, our annual magazine that this year explores the…

Foreign donations small fry compared to Govt spending

By Alex Penk

“Pecunia non olet,” or, for non-latin speakers: money doesn’t stink. It’s been a truism ever since the Roman Emperor Vespasian…

Government should not allow further overreach from Court

By Alex Penk

The Opposition just rolled out the usual tough-on-crime rhetoric disconnected from evidenced-based solutions, announcing that it’s “time to smash the…

Alex’s op-ed on End of Life Choice Bill referendum

Alex’s article highlights the decision that MPs will make on Wednesday about the referendum for End of Life Choice Bill….

Professor Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela Podcast

Earlier this year, we hosted Professor Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela for her first time in New Zealand to speak at our annual…

Naked politics blocks decent policy-making

By Alex Penk

There’s been a lot of cynicism about the Provincial Growth Fund, and last week Minister Shane Jones went a long…

MIC 11 | Hate speech vs free speech

Freedom, Responsibility and Public Debate We hosted David Hall, Senior Researcher at The Policy Observatory at AUT and an Associate…

Choices, consequences, and euthanasia

By Alex Penk

“You see, the reality is that for every choice, there is a consequence.” As the End of Life Choice Bill…

NZ Herald feature Alex’s column on rage and civility

Alex’s article was printed as guest editorial in the Bay of Plenty Times and the Rotorua Daily post on the…

Removing rage from our public debates

By Alex Penk

Rage against the machine. Stick it to the man. If you’re not for us, you’re against us. They’re familiar sayings,…

Black Caps offer leadership lessons even in loss

By Alex Penk

Big moments reveal who we really are, and they don’t come much bigger than a World Cup final, especially when you’ve lost in controversial circumstances.

Alex on Checkpoint RNZ speaking on the End Of Life Choice Bill

On June 27, Alex talked to Alex Perrottet on Checkpoint, RNZ about the results of the End of Life Choice Bill’s…

Alex on the Newshub Nation panel talking End of Life Choice Bill

By Alex Penk

On Saturday, 22 June, Alex appeared on the Newshub Nation panel to respond to the visit of Dr Stefanie Green,…

Referendums are not the pinnacle of democracy

By Alex Penk

If the most recent polls are right, the cannabis referendum won’t pass. Some will be pleased with this, others frustrated,…

Alex’s op-ed on the End of Life Choice Bill featured on the Spinoff

By Alex Penk

Alex Penk’s op-ed highlighting flaws of David Seymour’s End of Life Choice Bill featured on the Spinoff. Read the article: …

Government needs to give answers on “wellbeing”

By Alex Penk

This week the Government will unveil the first-ever Wellbeing Budget, somewhat breathlessly described by the New York Times as “New…

Creating poverty-busting opportunites that work for people with disabilities

By Alex Penk

by Alex Penk and Danielle van Dalen This week there’s been a lot of coverage about employment opportunities for people…

Dom Post feature Alex Penk’s op-ed on the End of Life Choice Bill

By Alex Penk

With the End of Life Choice Bill facing its second reading, Alex releases an op-ed printed by The Dominion Post…

MEDIA RELEASE | End of Life Choice Bill report highlights multitude of “concerns and contradictions”

By Alex Penk

Released today, the Justice Select Committee’s report does not recommend passing the End of Life Choice Bill. Instead, it highlights…

Hate-speech review risks being too hasty

By Alex Penk

The Justice Minister put the cart before the horse when he spoke about hate speech recently. In the shadow of…