Alex Penk
About Alex Penk
CEO
Alex leads the work and mission of Maxim Institute, representing our work in public, and speaking and writing about public leadership - a topic he studied during his time as a Visiting Fellow at the McDonald Centre at Oxford University in Trinity Term 2016. His previous study includes a Master of Laws from Cambridge University and degrees in law and science from the University of Auckland.
Most Recent Activity
End of Life Choice Bill contains flaws that are impossible to fix
By Alex Penk
This column was published in Fairfax newspapers on Wednesday 20 June 2018 and on stuff.co.nz Parliament has started hearing submissions…
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When AI goes wrong
By Alex Penk
You may have heard that the robots are coming to take our jobs, thanks to artificial intelligence. But a…
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“Stay woke”
By Alex Penk
In a recent video, Barack Obama warned voters about “fake news,” telling us “to be more vigilant with what we…
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Time to take a risk for the regions – Newsroom column
By Alex Penk
To lay out an explanation for the recommendations in our Taking the Right Risks policy paper on regional development, Alex Penk…
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Alex Penk talks with Mike Hosking – Regional development policy paper
Upon the release of our regional development paper, Taking the Right Risks, Alex Penk was interviewed by Mike Hosking on…
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Alex Penk on The Project – Newshub
By Alex Penk
In response to the Government’s minimum wage rise, The Project featured an interview with Alex Penk as part of a…
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Why civility should be key in politics
By Alex Penk
Check out Alex’s latest column on stuff.co.nz, originally printed in The Press. When Bill English resigned from Parliament, he prompted…
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Alex Penk on Radio Live – Reducing child poverty
By Alex Penk
Ahead of the Government announcing its child poverty reduction law, CEO Alex Penk spoke with Mark Sainsbury to help define child…
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The too hard basket: Breaking the link between disability and poverty
By Danielle van Dalen
Less than half of New Zealanders with disabilities are in paid employment. New research from the Maxim Institute suggests employers…
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New Zealanders need to inspect details of End of Life Choice Bill
By Alex Penk
MEDIA RELEASE: Thursday, 14 December 2017 With the End of Life Choice Bill now voted through to Select Committee stage,…
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Three strikes, out
By Alex Penk
The “Three Strikes” legislation is going to be struck out. The new Government has promised to repeal the law in…
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Read our column on The Spinoff and RNZ
By Alex Penk
This week, Alex Penk and Julian Wood’s column Triumph or disaster? A guide to the minimum wage increase featured on The…
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$1B regional development fund needs coherent vision
By Alex Penk
Maxim Institute welcomes investment in New Zealand’s regions, but CEO Alex Penk cautions that we urgently need more detail on…
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Dodging the lolly-scramble for power
By Alex Penk
As a kid, there was one word that always got your heart racing and your legs pumping at a community…
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Press column: The price of a ticket on the Universal Basic Income train
By Alex Penk
Read Alex and Julian’s column, published in the Christchurch Press: The price of a ticket on the Universal Basic Income…
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Press column: Why populist politicians favour the dangerous appeal of referendums
By Alex Penk
Read Alex’s latest column in the Christchurch Press: Why populist politicians favour the dangerous appeal of referendums “In the vast…
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The dangerous appeal of binding referendums
By Alex Penk
“Actually, when you drill into it, there are some big reasons to think twice before embracing binding referendums.” Click here…
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Honouring Sir John Graham
By Alex Penk
“We join many in New Zealand in remembering and honouring the life of Sir John Graham,” says Maxim Institute CEO,…
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Big questions for local councils
By Alex Penk
Do you expect your council to light your streets and fix the potholes? Do you think it should provide clean…
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Urban/rural split could lead to political polarisation
By Alex Penk
Alex’s latest op-ed features in The Christchurch Press, where he discusses the political and social risks of growing demographic rifts between…
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