Jeremy Vargo
About Jeremy Vargo
Heading up Maxim Institute’s communications, Jeremy enjoys connecting our work with a wide range of audiences, from media, to MPs, to members of the public. Alongside a Bachelor of Commerce from University of Canterbury, he brings years of experience in communications and community work.
Most Recent Activity
Make the change, don’t keep the change
By Jeremy Vargo
Quick question. If a checkout operator gives you too much money back in change, do you tell them and give…
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Does punishment prevent crime?
By Jeremy Vargo
Benjamin Franklin once wrote to a friend that “in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and…
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Labour’s courageous move on poverty
By Jeremy Vargo
Labour’s announcement last week of the Child Poverty Reduction Bill was almost instantly hailed by many as a huge step…
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What are you reading?
By Jeremy Vargo
As we approach the election season, I’ve noticed a distinct uptick in the number of messages I’m seeing from the…
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What’s dragging beneath Gareth Morgan’s new TOP sail?
By Jeremy Vargo
The story of last week was of course, John Key, and the end of his incredible run of political popularity….
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Life consistent with our identity
By Jeremy Vargo
I love a good public disagreement; lately there seems to be a perishing lack of the good kind. To me…
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Connecting communities with help
By Jeremy Vargo
Last week I had a fascinating conversation. I was talking with Lisa Woolley in her office at VisionWest: a large…
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Assisted dying rejected again
By Jeremy Vargo
This past Friday the UK’s House of Commons rejected a bill that would legalise assisted suicide; with 330 MP’s voting…
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Culture, not “choice”
By Jeremy Vargo
Today, across Western Australia there are 274 small communities in fear of losing power, water, and other essential services needed…
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On our behalf
By Jeremy Vargo
I sense a simple joy lightening the national mood. Since the Government’s u-turn on their previous u-turn—essentially promising they wouldn’t…
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Doing good and making money
By Jeremy Vargo
Earlier this year I had the pleasure of meeting a fascinating New Zealander by the name of Travis O’Keefe. I…
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Imagery vs. injury
By Jeremy Vargo
I spent this past weekend on a campsite outside Rotorua enjoying delicious food, sunshine, beautiful landscapes and great conversations. Best…
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Shading between the lines
By Jeremy Vargo
A fascinating video popped up last week. It showed actor and director Ben Affleck on a TV talk show, not discussing his…
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Choose, and choose wisely
By Jeremy Vargo
When I was 10 years old, I volunteered to distribute pamphlets for one of the electorate candidates in our area….
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What’s wrong with binding referendums?
By Jeremy Vargo
In July, Colin Craig stated that the introduction of binding citizen’s initiated referendums (BCIR) would be a bottom line for…
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What I didn’t know about ISIS and Iraq
By Jeremy Vargo
You’re probably aware that something is going on in Iraq. You might have heard things about something called ISIS, read…
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MMP refresher – the paths to power
By Jeremy Vargo
Last week, my friends got into a heated discussion regarding David Cunliffe’s statements about Internet Mana. Mr Cunliffe said he…
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“Coat-tailing” and other political oddities
By Jeremy Vargo
What is the deal with “coat-tailing” and all those other little idiosyncrasies of our nation’s MMP system we hear bandied…
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When research becomes news
By Jeremy Vargo
I don’t know about you, but last week my Facebook newsfeed was flooded with posts about a new study that…
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The story beyond Budget Day
By Jeremy Vargo
The news cycle for a new Budget is really quite short. The day it’s announced it’s all go, every news…
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