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Think Big 2.0: The Provincial Growth Fund risks turning into a fiasco
By Alex Penk
This article was written by Alex Penk and Julian Wood, and first published on The Spinoff on 26 February, on…
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Media coverage of the launch of “A Risk Worth Taking” Policy Paper
By Alex Penk
On the morning of the release of our analysis of the Provincial Growth Fund, our report was featured on the…
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Making the Provincial Growth Fund a risk worth taking
By Julian Wood
The Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) represents a once in a generation opportunity to support a sustainable future for New Zealand’s…
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Regional Development Policy Paper | A Risk Worth Taking
By Julian Wood
One year into the $3B Provincial Growth Fund, Maxim Institute’s new research A Risk Worth Taking – Ensuring the Provincial…
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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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Planning to take the right risks for our regions
By Julian Wood
New Zealand’s Regional Development Minister Shane Jones has a problem. He has three billion dollars and three years to change…
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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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Funding roads in the electric future
By Julian Wood
In a recent blog, I made the case for regional petrol taxes, which would allow district and town authorities to…
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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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Get real about regional spending
By Julian Wood
If you put people in a room and ask them how to bring growth to New Zealand’s regions, someone will…
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Growing Beyond Growth | Rethinking the goals of regional development in New Zealand
By Julian Wood
New Zealand is already feeling the effects of an oncoming wave of economic and demographic change which should dramatically influence…
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The regional role of iwi
By Julian Wood
Bill English has made a splash in the last few days, both for his sheep shearing skills and his first-time…
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The locals matter too
By Jeremy Vargo
In the recent local body elections, a friend of mine ran for—and won—a seat on our local community board. This…
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