Why Covid-19 calls us back to “communities of memory”

By Rowan Light

As we try to make sense of the pandemic, it’s been interesting seeing people turn to stories. The 2011 film…

Looking beyond our bubbles

By Kieran Madden

We are in extraordinary times, calling rightly for extraordinary measures. Although our vision of the future is obscured by the…

The little things that can change us

By Alex Penk

Last weekend, my daughter was shrieking in my ear with a mixture of delight and fear as we skimmed across…

Convenience culture needs to die

By Guest Author

About two years ago, I made the decision to refuse takeaway coffee cups. As part of reducing the unnecessary waste…

Generational perspective necessary to do policy well

By Kieran Madden

Our view of human nature makes a big difference on which policies we devise and support. “If men were angels,…

“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…

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…

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…

Kieran Madden on Radio New Zealand

By Kieran Madden

Kieran Madden recently joined Radio New Zealand to discuss the issues of poverty. He argues that the Labour Government must stick…

We deserve the whole story on euthanasia laws

By Danielle van Dalen

Like New Zealand, some of our neighbours across the ditch have recently been debating whether to legalise euthanasia and assisted…

Cigarettes becoming too hot to handle for dairies

By Julian Wood

Cigarettes, while not worth their weight in gold, are now worth one and a half times their weight in silver,…

Investing in people, regardless of return

By Julian Wood

Like the proverbial frog in the slowly heating pot, many of us are blissfully unaware of the change currently going…

Poverty in New Zealand | The Heart of Poverty

By Kieran Madden

Research Series Every society tells a story about the good life, getting a fair go, or what it takes to live…

Welfare to work?

By Kieran Madden

Just where do people go when they move off a benefit? It’s a serious question that demands an answer. Why?…

Causation and income dynamics of people in disadvantage

By Kieran Madden

CAUSATION The surveys above asked the question, “What causes poverty?” But before we, as researchers and policy makers, can answer…

Stretching the potential of flexible work

By Danielle van Dalen

“All we really want is a little control – and to make that 6 o’clock yoga class once in a…

Beyond Profit | how the economy can be good for our society

It can’t be all about the money. If we gauge our national success solely on having a growing economy, we…

Talk is cheap

By Kieran Madden

Talk is cheap. This is particularly true at election time, where there is certainly no shortage of talk. There is…

“How many single mums stay single?” – and other things you find out from quality research

By Kieran Madden

On my 30th birthday, a dear friend gifted me a copy of A. A. Milne’s “Now We Are Six.” The…

A tale of two poverty discussions

By Kieran Madden

Over the past few weeks much discussion has been occurring in both the US and here in New Zealand about…