Maxim Institute Podcast

Should MPs get a pay increase? Their base salary is already $163,961 per annum. Is their role like any other job, or something more? Communications Manager Jason Heale tackles these questions and wonders if a pay rise risks disconnecting MPs from the citizens they serve.

China's vehement denials and defensive stance regarding revelations of state-sponsored hacking present an interesting parallel to recent political rhetoric. Executive Director Tim Wilson says politicians need to cut the bluster and return to honest, substantive dialogue.

What happens when the moral values of government conflict with those of its citizens? Communications Coordinator Josiah Brown compares recent rainbow crossing vandalism to similar protest actions and asks whether pride crossings installed at public expense are consistent with New Zealand's secular principles. He reflects on the question of how we can uphold our values while respecting the views of others.

Former Finance Minister Grant Robertson’s time in politics has come to an end, prompting reflection on the previous government and their legacy as New Zealand faces the reality of debt, recession, and the need for spending cuts to public services. Researcher Maryanne Spurdle says the current government faces two choices: put national services on a strict diet or continue unsustainable spending that will burden future generations.

Researcher Thomas Scrimgeour explores the quest for political immortality through housing policies in New Zealand. From Labour's sweeping Medium Density Residential Standards (MDRS) to National's more council-focused, incentives-based approach, he examines the rival visions and strategies to create an enduring legacy.

New Zealand is among the majority of countries worldwide experiencing declining fertility rates. Marcus Roberts, Director of Research and Development, warns that urgent preparation is needed for impending economic and societal challenges and a future where funerals outnumber births.

The closure of Newshub is more than just the end of a familiar TV news platform. Communications Manager Jason Heale claims it is a wake-up call for all of us who value the essence of Kiwi identity.

Has the West lost sight of Africa? What price does the continent pay for Western “greening” and are we hypocritical to impose less-than-tenable environmental practices on a region that produces just four per cent of global emissions? Researcher Natasha Baulis reveals how these attitudes are playing out in a development project she’s working on with her husband.

Voter turnout in New Zealand's local government elections has declined in recent years, a surprising trend given the tangible impact councils have on citizens' daily lives. Communications Coordinator Josiah Brown says clarifying responsibilities and increasing accountability is key to rebuilding trust in local democracy.

Environmental issues require careful consideration as trade-offs are balanced against each other. Researcher Maryanne Spurdle suggests prioritising practical innovation over aspirational policies that divide and distract from conservation concerns.

Waitangi commemorations were not near cataclysmic as predicted by some; in fact, a degree of progress may have been made. Executive Director Tim Wilson characterises ongoing Treaty debates as an internal family dispute and offers hope that we will continue to find ways to resolve our differences.

The decision to send Six NZDF personnel to the Middle East to help with operations against the Houthis has prompted some to suggest the beginning of the end for NZ’s “independent foreign policy.” Director of Research Marcus Roberts reveals how this phrase obscures rather than clarifies our diplomatic stance and why clear thinking on foreign policy matters, particularly as the international rules-based order erodes.

With fraud and ethical failures among leaders, Communications Manager Jason Heale argues there is a character deficit in NZ. He says modelling personal responsibility and accountability in our own lives is key to the renewal of integrity in public service.

Language has profound power to shape thought, so what happens when words like “genocide” are employed in contexts that distort their meaning? Researcher Natasha Baulis reveals how language can be wielded to sanitise and justify the otherwise untenable, and why we should care how terms are (mis)used.

This episode is a recording from our Flint & Steel Vol. 10 launch event. Jisoo Kim, former Digital Media Advisor to Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison explains how algorithms and surveillance capitalism shape the online experience. Your phone is listening, the question is to what degree.

Winston Peters is back at it again, taking shots at the media by accusing them of accepting a $55 million bribe. Researcher Maryanne Spurdle underscores the critical role that perception and trust play in the survival of media outlets.

ACT’s policy to hold a referendum on the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi was undoubtedly one of the most contentious of the election. In this week's podcast, Marcus Roberts argues that referenda have intuitive appeal, but putting every issue to a public vote often only highlights the tension between majority and minority.

Words can have negative consequences, but is the solution more free speech or less? Communications Manager Jason Heale reveals the importance of free speech in light of Green MP Chlöe Swarbrick's use of a phrase found in Hamas' 2017 constitution.