The blog of the Morgan Foundation

When Good Intentions Are Not Enough: Smart Investment in Families Needs to Look To a Thriving Future for All.

Jess Berentson-ShawMay 4, 2017Tax and Welfare4 Comments

As part of the pre budget announcements the Government has allocated $321million to a “social investment package” for vulnerable families and children. There are 14 initiatives in the package, and $69 million over four years, will be for “a national … Read More

How much poo would you feel safe to swim in?

Paul YoungMay 2, 2017Environment5 Comments

That might strike you as a strange question, but it’s a very real one at the heart of the debate on the Government’s proposed targets for swimmable rivers and lakes in its Clean Water 2017 package. The proposal has generated … Read More

5 Steps to Developing Evidenced-Based Immigration Policy

Jess Berentson-ShawApril 27, 2017Uncategorized1 Comment

In the clear absence of reasoned discussion about New Zealand’s immigration policy of late, racism has reared its ugly head (though it is debatable whether it ever went away). Triggering the basest nature of humanity, fear, or ignorance never makes … Read More

Do we need a climate law to bring the future into focus?

Paul YoungApril 20, 2017Environment1 Comment

Last week saw the launch of a bold new idea for climate change action: a law to get New Zealand to zero carbon by 2050 or sooner. Youth-led organisation Generation Zero has published a blueprint for a Zero Carbon Act, … Read More

Beware! Personal Data Grab for Funding is Based on Dreadful Policy Design

Jess Berentson-ShawApril 10, 2017Tax and Welfare2 Comments

The Privacy Commissioner is not mincing words on the issue of requiring social service providers to give citizens personal data to MSD in exchange for funding contracts. Words like “insufficient consideration to unintended consequences”, “Insufficient consideration of alternative means”, “Real … Read More

A Simple Two-Step Plan to Ensure the Oranga Tamariki Works for Children & Families

Jess Berentson-ShawApril 3, 2017Tax and Welfare2 Comments

Last week was the official reinvention of Children, Young Person and their Families Service (CYFS). With the creation of Oranga Tamariki (also poorly named the Ministry for Vulnerable Children) the Prime Minster has said the Government is ” strongly committed … Read More

Is New Zealand’s growth model stuffed?

Paul YoungMarch 28, 2017Economics, Environment, Uncategorized3 Comments

The international organisation that reports on the economic wellbeing of developed countries delivered us a stark message last week: “New Zealand’s growth model is approaching its environmental limits. Greenhouse gas emissions are increasing. Pollution of freshwater is increasing across a … Read More

Report shows paths to zero emissions in NZ

Paul YoungMarch 21, 2017Economics, Environment, Uncategorized2 Comments

Today sees the release of a groundbreaking report on how New Zealand can tackle climate change. Net Zero in New Zealand, by London-based consultants Vivid Economics, explores New Zealand’s potential to become a net zero emissions nation. (Wondering what the … Read More

Don’t Whack Them Mate. It Actually Makes Youth Crime Worse

Jess Berentson-ShawMarch 20, 2017Tax and Welfare2 Comments

The chair of the National Party’s Kaikohe branch, Alan Price, has advocated for physical punishment as a solution to some pretty grim stuff that Northland has to put up with. Northland is a low-income area in New Zealand. It has … Read More

Why climate change could have Aucklanders boiling their water

Paul YoungMarch 15, 2017Environment, UncategorizedLeave a Comment

If you asked most New Zealanders how they think climate change will affect them personally, my guess is not many would mention needing to boil their drinking water. But 1.5 million Aucklanders are currently on the cusp of a boil … Read More