Public-private ventures could fund protection schemes

Gareth MorganApril 9, 2012Economics, Environment

In a post financial crisis world where expanding indebtedness is no longer a ticket to prosperity and where the tax drag on private incomes already annoys large tracts of the population, pursuit of greater well-being via expanding government is no … Read More

“Million Dollar Mouse” pest busting campaign

Gareth MorganMarch 28, 2012Environment

“Million Dollar Mouse” pest busting campaign Wednesday, 28 March 2012, 8:12 pm Press Release: Dr Gareth Morgan Gareth Morgan announces “Million Dollar Mouse” pest busting campaign Fresh from his Our Far South expedition to Antarctica and the subantarctics, Gareth Morgan … Read More

Is the Ministry really that fat?

Gareth MorganMarch 27, 2012Economics, Fisheries Management

Cost cutting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has sparked debate. Is this tax dollar really better left in our pocket or does MFAT really offer a return on its spending? Offering a full cost benefit of something … Read More

Outrage at Foreign Fishing Fleet Hypocritical

Gareth MorganFebruary 21, 2012Fisheries Management

Some within the local fishing industry who own fishing vessels have been protesting loudly at the unfair competition that foreign fishing charter vessels pose. Of late, they have been joined by environmentalists, trade unionists and local human rights activists deeply … Read More

Capital Tax the Best Option for Economy

Gareth MorganJanuary 31, 2012Tax and Welfare

In its election campaign Labour promoted a capital gains tax. That at least recognises that we have a terrible hole in our tax base, and what results is a misallocation of capital to the detriment of the economy. Capital Tax … Read More

Changing Times in Frozen South

Gareth MorganJanuary 4, 2012Environment

The biology of our far south – the southern ocean, the sub-Antarctic islands, and that slice of Antarctica known as the Ross Protectorate – is changing. On our sub-Antarctic islands, populations of rockhopper penguins are down by 94 per cent, … Read More

High Risk Shift in Vital Chiller Ocean

Gareth MorganJanuary 3, 2012Environment

Yesterday, we looked at how the race for resources is heating up in the Antarctic. That’s not the only thing getting hotter. In our 2009 book Poles Apart, written with John McCrystal, we surveyed the evidence for global warming. The … Read More

Inequality will Lead us to a Grim Future

Gareth MorganDecember 31, 2011Tax and Welfare

Prime Minister John Key’s newly elected government should be bold enough to confront the message from a December 5 OECD report. It confirms rising inequality in developed economies is a major problem that needs addressing urgently – and yes, New … Read More

Fishing Quota needs to be Cast Wider

Gareth MorganDecember 20, 2011Fisheries Management

Two weeks ago in this column we described how New Zealand bravely confronted the tragedy of the commons that was destroying our $200-million-a-year (0.2 per cent of GDP) commercial fisheries. That came in the form of the quota management system … Read More

Political Party Health Policies Compared to Health Cheque

Gareth MorganNovember 24, 2011Health, Tax and Welfare

Gareth Morgan and Geoff Simmons, Authors of Health Cheque Prescription One: Managing Demand – reducing the demand for healthcare services by improving prevention, catching problems early and improving the information on the downsides of treatment. Investing in prevention is a … Read More