New Zealand households are emitting 4.6 per cent less greenhouse gas than they used to. This is a fall of approximately one tonne of emissions for a two person household that spends $80,000 per year. That’s the equivalent of the emissions involved in driving from Picton to Bluff five times. Emissions from the consumption by...

This paper examines the relationship between firm multifactor productivity growth (mfp) and changing skill levels of labour in New Zealand, over the period 2001-12, using longitudinal data from Statistics New Zealand’s Longitudinal Business Database (LBD) and Integrated Data Infrastructure (IDI). We estimate that the average skill of workers declined by 1.8% over the period, reflecting...

Striking differences in economic outcomes exist within New Zealand for Māori relative to the non-Māori population. This paper analyses whether certain beliefs and values differ systematically between Māori and non-Māori, while recognising that there is not a uniform culture for either group. Many of the beliefs and values we examine have been linked to the...

This paper proposes a framework for how houses could be developed, with a focus on how regulatory policies and practices affect decision making. The authors surveyed property developers in Auckland on how planning rules and regulations affect the cost of 'affordable' housing. Almost 90% of the developers surveyed had been affected by delays or uncertainties...

The Canterbury earthquakes in September 2010 and February 2011 caused major upheaval to the people of the region. The second quake killed 185 people, forced many from their homes, and closed Christchurch’s central business district. This paper examines the consequential effects on business in the region, paying particular attention to heterogeneity in firm-level outcomes. Consistent...