We are a non-partisan think tank applying hindsight, insight and foresight to explore major challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand over the long term. 

We are delighted to publish the 2024 GDS Index Handbook, which is part of the fifth update to our ongoing GDS Index project.

This project illustrates how New Zealand might strengthen government department strategies (GDSs) to be more effective, responsive, measurable, aligned, comparable, and durable through public consultation, engagement, and ownership.

The GDS Index is important because if government departments make the content of GDSs more transparent, Ministers, officials, and the wider public will be better able to assess their quality and, where appropriate, work together to deliver better outcomes more cost-effectively.

Better visibility and stewardship of GDSs would not only deliver an integrated and aligned approach to government activity but would also reduce the risk of strategies working against each other. Further, it is all too easy to initiate a strategy and then quietly let it be replaced or lost into history without lessons being learned. Hence, it is critically important to monitor active GDSs to the end of their useful life.

Also within the series are two Working Papers:
– Working Paper 2025/01 – Methodology for the 2024 Government Department Strategies Index
– Working Paper 2025/02 – Analysis of Climate Change in Government Department Strategies as at 31 December 2024

2024 Government Department Strategies Index Handbook

Think Piece 42 – In Defence of the Planet

March 2025
See Think Pieces to view and download

Think Piece 42 explores several topics that may seem disconnected, but are not. These topics are: land wars over territory, mineral wars, tariff wars, climate change, and the leaders of the four most powerful countries on the planet. The topics are looked at individually, before exploring the interconnections and their implications.

To accompany Think Piece 42, the Institute has updated our graphs of Exports and Imports by Country and Exports and Imports by Commodities to show data up to 2024. See all Exports and Imports graphs.

Working Paper 2025/12 – Research on New Zealand Exports, Imports and Crown Receipts and Expenditure since 1899

April 2025
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While this can be read as a standalone paper, it is intended to support and complement the Institute’s YouTube videos on the subject. The research is designed to show how New Zealand’s exports, imports, Crown receipts and expenditure have changed since 1899. Understanding the past helps us identify trends over time and prepare better for the future.

NZ Exports by Country (June 1896–2024)

NZ Imports by Country (June 1896–2024)

NZ Crown Receipts (June 1899–2024)

Addendum to Discussion Paper 2024/01

This addendum explains what is new in terms of the recently published (10 October 2024) Financial Statements of the Government of New Zealand for the Year Ended 30 June 2024 (the 2024 Financial Statements) and other recent developments, including a discussion with Minister Watts at the Climate Change and Business conference.

It builds on our June 2024 Discussion Paper 2024/01 – Risks hiding in plain sight

October 2024
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Discussion Paper 2024/01 – Risks hiding in plain sight

This is a technical accounting paper that explores whether a commitment by the New Zealand Government to purchase offshore carbon credits to offset emissions should be reported in the financial statements of the New Zealand Government (the overarching accounting problem). It applies current accounting standards to the issue and concludes that a commitment should be recognised as a liability and/or contingent liability in the financial statements of the Government of New Zealand.

June 2024
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See the press release.