Discussion papers

These publications present research findings to drive discussion and dialogue about the issues facing Aotearoa New Zealand.

Discussion Paper 2024/01 – Risks hiding in plain sight: Does a commitment under the Paris Agreement to purchase offshore carbon credits create a requirement to report that commitment in the financial statements of the New Zealand Government?

7 February 2024
Download (final draft, PDF, 4 MB)

Invitation to comment open until 23 March 2024

Final publication date: May 2024 (approximate)

Discussion Paper 2023/04 – Exploring the role of aquaculture in our marine space

December 2023
Download (final, updated 25 March 2024) (PDF, 9 MB)

Discussion Paper 2023/03 – National and International Comparisons of Codes of Conduct for Members of Parliament

June 2023
Download (PDF, 2 MB)

Discussion Paper 2023/02 – Establishing national climate-related reference scenarios

May 2023
Download (PDF, 1 MB)

Discussion Paper 2023/01 – BIG Ideas: Brief to the Incoming Government (B.I.G.)

Short Read
February 2023 (updated in April 2023)
Download (PDF, 3 MB)

Long Read (includes references)
April 2023
Download (PDF, 3 MB)

Discussion Paper 2022/03 – Nuclear War: Are we prepared?

December 2022
Download (PDF, 4 MB)

Discussion Paper 2022/02 – New Zealand King Salmon Case Study: A financial reporting perspective

March 2023
Download (PDF, 13 MB)

Comments are most welcome; please email us at enquiries@mcguinnessinstitute.org.

This discussion paper is supported by Working Paper 2022/10 – New Zealand King Salmon key documents 2012–2022.

Discussion Paper 2022/01 – Future for Local Government Workshop

May 2022
Download (PDF, 1.5 MB)

Discussion Paper 2021/04 – An Accounting Dilemma: Does a commitment to purchase offshore carbon credits create a requirement to disclose that obligation in the financial statements of the New Zealand Government?

November 2021
Download (draft) (PDF, 3.4 MB)

Discussion Paper 2021/03 – A COVID-19 Situational Report: Beyond Aotearoa New Zealand’s Fortress as at 1 September 2021

September 2021
Download (PDF, 564 KB)

Key discussion points from Discussion Paper 2021/03 – A COVID-19 Situational Report: Beyond Aotearoa New Zealand’s Fortress as at 1 September 2021 can be found in this slideshare.

Discussion paper 2021/02 - Need for speed: strategy mapping and adaptive management

August 2021
Download (PDF, 5 MB)

This is the first in a series of discussion papers being prepared by the Institute to consider solutions to policy knots that relate specifically to climate change.