Research Projects
ReportingNZ
Ensuring reporting frameworks are fit for purpose
ReportingNZ is a research project that aims to contribute to discussions on ways to provide data, information and knowledge in a timely, useful and accurate manner.
The project aims to improve the quality of reporting. Reporting is essential for transparency, accountability and performance. ReportingNZ includes research which analyses current methods of reporting, working to understand what falls through the gaps and how we can develop robust frameworks for the future.
Research for ReportingNZ includes all different kinds of reporting, with a focus on how climate reporting can help guide stronger decision-making and better public policy. Improving climate reporting is one area of the Institute’s work that has already helped inform change in New Zealand and overseas. The Institute also has a specific focus on improving New Zealand’s accounting frameworks to reflect our changing world. Improved reporting results in better information, which the Institute believes will allow New Zealand to learn from the past, monitor the present and prepare for the future.
Interconnecting research projects
The ForesightNZ, StrategyNZ and ReportingNZ projects are all interlinked. Foresight shapes strategy; strategy requires reporting; and reporting creates foresight.
More detail
Research on New Zealand Exports, Imports and Crown Receipts and Expenditure since 1899 (2025)
This series of work illustrates the evolution of New Zealand over the past 125 years, showing changes in exports and imports by country and commodity, as well as changes in Crown expenditures and receipts. The results can be seen in Working Paper 2025/12 – Research on New Zealand Exports, Imports and Crown Receipts and Expenditure since 1899 (April 2025) and the final animations can be found on the Institute’s YouTube.
Project 2058 reports (ongoing)
Project 2058 is the Institute’s flagship project and is used to focus our work on Aotearoa New Zealand’s long-term future to the year 2058. The year 2058 was selected back in 2008 as a year distant enough in the future to avoid self-interest but near enough to focus the Institute’s work programme. Since then, we have focused on a variety of issues that present obstacles and opportunities for sustainable development in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Past work
Working Paper 2024/11 – Illustration of the Government’s Financial Reporting System (2024)
The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the system of financial reporting of the Government of New Zealand. It provides detailed background for Discussion Paper 2024/01 – Risks hiding in plain sight: Does a commitment under the Paris Agreement to purchase offshore carbon credits create arequirement to report that commitment in the financial statements of the New Zealand Government?