Maxim Institute Podcast

Join us for the first in our new podcast series that explores the recent political news from all corners of the country. Gain a deep understanding of how these events may impact the upcoming election with our insightful analysis. Today, Executive Director Tim Wilson is joined by Director of Research and Development Marcus Roberts and Researcher Natasha Baulis.

A riveting discussion exploring the electoral power of data and the Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology landscape, featuring two experts in the field, Dr Paul Henderson and Dr Jonathan Cole.

In the column this week, Researcher Natasha Baulis explores the fallacious fish swimming in the news pond. She explores misleading appeals to authority and red herrings to equip us to consume responsibly and take control of our news diet. Natasha urges us to consider what “fish” is on our hook before we take it to the kitchen.

In today's fast-paced world, convenience often takes precedence over tradition and ceremony. However, this may result in us losing touch with our shared history and values, which form the foundation of our society. In this week's column, researcher Natasha Baulis emphasises the significance of ceremony and tradition, especially in light of the lacklustre response to the coronation of King Charles III. Natasha delves into the deeper meaning of the monarchy, not only as a symbol of power but also as the basis for our legally established government. She notes that many New Zealanders still uphold the monarchy and its role in our society despite calls for a republic. She reminds us that by embracing our shared history, we can promote a sense of unity and common purpose that transcends the fast-paced demands of modern life.

With talk about Aotearoa New Zealand signing up to pillar 2 of AUKUS, Maxim Institute researcher Natasha Baulis draws a fascinating analogy between Australia's "porcupine" defence strategy and our potential to be a “hedgehog.” With a weakened defence force and outdated military infrastructure, Baulis proposes "Plan Hedgehog" - maintaining interoperability with Australia through Pillar II of AUKUS while signalling diplomatic conciliation with China. This approach aims to balance technological advancement without moving towards nuclear capability, using subtle diplomacy to keep the quills ready for protection if needed.

Censorship or critical thinking? The battle for our online freedom rages on. In the Maxim Institute column this week, Communications Coordinator Sisilia Teu explores the Department of Internal Affairs proposed media regulator. Is it a noble pursuit of safety or a slippery slope towards government-controlled content? Sisilia explores the perils of excessive regulation and the alternative path to a resilient society. She argues the issue isn't just about protecting children but about safeguarding the essence of free speech.

In this week's column, Marcus Roberts, Director of Research and Development, sheds light on an important issue that has been the subject of much debate - prisoners' voting rights in Aotearoa New Zealand. Marcus takes us on a journey through history, exploring the evolution of prisoners' right to vote and the different opinions that have emerged over the years. He also discusses the latest recommendations from He Arotake Pōtitanga Motuhake - Independent Electoral Review. He draws on his own research paper, "Democracy Unlocked: How Should We Determine Our Electorate?" to delve into the question of whether voting should be viewed as a privilege or a fundamental right. Through his insightful analysis, Roberts encourages us to think critically about this complex issue and consider the implications of our decisions for the future of our democracy.

In the Maxim Institute Column this week, Researcher Maryanne Spurdle looks at our idea that the government can solve all our problems. She questions the optimism of wealthy Kiwis pleading for higher taxes, highlighting the diminishing returns of government spending in critical sectors. Instead, she urges us to support grassroots organisations already making an extraordinary impact. Maryanne shows how community initiatives can address affordable housing, food insecurity, and financial illiteracy issues. She explores the power of people-led solutions and why they surpass centralised services.

We shouldn't settle for elections as popularity contests. We have to move beyond surface-level likability and focus on what matters: effective governance, sound decision-making, and safeguarding our nation's interests. In the Maxim column this week, Jason Heale encourages us to take the focus off superficial traits and ask ourselves who is the most capable of representing us in Government before we get to the polling booth.

In this week's column Director of Research and Development, Marcus Roberts delves into the recent political defections in Aotearoa New Zealand. He suggests that personal conflicts and public reasons may not be the only factors at play. Marcus emphasises the importance of political parties adapting to their electorates' evolving needs and concerns. Ultimately, MPs must prioritise the needs of their constituents over personal grievances.

Is New Zealand's government running scared or just responding to events? Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has lit two policy bonfires in just two months, but is it a cynical ploy for re-election or a prudent response to challenges like inflation and natural disasters? In our weekly column, Senior Researcher Marcus Roberts weighs in on the debate, questioning whether dropping unpopular policies signifies representative democracy or a failure to lead. As the election approaches, the article raises important questions about the role of government in balancing public opinion and long-term goals.

TikTok has been banned in several countries over privacy and national security concerns. Foreign interference through the app is a genuine concern as we head into an election year. Aotearoa New Zealand must invest in local tech and educate the public on digital platform risks. In this week's column, Communications Coordinator Sisilia Teu talks about how banning TikTok on government devices could set a precedence for businesses and citizens. Let's protect our digital future.

Are Attendance Officers the solution to truancy rates hitting a decade-high? We're not convinced. In an election year, the government is allocating $74m to tackle the issue, but is it too little, too late? With chronic absenteeism on the rise, it's clear that more needs to be done. In the Maxim column this week, researcher ‘Alapasita Pomelile explores the facts and explains why we need a multifaceted policy approach to address the root causes of truancy.

Te Pūkenga's merger of 25 vocational education providers is causing a string of resignations; the question remains, is it working? In this week's column, Communications Manager Jason Heale highlights that some of the best-performing institutions are pushing back. Cutting access to vocational education could leave people with fewer paths to bettering themselves. Regional development should be amplified, not absorbed, and one size doesn't fit all. Let's implement what works and let successful institutions continue offering specialised education.

The latest trend in AI technology is making its way into classrooms and universities, causing concern among educators worldwide. This week Communications Coordinator, Sisilia Teu, probes the various responses, including fears of a decline in critical thinking, plagiarism, and problem-solving skills. She also looks at the positive embracing of AI by some institutions. She concludes that while AI may shape the future of education, human interaction must remain at the heart of learning.

New Zealand's politicians are focusing on "bread and butter" issues, but they're missing a crucial point—foreign policy and defence are becoming increasingly important in a dangerous world. In the Maxim Institute column this week, Senior Researcher Marcus Roberts explains how “great power” competition and conflict are increasing and how that affects New Zealand's ability to trade or even feed ourselves. The world is getting smaller and meaner, and our politicians must start recognising this.

In our inaugural column for 2023, Researcher Alapasita Pomelile maintains that we have a “crisis crisis.” ‘Ala argues that when everything is labelled as a crisis, it can hinder our ability to respond thoughtfully and efficiently. She states, "By avoiding the tendency to label every challenge as a crisis, we can create more opportunities for finding solutions."

Aotearoa—the land of the long white cloud. Home to over 5 million people. But there's trouble here—a housing crisis on multiple fronts. We're told that we don't have enough houses. We can't seem to build them fast enough. Why? On top of that, not enough people can buy their own homes to get their foot on the property ladder. We're crammed into cities with poor public transport and sub-par infrastructure. This latest Flint & Steel explores all these issues and more. We ask some necessary questions. How did we get to this place? How can people achieve their dream of home ownership and retain their sanity? How might we repair the construction industry? What about global supply chains? How does our desire for land and place need to be tempered? What's it like to be homeless? Can we, or should we, change our culture so that we don't desire so much space? In many ways, we're ultimately trying to answer the question: “What is home?” On the 6th of December, we held an amazing launch event for the magazine. We hosted author Josie Pagani whose article entitled “The Place We Call Home” is a wonderful exploration of what it means to have a home. She was in conversation with our executive director Tim Wilson and took questions from the audience. We hope that you enjoy this recording and get a sense of the great atmosphere in the room. We also hope that you'll head over to the website and grab yourself a copy of the latest edition of Flint & Steel: All roads lead to home.

On November 4th this year Maxim Institute, in partnership with the Free Speech Union, hosted international human-rights advocate and free speech expert Jacob Mchangama. Jacob is the founder of the Justitia institute, the Copenhagen-based human rights think-tank. Having written and narrated the podcast Clear and Present Danger: A History of Free Speech and authored Free Speech: A History from Socrates to Social Media, Jacob is a prominent and experienced figure in the free speech space. In this presentation, Jacob offers some historical context to our current free-speech climate, outlining some of the dangers he sees in limiting free speech and responding to questions from the audience. We are pleased to present this recording of the event to you; we hope that you will find it insightful, instructive, and challenging.

The Finnish education system is the envy of the world, yet only 9% of their boys are reading at the highest levels compared with 20% of their girls. In this Maxim Short Cut, we discuss these findings and more with Director of Research and Development Kieran Madden.

If anger is the cake of the internet, are we eating like we're at an all-you-can-eat buffet? In this Maxim Short Cut, we explore this question with Maxim Institute Executive Director Tim Wilson. Our outrage expresses our search for right and wrong, but how can we channel our anger into being constructive rather than destructive? Words that aren't swords and positive engagement are the antidote.

In this Maxim Short Cut, we talk to Researcher 'Alapasita Pomelile about the state of our society's soul as she looks at the results of the latest NCEA pilot programme. Perhaps it's time to have honest and uncomfortable conversations about the state of New Zealand education. It's time to review how we train our teachers and ensure our teaching programmes are driven by the Science of teaching and learning—rather than ideology.

In this Maxim Short Cut, we talk to Communications Manager Jason Heale about the concept of "safetyism". We all want to (rightly) be safe. We make trade-offs for this safety every day. Are we aware of what they are? Do we understand what these costs entail? Jason explores these questions and more in this Maxim Short Cut.

In this Maxim Short Cut, we talk to Senior Researcher Marcus Roberts about the low voter turnout at the recent local body elections and whether mandatory voting is a viable solution to such civic disengagement.

In this Maxim Short Cut, we talk to Communications Manager Jason Heale about the concept of 'character test' and what it looks like in our democratic society, after an unlikely candidate put his name forward for election to the school board at Te Arati College in Christchurch.

this Maxim Short Cut, we talk to Executive Director Tim Wilson about the new Data and Statistics Bill. He discusses the impacts of this new legislation on the independence of Statistics New Zealand and the public's trust in the government.

We've been through two difficult years dealing with COVID-19, and now we're seeing the economic effects. Interest rates are rising, and the housing market is volatile. The cost of living has soared, and many must choose which bills they do or don't pay. Inflation is at a 30-year high, and the stock market is in bear territory. Recession is predicted for the end of the year. How long might this uncertainty last? What impact do global trends have? How best can we navigate it? This podcast is a recording of our special event, “The new economic normal”, featuring Brad Olsen in conversation with our Executive Director Tim Wilson. At this event, Brad offers insight into where the economy is currently at, and where it might be going and takes questions from those attending.

In this Maxim Short Cut, we talk to Researcher 'Alapasita Teu about the latest back-to-school campaign from the Ministry of Education. She discusses our COVID fatigue and the slow decline of school attendance in Aotearoa New Zealand.

In this Maxim Short Cut, we talk to Communications Manager Jason Heale about our increased death rate. We explore what the cause might be and why we are so reluctant even to start a discussion on the topic.

In this Maxim Short Cut, we talk to Senior Researcher Marcus Roberts about a recent policy debate. Marcus outlines why it is so essential that the two "centrist" parties have debate and disagreement on policy. He outlines why discussion is good for democracy; take a listen.

In this Maxim Short Cut, we talk to Researcher 'Alapasita Teu about online regulation of Big Tech. We discuss how it forms us and why we need to think about the character of the people behind the technology we use every day.

In the first of a new series of weekly podcasts, Senior Researcher Marcus Roberts discusses why Roe v. Wade was in the NZ headlines. He discusses the idea of informal empire.

In June, we hosted Research Fellow Alex Penk and Maxim Institute Senior Researcher Marcus Roberts at the MIC 14 event | COVID and Our Constitution: How A Pandemic Affected Our Body Politic and Culture. This podcast is a recording of the event, including the audience Q+A, so sound quality isn't our usual standard. Alex and Marcus both make valuable contributions discussing New Zealand's COVID-19 response, how the response affected our constitution, and how our country has fractured. They also offer some hopeful ways forward. We hope you enjoy the listen as much as we enjoyed the event. Head to our website at www.maxim.org.nz/sign-up to register for event emails, so you don't miss out.

On today's episode, honouring those who have served our country, Executive Director Tim Wilson talks to Dr Rowan Light about his recently released book; Anzac Nations: The legacy of Gallipoli in New Zealand and Australia, 1965–2015, Rowan examines the myth-making around Anzac and how commemoration has evolved, he reflects on his own experience of ANZAC growing up, and of being at the Anzac Centenary in 2015, the offers some thoughts on how we might see changes in the future. We hope you enjoy this very special episode honouring the sacrifice of those who have served our country.

In this episode of the Maxim Institute Podcast we are joined by Maxim Researcher 'Ala Teu and Christians Against Poverty Social Policy Adviser Michael Ward. They discuss 'Ala's recently released paper and the issues it highlights in the credit and finance space in New Zealand. Along with examining the areas of buy-now-pay-later and debt collection, they also offer some hopeful solutions and wonderful stories that shine a light on how we might tackle NZ's debt problem.

We celebrate the launch of our latest volume of Flint & Steel by sitting down to have a conversation with one of the contributors—Josie Pagani. The discussion is wide-ranging, from BBC interviews to bungee jumping rites of passage to Duran Duran! Make sure you hop on over to the website and grab your copy of Flint & Steel today-flintandsteelmag.com. It makes for a great summer read.

In the fight against COVID-19, we have seen nations employ varying approaches that shed light on the role of the State, the individual, and communities in different societies. Some responses are agreeable, and others questionable. All, however, highlight the deeper complexities underpinning these relationships. American sociologist Robert Nisbet's The Quest for Community provides a framework for understanding the intricacies and tensions between central government, the rise of individualism, and the decline of community. In this podcast Communications Officer Jason Heale sits down with Researcher 'Ala Teu and Research Manager Kieran Madden to talk about what Nisbet has to say, and how it's particularly relevant for us today.

As much as we try to ignore it, death is inevitable. Unfortunately, with access to palliative care services limited, a good death is not. Maxim Institute has just released its new discussion paper—Ending Well – The Urgent Case for Accessible Palliative Care—arguing that access to this care must be made available now to brace for the coming tsunami of people in need. In this podcast Executive Director Tim Wilson sits down with Senior Researcher and author of the paper Danielle van Dalen, and palliative medicine specialist Professor Leeroy William. They discuss a wide range of issues from a good death, to ageing populations, and why the need for good palliative care is so urgent.

Whether it's Netflix recommendations or your phone suggesting how you might want to finish your sentences, AI or artificial intelligence is already deeply embedded in the way we live and get things done. But what might these benign digital improvements be learning about us, and what will this data end up being used for? How smart, and how powerful might machine intelligence get in the coming years? And what are the implications for the way we live and think of issues like privacy, security, and what it means to be a human being? Maxim Institute Senior Fellow Paul Henderson has been studying machine intelligence for six years and has just submitted his DPhil thesis on human and artificial intelligence, and moral reasoning. In our conversation, he'll outline some of the big developments that are happening in AI, and how they might come to affect the way we live in the next ten to fifteen years, and beyond. This is the first part of our conversation, which will be followed by additional podcasts on this subject in the coming months.

Author Alan Jacobs wants us to keep reading into the past. In his latest book "Breaking Bread with the Dead" he argues that we stand to gain far more than we lose if we continue to wrestle with great historic texts that may seem out of touch or even offensive to current tastes. For this podcast, Maxim Institute Executive Director Tim Wilson hosts a wide ranging conversation on Jacob's thesis with Research Manager Kieran Madden.

Last month we hosted Ven Dr Lyndon Drake and Maxim Institute Senior Researcher Julian Wood at the MIC 13 event | On debt, our COVID-19 recovery, and where to from here? This podcast is a recording of the event, including the audience Q+A, so sound quality isn't our usual standard. Julian and Lyndon both make valuable contributions arguing and discussing New Zealand's debt, government responses to COVID-19, the housing crisis, interest rates, and the K-shaped recovery. We hope you enjoy the listen as much as we enjoyed the event. Head to our website at www.maxim.org.nz/sign-up to register for event emails so you don't miss out.

For the Maxim Institute Book Club this month we have been reading Vivek Murthy's book on human connection, loneliness and how our health and wellbeing is intimately intertwined with community, love, belonging and purpose. We are joined by Maxim Institute Researchers Kieran Madden and Danielle van Dalen in this conversation diving deep into the books themes, responses and questions. Be sure to sign up for the Maxim Institute book club so you don't miss out on what we're studying next, email us at bookclub@maxim.org.nz.

Over the past few weeks, we've heard a lot of conversations that have included questions like: “What do you think about the vaccine? Do you reckon you’ll get it straight away? Doesn’t it seem like it’s come out way too quickly?” Our guest for this month’s podcast is Professor Graham Le Gros an immunologist who is the Programme Director for the Vaccine Alliance of Aotearoa New Zealand and Director of The Malaghan Institute of Medical Research. The Malaghan Institute has a long history in vaccine development, undertaking research and discovery across cancer, asthma/allergy, infectious diseases, gut health and brain health. We sat down over Zoom to talk all things vaccine: how long it actually takes to make a new one, what’s different about an RNA vaccine, and should we make it mandatory?

As our Education Researcher Rowan Light leaves Maxim Institute, we commissioned him for one last podcast to speak with Bronwyn Wood on the new policies around New Zealand History in schools, the education system and ideal learning spaces for our children. Dr Bronwyn Wood is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Education at Victoria University (of Wellington) and joins us from her office in Wellington. Happy listening.

“Civility is about the way we deal with our disagreements, not about the way we avoid them.” Back in 2017, just after the inauguration of President Trump, we invited Professor Jeremy Waldron to deliver our annual Sir John Graham Lecture. Professor Waldron delivered what he called “A letter from America” a description of the warning signs of political incivility as a cautionary tale to New Zealanders, indicating how hard it is to regain civility once you lose your grip on it. We hope you enjoy the listen.

November 2020 we released the latest Flint & Steel. Our an annual magazine contains a collection of feature essays, articles, photography and illustrations that revolve around a particular theme, this year on recovery, repair, and reconciliation. One of the feature articles this year by Shelly Neethling focused on foster care in New Zealand, child development and what can be done for kids from hard places. One of the primary interviewees for Shelly’s article is Ursula Elisara the CEO of Immerse, a non-profit foster care agency that trains and supports foster parents to use the evidence based Trust Based Relational Intervention model when providing a home for kids from hard places. This month Jeremy sat down with Ursula and talked about her life, the realities of foster care in New Zealand, and what it takes to repair trauma in the lives of children.

This month’s podcast is a recording of Maxim Institute's Executive Director Tim Wilson in conversation with Te Karere Scarborough at the launch of the seventh volume of the Flint & Steel magazine. The conversation talks about the themes of his article in this year's magazine, the growing numbers of people looking to learn te reo, they answer some surprising audience questions and discover why Te Karere decided to change his own name as an adult.

In the course of the last generation, mantras of excess have driven our culture of consumption. Bigger is better, greed is good, too much is never enough. In this month's book club pick, we explore the writings of a German born economist, E. F. Schumacher planting a warning flag against these cultural views, with his book Small is Beautiful: a study of economics as if people mattered. Enjoy the conversation we had this month with our Senior Researcher Julian Wood.

2020 has presented all of us with significant challenges, but as Maxim’s latest research notes, spare a thought for our young people. On this podcast, Jeremy and Rowan are joined by Ryan Donaldson, General Manager of Whangarei Youth Space. Together they explore the problem of youth unemployment, how the class of 2020 will be effected long-term by COVID-19, and the importance of community, mentorship and intergenerational pastoral relationships. Enjoy the listen.

This month on the Book Club, our Interim CEO Joanne Abernethy hosts researchers Dr Rowan Light and Danielle van Dalen, as they discuss Viktor Frankl's book Man's Search For Meaning. In this podcast, they dive into Frankl's experiences of the Holocaust, how at the depth of dehumanisation, one can find beauty, hope and dignity. This conversation also explores the foundation of his psychological theory, Logotherapy, and how meaning can transform even the most distressing circumstances. Especially in the midst of COVID-19, Man's Search for Meaning offers significant insight for our context, from how we relate to others, to how we experience hope and suffering. We hope you enjoy the listen and are encouraged to read the book.

Last month we released Julian's latest research paper on Active Labour Market Policies, looking at the ways that government can spend money to try to save or create jobs for people. Our conversation covers Julian’s thoughts on how effect this Government’s response has been, what the next government should focus on to try to stem unemployment, and more broadly, where he thinks the economy is going and how long we’ll take to recover. Enjoy the listen