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The prospect of City Deals in New Zealand

By David Waite, University of Glasgow The Auckland Mayor’s recent manifesto (“Manifesto for Auckland”), which seeks new arrangements with central government, hinges on a call for greater autonomy. The possibility of a City Deal was noted in the manifesto, and this...

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ATEPS 2023: The future of digital trade

ATEPS 2023: 'Trans-Tasman, Regional and Global Initiatives for Sustainable Trade Futures' took place 23-24 February 2023 and addressed the Trans-Tasman geo-political context, Regional Trade Agreements, developments in Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand Indigenous...

Policy Commons Blog

Opinion: No voting magic about the age 18

Evidence from countries that have reduced their voting age from 18 show that enfranchising 16-to-17-year-olds fosters political engagement and interest

Opinion by Victoria Woodman: Voting is a civic right, but every democracy limits who can vote. These limits vary across time and place. Historically, New Zealand was considered something of a democratic pioneer, having had, as the historian Neill Atkinson put it, many “adventures in democracy”.

Policy Commons Blog

The strategic importance of the Pacific Islands to Taiwan

In the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, there have been heightened concerns that a Taiwan contingency involving the People’s Republic of China (PRC) could play out in the not-too-distant future. This year’s Department of Defense Annual Report on China to the US Congress asserts that PRC leadership views unification as pivotal to its policy of “Rejuvenation of the Chinese Nation,” and its piecemeal pressure tactics against Taipei has led US President Joe Biden to openly state that the United States would defend Taiwan in the event of an invasion.

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