Publications - The Helen Clark Foundation
  • Build a sustainable and resilient future
  • Foster a healthier, fairer society
  • Grow a fairer more prosperous economy
  • Navigate a turbulent world
  • AUT
  • Adaptaion
  • Adaptation
  • Alcohol harm
  • Australia
  • Awards
  • Bipartisan consensus
  • Budget
  • COVID-19
  • Cannabis
  • Chatham House
  • China
  • Christchurch Call
  • Citizens' assemblies
  • Climate change
  • Community engagement
  • Congestion charging
  • Corruption
  • Criminal justice
  • Deliberative democracy
  • Democracy
  • Disability
  • Drug law reform
  • ETS
  • Economic growth
  • Education
  • Energy
  • Environment
  • Equity
  • Executive director
  • Exports
  • Fiscal Policy
  • Food and fibre sector
  • Foreign policy
  • Funding
  • Global Issues
  • Governance
  • Government
  • Government debt
  • Health
  • Health Coalition Aotearoa
  • Health data
  • Health workforce
  • Housing
  • Indigenous peoples
  • Inequality
  • Infrastructure
  • Institute of Landscape Architects
  • Insurance
  • Insurance retreat
  • International relations
  • Kiwi diaspora
  • Lobbying
  • Local government
  • Loneliness
  • Long term strategy
  • MAS Foundation
  • MMP
  • Malcolm Turnbull
  • Managed retreat
  • Members-only
  • Methamphetamine
  • Migration
  • Minimum wage
  • Myanmar
  • NZIER
  • New Zealand
  • News
  • Online harm
  • Pandemic
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  • Post-pandemic futures
  • Poverty
  • Press release
  • Productivity
  • Prosperity
  • Public participation
  • Public policy
  • Public-Private Partnerships
  • Russia
  • Safer communities
  • Safety
  • Security
  • Social media
  • Social policy
  • Social wellbeing
  • Sponge cities
  • Sustainability
  • Tax
  • Te Whātu Ora
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  • Transport
  • Ukraine
  • United Nations
  • Urban design
  • Voice referendum
  • WSP
  • Youth
  • Tom Pearce
  • Anne Cunningham
  • Bill Kaye-Blake
  • Claire Mason
  • Helen Gaeta
  • Holly Walker
  • Kali Mercier
  • Kasia Skibinska
  • Kathy Errington
  • Matt Shand
  • Murray Bruges
  • Paul Smith
  • Peter Davis
  • Philippa Yasbek
  • Todd Krieble
  • Tom James
  • Victoria Jude
  • Bridget Williams Books
  • The Urban Room
  • The New Zealand Initiative
  • WSP New Zealand
  • The Health Coalition Aotearoa
  • BERL
  • NZIER
  • Rātā Foundation
  • Tindall Foundation
  • Te Whatu Ora - Health New Zealand - National Public Health Service

Upcoming Research

Fit for the Future

Researcher: Murray Bruges

Healthy food

New Zealand needs a fair deal between the food industry, the government and society to effectively prevent and treat obesity.

Together with the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, the Helen Clark Foundation will adapt the Institute's recent report Fit for the Future: A Fair Deal on Food for a Healthier Britain for the New Zealand context.

Read more

Build a sustainable and resilient future

Researchers: Kali Mercier, Tom James, Kathy Errington, Holly Walker, Matt Shand

In partnership with WSP New Zealand

Aotearoa New Zealand faces a unique set of challenges in the 21st century. From climate change and environmental degradation to delivering infrastructure and managing urban growth, we need innovative and evidence-based solutions to build a more sustainable and resilient future for all New Zealanders.

This research stream will bring together evidence and research that explores critical issues and develops practical solutions across a range of areas, including:

  • Climate change mitigation and adaptation: We will investigate policies and strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, build resilience to climate impacts, and ensure a just transition to a low-carbon economy.
  • Environmental protection and restoration: We will explore ways to protect our precious natural resources, restore degraded ecosystems, and promote sustainable resource management practices.
  • Funding and financing infrastructure: We will consider the strategy and policy adjustments that will ensure we can build what needs to be built in more effective and efficient ways.
  • Future-proofing our cities and urban areas: Nearly three quarters of Aotearoa New Zealand’s population growth in the next 30 years will happen in cities, and Tāmaki Makarau Auckland alone will account for half this growth. We will investigate a range of adaptations to our transport systems, public spaces and urban planning that can accommodate this growth.
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Foster a healthier, fairer society

Researchers: Kali Mercier, Murray Bruges, Kathy Errington, Holly Walker

In partnership with WSP New Zealand

We want Aotearoa New Zealand to be somewhere that everyone thrives. Yet, disparities in health, access to resources, and opportunities remain a challenge. This research stream dives deep into these issues, seeking solutions for a healthier and more equitable Aotearoa.

In this research stream we’ll explore critical topics like:

  • Drug policy: How can evidence-based drug policy approaches reduce harm, improve public health outcomes, and promote social justice?
  • Mental health: We’ll look at ways to enhance mental health support systems, promote well-being, and tackle mental health inequities across communities.
  • Healthy food systems: We'll explore strategies to increase access to affordable, nutritious food, support local food producers, and build a more sustainable food system.
  • Social connection: We'll carry out research into policy approaches that foster a more connected society, where strong social networks and a sense of belonging contribute to overall well-being.
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Grow a fairer more prosperous economy

Researchers: Murray Bruges, Kathy Errington, Holly Walker

In partnership with WSP New Zealand

There are a number of short and longer term problems facing our economy. From rising inequality and inflation to unlocking our true productivity potential, we need innovative and evidence-based solutions to build a more prosperous economy that benefits all New Zealanders.

This research stream will explore issues and develop policy solutions across key areas, including:

  • Reducing inequality: We analyze trends and propose policy recommendations to address income and wealth disparities, ensuring everyone has a fair shot at economic success.
  • Economic growth and wages: We critically examine the impact of the minimum wage on workers, businesses, and the broader economy, aiming to find the right settings to support economic growth.
  • Unlocking productivity: We study factors impacting New Zealand's productivity, identifying strategies to enhance efficiency and competitiveness in the global marketplace.
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Navigate a turbulent world

Researchers: Kathy Errington, Philippa Yasbek

Our world is increasingly turbulent and unstable. With the rise of online hate speech, the complexities of maintaining New Zealand’s independent foreign policy, navigating a rapidly-evolving media landscape, responding to global humanitarian crises and conflicts, and growing concerns of corruption in an increasingly interconnected world.

This research stream is dedicated to understanding these issues through a New Zealand lens. Particularly using the experience and knowledge of our patron, the Rt. Hon. Helen Clark, we'll explore how these global forces impact New Zealand and its people, and how we can best navigate this complex world.

Our research focus areas include:

  • Foreign policy: We have hosted webinars to discuss New Zealand's independent foreign policy in a world of shifting alliances, aiming to ensure our voice resonates on the international stage while upholding our values.
  • Social media and traditional media: We have investigated the multifaceted impact of social media on New Zealand society, focusing on fostering responsible use, mitigating its potential downsides, reducing harm from online extremism, and advocating for greater transparency in social media algorithms.
  • War and humanitarian crises: We explore how ongoing war and humanitarian crises impact New Zealand, and what we could be doing for those in need.
  • Combating corruption: We delve into the issue of corruption, exploring strategies to strengthen transparency and accountability within institutions.
Read more

All Publications

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Loneliness and connection in the age of social distance
A collection of essays building on research by the Helen Clark Foundation, available now.
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Can Aotearoa New Zealand meet the needs of our diaspora, attract some of them home, and prepare for the trends of a post-pandemic future?
10/08/2021
We explore the challenges and opportunities facing the returning diaspora of Kiwis.
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How loneliness changed in Aotearoa New Zealand in 2020 and what it means for public policy
13/04/2021
How loneliness changed in Aotearoa in 2020 and what it means for public policy.
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Towards an inclusive growth agenda for Aotearoa New Zealand
23/11/2020
This paper explores an inclusive growth agenda that could work for Aotearoa New Zealand.
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People, not cars, at the heart of communities
11/11/2020
Aotearoa needs low-traffic neighbourhoods and cities to reduce emissions, improve road safety, and create connected urban communities.
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The risks of loneliness in Aotearoa New Zealand, and how public policy can help
01/06/2020
Loneliness in Aotearoa New Zealand needs an effective public policy response.
Read more

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