Eric Crampton
@ericcrampton.bsky.social
Chief Economist at the NZ Initiative.
Adjunct Senior Fellow with the Department of Economics at @ucnz
Squatting here and at @[email protected] in case Twitter ever finally sinks.
Adjunct Senior Fellow with the Department of Economics at @ucnz
Squatting here and at @[email protected] in case Twitter ever finally sinks.
Everything looks like a conspiracy when you don't know how anything works.
November 10, 2025 at 6:30 AM
Everything looks like a conspiracy when you don't know how anything works.
In local council politics, I don't care about left/right. Only measure that matters is whether the candidate will be effective in improving housing supply.
Wellington seems to have come out okay.
Wellington seems to have come out okay.
October 11, 2025 at 10:04 AM
In local council politics, I don't care about left/right. Only measure that matters is whether the candidate will be effective in improving housing supply.
Wellington seems to have come out okay.
Wellington seems to have come out okay.
At least energy stays in the ETS!
September 30, 2025 at 10:22 PM
At least energy stays in the ETS!
Full report's here for those keen.
And stay tuned for a few more columns on it.
www.nzinitiative.org.nz/reports-and-...
And stay tuned for a few more columns on it.
www.nzinitiative.org.nz/reports-and-...
Building Nations: What Canada’s First Nations can teach us about devolution and development
Canadian First Nations are helping tackle Canada’s housing crisis through council-like authority over their own land. Our new report highlights this proven Canadian turnaround success story and draws ...
www.nzinitiative.org.nz
September 30, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Full report's here for those keen.
And stay tuned for a few more columns on it.
www.nzinitiative.org.nz/reports-and-...
And stay tuned for a few more columns on it.
www.nzinitiative.org.nz/reports-and-...
I simply cannot believe that any hapū signing onto the Treaty could have imagined that their descendants would wind up needing to travel to a council office miles away to beg permission to build things on their own land.
Canada shows a path to this kind of rangatiratanga.
Canada shows a path to this kind of rangatiratanga.
September 30, 2025 at 9:48 PM
I simply cannot believe that any hapū signing onto the Treaty could have imagined that their descendants would wind up needing to travel to a council office miles away to beg permission to build things on their own land.
Canada shows a path to this kind of rangatiratanga.
Canada shows a path to this kind of rangatiratanga.
The process also built guardrails that help build capacity and accountability.
September 30, 2025 at 9:48 PM
The process also built guardrails that help build capacity and accountability.
Sen̓áḵw is very obviously big-city.
Ch'íyáqtel is next door to a town the size of Palmerston North.
And a lot of Reserves are far more remote.
But really neat things are happening elsewhere.
First Nations can buy land near town and bring it under their jurisdiction.
Ch'íyáqtel is next door to a town the size of Palmerston North.
And a lot of Reserves are far more remote.
But really neat things are happening elsewhere.
First Nations can buy land near town and bring it under their jurisdiction.
September 30, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Sen̓áḵw is very obviously big-city.
Ch'íyáqtel is next door to a town the size of Palmerston North.
And a lot of Reserves are far more remote.
But really neat things are happening elsewhere.
First Nations can buy land near town and bring it under their jurisdiction.
Ch'íyáqtel is next door to a town the size of Palmerston North.
And a lot of Reserves are far more remote.
But really neat things are happening elsewhere.
First Nations can buy land near town and bring it under their jurisdiction.
And it just works. In part, I think, because they started small and learned along the way.
September 30, 2025 at 9:48 PM
And it just works. In part, I think, because they started small and learned along the way.
Other bits are similarly pragmatic.
Municipalities are creatures of provinces. Reserves are not. First Nations can adopt provincial rules, like building codes, by reference - if they want. Or choose others.
Municipalities are creatures of provinces. Reserves are not. First Nations can adopt provincial rules, like building codes, by reference - if they want. Or choose others.
September 30, 2025 at 9:47 PM
Other bits are similarly pragmatic.
Municipalities are creatures of provinces. Reserves are not. First Nations can adopt provincial rules, like building codes, by reference - if they want. Or choose others.
Municipalities are creatures of provinces. Reserves are not. First Nations can adopt provincial rules, like building codes, by reference - if they want. Or choose others.
I love the pragmatism here.
The City has no jurisdiction on-reserve. But they can't provide services unless the Reserve has by-laws around utilities access. So the Nation sets mirror by-laws.
The City has no jurisdiction on-reserve. But they can't provide services unless the Reserve has by-laws around utilities access. So the Nation sets mirror by-laws.
September 30, 2025 at 9:47 PM
I love the pragmatism here.
The City has no jurisdiction on-reserve. But they can't provide services unless the Reserve has by-laws around utilities access. So the Nation sets mirror by-laws.
The City has no jurisdiction on-reserve. But they can't provide services unless the Reserve has by-laws around utilities access. So the Nation sets mirror by-laws.
The BC Supreme Court confirmed that the Reserve is under its own jurisdiction, not subject to City by-laws, and that the City had no duty to consult with NIMBYs about the service agreement.
September 30, 2025 at 9:47 PM
The BC Supreme Court confirmed that the Reserve is under its own jurisdiction, not subject to City by-laws, and that the City had no duty to consult with NIMBYs about the service agreement.
Phase 1 of the Sen̓áḵw project is nearing completion.
The pictures here are from July.
They didn't need Vancouver's permission to build.
But they did need to come to an agreement with the City for services.
There is no free-ride here.
The pictures here are from July.
They didn't need Vancouver's permission to build.
But they did need to come to an agreement with the City for services.
There is no free-ride here.
September 30, 2025 at 9:47 PM
Phase 1 of the Sen̓áḵw project is nearing completion.
The pictures here are from July.
They didn't need Vancouver's permission to build.
But they did need to come to an agreement with the City for services.
There is no free-ride here.
The pictures here are from July.
They didn't need Vancouver's permission to build.
But they did need to come to an agreement with the City for services.
There is no free-ride here.