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Motu Research is an independent, public-good focused economics and policy research institute. 

We help decision makers in Aotearoa grapple with complex social and environmental issues.
Upcoming Public Policy Seminar

Warmer Kiwis Study: cost-benefit analysis of heat pumps

Motu Research's Warmer Kiwis Study focused on the heat pump component of the EECA Warmer Kiwi Homes programme. We worked directly with a group of about 160 homeowners who received a grant for an efficient…

Human rights

Monitoring enjoyment of the rights to adequate housing and health care and protection in Aotearoa New Zealand

Authors: Livvy Mitchell | Susan Randolph | Paddy Baylis

Working Paper

This new paper shows successive New Zealand Governments have failed to keep human rights promises so all Kiwis can have the basic levels of housing and health care and protection in Aotearoa. The New Zealand…

Updates

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2023-02-20

Avoid using outdoor cooking/heating appliances indoors during Cyclone Gabrielle recovery

Our fellow, Phoebe Taptiklis has come up with life-saving, evidence-based information for people in cyclone-ravaged areas of Aotearoa New Zealand.

2022-12-08

Warmer Kiwis Study on effect of heat pumps in NZ homes published

 

2022-10-21

Motu awards Sir Frank Holmes prize to top economics student

Every year, we give out The Sir Frank Holmes prize to encourage and support top quantitative economics students to further…

Our Research

Environment

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Urban & regional

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Wellbeing & macro-economics

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Population & labour

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Human rights

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Productivity & innovation

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Recent events

December 13, 2022

New data and evidence on the organisation of science - implications for diversity and innovation

This seminar looked at how we can use new types of data to understand the structure of research organisations – & bias against women and others in science.

June 16, 2022

How can Aotearoa New Zealand best approach immigration policy to boost productivity and wellbeing?

In this seminar, the Productivity Commission presented its recent research on immigration and its final recommendations to the NZ Government on what immigration policy settings would best help Aotearoa New Zealand’s long-term economic growth, productivity and the wellbeing of New Zealanders.

January 27, 2022

The Warmer Kiwis Study: An impact evaluation of the Warmer Kiwi Homes programme.

The Warmer Kiwis Study focuses on the heat pump component of the Warmer Kiwi Homes programme, and works directly with a group of about 160 homeowners, who have received, or will receive a grant for an efficient heater. Motu Economic & Public Policy Research, who are leading the study, are collecting new data on health and wellbeing, the indoor environment in homes (including temperature and humidity), and electricity consumption to investigate the actual improvements achieved through EECA’s programme. The study began in 2021, with interim results the subject of this webinar and an interim report to be published on the same day. Final results will be published in December 2022.

Featured work

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Individual and group outcomes

The wage cost of a lack of access to affordable childcare in Aotearoa New Zealand

Authors: Isabelle Sin | Thomas Benison

Working Paper

Lack of childcare means
many mothers cannot work.
Lost wages are high.
Individual and group outcomes

The impact of the 2018 Families Package Winter Energy Payment policy

Authors: Dave Maré | Dean Hyslop | Lynn Riggs

Working Paper

In this paper, we estimate the impact of the Winter Energy Payment on a range of outcomes. We found the Winter Energy Payment had a weakly positive effect for recipients. Our estimates suggest that during the winter…
Individual and group outcomes

Estimating the impact of the Families Package changes in financial incentives

Authors: Dave Maré | Dean Hyslop | Lynn Riggs

Working Paper

This paper looks at if parents responded to changed work incentives resulting from increasing the abatement threshold for Working for Families as part of the Families Package. We found no evidence parents responded to this particular…
Emissions trading

Modelling private land-use decisions affecting forest cover: the effect of land tenure and environmental policy

Author: Levente Timar

Working Paper

I use geographic data and discrete choice modelling to investigate private land-use decisions in the context of prominent New Zealand land institutions and environmental policies. Land-use conversions involving gains and losses in planted forests and…
Emissions trading

Valuing forest ecosystem services in New Zealand

Author: Hannah Kotula

Working Paper

Society depends on services and benefits provided by ecosystems. Yet, many of our actions affect ecosystems in ways that undermine long-term human wellbeing. Although ecosystems provide many services to society, many of these services are…
Individual and group outcomes

How do childcare access issues affect mothers’ work in the long term?

Author: Isabelle Sin

Note

This is the final report in a series of five reports that together use the Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) longitudinal survey data to explore how the inability to access affordable childcare affects the…
Individual and group outcomes

How are childcare access issues reflected in mothers’ work?

Author: Isabelle Sin

Note

This is the fourth in a series of five reports that together use the Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) longitudinal survey data to explore how the inability to access affordable childcare affects the long…
Individual and group outcomes

How do childcare experiences differ by ethnicity and for families with previous childcare access issues?

Author: Isabelle Sin

Note

This is the third in a series of five reports that together use the Growing Up in New Zealand longitudinal survey data to explore how the inability to access affordable childcare affects the long run…
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Level 1, 97 Cuba Street, PO Box 24390

Wellington 6142, New Zealand

Phone: 64 4 939 4250

Email: info@motu.org.nz