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.

Individual and group outcomes

Pay gaps – an $18 billion a year issue

Author: Dave Maré

Note

Different pay rates
For gender and ethnic groups
Add up to a lot!

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…

2023-05-15

Āheitanga Thesis scholarship - applications open for 2023

Every year, Motu Research offers a one-year $10,000 scholarship pool to enhance research capacity in Aotearoa’s Māori community. It is…

2023-02-28

Silt: an explainer

Motu affiliate Troy Baisden appeared on RNZ’s The Panel to discuss silt problems after recent cyclones.

2023-02-21

What’s So Special About 2% Inflation?, on CNBC

Arthur Grimes appeared on a CNBC documentary on the origins of a 2% inflation target.

Our Research

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 heater. We collected 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. This seminar presents the final results.

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…

Pay gaps – an $18 billion a year issue

Valuing forest ecosystem services in New Zealand

Updates

Our Research

Environment

Urban & regional

Wellbeing & macro-economics

Population & labour

Human rights

Productivity & innovation

Public Policy Seminars

Warmer Kiwis Study: cost-benefit analysis of heat pumps

Recent events

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

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

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

Featured work

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

The impact of the 2018 Families Package Winter Energy Payment policy

Estimating the impact of the Families Package changes in financial incentives

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

Valuing forest ecosystem services in New Zealand

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

How are childcare access issues reflected in mothers’ work?

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