Motu News

Scholarships for Research on Diversity

Massey University is offering PhD and MA scholarships for research projects on diversity. The research is part of the Capturing the Diversity Dividend of Aotearoa New Zealand (CaDDANZ) project that Massey University is working on jointly…

Kiwis have some of the world’s highest material living standards

A new measure of material wellbeing shows that New Zealand households have the third highest material living standard in the world for households with a teenager. Researchers at Motu Economic and Public Policy Research found that, using…

What is Motu?

World’s only nitrogen trading market assessed

Lake Taupō has the world’s only nitrogen trading market where farmers operate under a cap. Environment Minister, Dr Nick Smith announced yesterday that the joint Government and council initiative to reduce nitrogen leaching into Lake Taupō…

Motu top climate think tank in Oceania

Motu is 19th out of 244 non-University affiliated think tanks specialized in the field of climate change economics and policy, according to the International Center for Climate Governance Climate Think Tank Ranking.

R&D subsidies make firms nearly twice as innovative

The Government spends millions per year on direct subsidies for research and development (R&D) in New Zealand businesses. New research by Motu Economic and Public Policy Research - a not-for-profit, non-partisan research institute – found that…

R&D grants work - study

Radio NZ National interviewed Adam Jaffe about the paper on R&D subsidies and innovation.

NZ firms innovate more with R&D grants, report shows

Fiona Rotherham's article from BusinessDesk on the impact of R&D on innovation is a clear breakdown of the issues.

Sir Peter Blake Trust award for Rob Fenwick

The Sir Peter Blake Trust has awarded Motu Board of Trustees member Rob Fenwick with the Blake Medal for 2015 for his hard work in protecting the environment.

Happiness is... doing better than the neighbours

Article in the NZ Herald about Arthur Grimes and Marc Reinhardt's forthcoming research into whether increased income makes us happy. It appears that while a pay rise does, the euphoria is short-lived if work colleagues, associates,…