Motu Research
@moturesearch.bsky.social
We're an independent, world-class economics and public policy institute working for the public good.
We help Aotearoa New Zealand tackle complex social, environmental and economic challenges.
In the top ten global economic research institutes.
We help Aotearoa New Zealand tackle complex social, environmental and economic challenges.
In the top ten global economic research institutes.
🏙️ Yass! We received a Marsden Fund Fast Start grant to explore how Aotearoa NZ’s cities & towns can better support productivity/wellbeing.🔍 Led by Senior Fellow Stuart Donovan, with Dave Maré, Arthur Grimes (Motu) & Ryan Greenaway-McGrevy (UoA), the team will study how urban centres grow & thrive.
December 3, 2025 at 10:38 PM
🏙️ Yass! We received a Marsden Fund Fast Start grant to explore how Aotearoa NZ’s cities & towns can better support productivity/wellbeing.🔍 Led by Senior Fellow Stuart Donovan, with Dave Maré, Arthur Grimes (Motu) & Ryan Greenaway-McGrevy (UoA), the team will study how urban centres grow & thrive.
📖 Our 2024-2025 Annual Report: now available. Link👇🏻 Our work continues to have a highly influential impact, including informing government policy. 👨🏻🎓 Ranked as NZ's leading economics research organisation, we continue to win contracts/grants in the current constrained science funding environment.🔬
December 1, 2025 at 9:51 PM
📖 Our 2024-2025 Annual Report: now available. Link👇🏻 Our work continues to have a highly influential impact, including informing government policy. 👨🏻🎓 Ranked as NZ's leading economics research organisation, we continue to win contracts/grants in the current constrained science funding environment.🔬
👩🏽🎓 Motu is helping a new generation of young researchers flourish.🪴1 of our main objectives is building capability of young researchers (& government employees) in economic/public policy research. 🦾 We were delighted to see the great things our ex-Research Analyst, Sophie O'Brien achieved recently.
November 24, 2025 at 9:55 PM
👩🏽🎓 Motu is helping a new generation of young researchers flourish.🪴1 of our main objectives is building capability of young researchers (& government employees) in economic/public policy research. 🦾 We were delighted to see the great things our ex-Research Analyst, Sophie O'Brien achieved recently.
⏰Remember - register & join us for free (in person or online) for a joint Motu Research/Home Foundation public policy seminar, where Motu Fellow Jaimie Monk, PhD and Senior Fellow Arthur Grimes will explore the relationship between public housing and wellbeing across different stages of life.
November 23, 2025 at 10:07 PM
⏰Remember - register & join us for free (in person or online) for a joint Motu Research/Home Foundation public policy seminar, where Motu Fellow Jaimie Monk, PhD and Senior Fellow Arthur Grimes will explore the relationship between public housing and wellbeing across different stages of life.
🎉Another shout out to Anushka Castaing, our Sir Frank Holmes Prize winner this year! 🎉
One main objective of Motu Research: building capability in young researchers (and government employees) in economic and public policy research.
One main objective of Motu Research: building capability in young researchers (and government employees) in economic and public policy research.
November 20, 2025 at 9:47 PM
🎉Another shout out to Anushka Castaing, our Sir Frank Holmes Prize winner this year! 🎉
One main objective of Motu Research: building capability in young researchers (and government employees) in economic and public policy research.
One main objective of Motu Research: building capability in young researchers (and government employees) in economic and public policy research.
💡 Something to be aware of - wage patterns in Aotearoa New Zealand are more favourable for European migrants, Asian and Middle Eastern, Latin American and African employees - less favourable for Māori, Pacific and NZ-born European workers.
www.motu.nz/our-research...
www.motu.nz/our-research...
Firm productivity and ethnic wages | Motu
www.motu.nz
November 19, 2025 at 9:47 PM
💡 Something to be aware of - wage patterns in Aotearoa New Zealand are more favourable for European migrants, Asian and Middle Eastern, Latin American and African employees - less favourable for Māori, Pacific and NZ-born European workers.
www.motu.nz/our-research...
www.motu.nz/our-research...
Join us for free (in person or online) for a joint Motu Research/Home Foundation public policy seminar, where Motu Fellow Jaimie Monk, PhD and Senior Fellow Arthur Grimes will explore the relationship between public housing and wellbeing across different stages of life.
November 17, 2025 at 11:12 PM
Join us for free (in person or online) for a joint Motu Research/Home Foundation public policy seminar, where Motu Fellow Jaimie Monk, PhD and Senior Fellow Arthur Grimes will explore the relationship between public housing and wellbeing across different stages of life.
🔍How does research flow into public policy in Aotearoa NZ, and what happens when the research and policy systems are under strain — as they are currently?
The flow of information between research and policy
Evidence-based policy is created through an ecosystem of interacting people with various different roles, knowledge bases, skills and priorities.
www.tepunahamatatini.ac.nz
November 13, 2025 at 10:19 PM
🔍How does research flow into public policy in Aotearoa NZ, and what happens when the research and policy systems are under strain — as they are currently?
💰 Our new groundbreaking research reveals over $500 million of KiwiSaver & other retail investments have been lent to governments on “high alert” for human rights violations.
Most investors have no idea — but our savings are helping fund state activities in countries with poor human rights records.
Most investors have no idea — but our savings are helping fund state activities in countries with poor human rights records.
Sovereign Bond Investing and Human Rights: An Analysis of New Zealand’s Retail Investment Funds | Motu
www.motu.nz
November 12, 2025 at 11:01 PM
💰 Our new groundbreaking research reveals over $500 million of KiwiSaver & other retail investments have been lent to governments on “high alert” for human rights violations.
Most investors have no idea — but our savings are helping fund state activities in countries with poor human rights records.
Most investors have no idea — but our savings are helping fund state activities in countries with poor human rights records.
💛 Haere rā and thank you, Jo Wills.
After more than a decade of service, Jo has stepped down as Chair of the Motu Economic and Public Policy Research Trust.
After more than a decade of service, Jo has stepped down as Chair of the Motu Economic and Public Policy Research Trust.
November 9, 2025 at 11:29 PM
💛 Haere rā and thank you, Jo Wills.
After more than a decade of service, Jo has stepped down as Chair of the Motu Economic and Public Policy Research Trust.
After more than a decade of service, Jo has stepped down as Chair of the Motu Economic and Public Policy Research Trust.
🏙️ Exciting news: Motu received a Marsden Fund Fast Start grant to explore how Aotearoa NZ’s cities & towns can better support productivity & wellbeing.
November 6, 2025 at 10:02 PM
🏙️ Exciting news: Motu received a Marsden Fund Fast Start grant to explore how Aotearoa NZ’s cities & towns can better support productivity & wellbeing.
💰 Our new research finds over $500 million of KiwiSaver and other retail investments are lent to governments on “high alert” for human rights violations. This hidden corner of ethical investing — sovereign bonds — has flown under the radar. It’s time to change that. See more in comments below👇🏽
Sovereign Bond Investing and Human Rights: An Analysis of New Zealand’s Retail Investment Funds | Motu
www.motu.nz
November 6, 2025 at 12:16 AM
💰 Our new research finds over $500 million of KiwiSaver and other retail investments are lent to governments on “high alert” for human rights violations. This hidden corner of ethical investing — sovereign bonds — has flown under the radar. It’s time to change that. See more in comments below👇🏽
🎓Congratulations to Anushka Castaing, this year’s winner of Motu’s Sir Frank Holmes Prize! 👏🏽Each year, we award this $5k prize to NZ's top undergraduate economics student — encouraging future leaders in econometrics and evidence-based policy.
November 3, 2025 at 10:14 PM
🎓Congratulations to Anushka Castaing, this year’s winner of Motu’s Sir Frank Holmes Prize! 👏🏽Each year, we award this $5k prize to NZ's top undergraduate economics student — encouraging future leaders in econometrics and evidence-based policy.
💡 Our new research looks at how fairly people from different ethnic/migrant backgrounds are paid for the value they create at work in NZ. Findings: wage patterns more favourable for Europeans migrants, Asian & Middle Eastern, Latin American & Africans, less so for Māori, Pacific & NZ-born Europeans.
October 29, 2025 at 11:03 PM
💡 Our new research looks at how fairly people from different ethnic/migrant backgrounds are paid for the value they create at work in NZ. Findings: wage patterns more favourable for Europeans migrants, Asian & Middle Eastern, Latin American & Africans, less so for Māori, Pacific & NZ-born Europeans.
🌏Join this week's seminar! The Environmental Defense Fund will share insights from a Nature Communications commentary co-written with Motu on practical, evidence-based solutions to ensure workers/ communities aren't left behind in shifting to net-zero energy emissions. See Links below👇🏽
October 28, 2025 at 9:59 PM
🌏Join this week's seminar! The Environmental Defense Fund will share insights from a Nature Communications commentary co-written with Motu on practical, evidence-based solutions to ensure workers/ communities aren't left behind in shifting to net-zero energy emissions. See Links below👇🏽
🌏Join this week's seminar! The Environmental Defense Fund will share insights from a Nature Communications commentary co-written with Motu on practical, evidence-based solutions to ensure workers/ communities aren't left behind in shifting to net-zero energy emissions. See Links below👇🏽
October 27, 2025 at 10:12 PM
🌏Join this week's seminar! The Environmental Defense Fund will share insights from a Nature Communications commentary co-written with Motu on practical, evidence-based solutions to ensure workers/ communities aren't left behind in shifting to net-zero energy emissions. See Links below👇🏽
Ethnic wage gaps are stubborn in Aotearoa NZ. Our new study finds education, demographics & job type explain some gaps between Māori, Pacific & European groups — but not all. Big differences remain, pointing to systemic barriers. We need clear evidence like this to build fairer policies. Link below👇🏽
October 22, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Ethnic wage gaps are stubborn in Aotearoa NZ. Our new study finds education, demographics & job type explain some gaps between Māori, Pacific & European groups — but not all. Big differences remain, pointing to systemic barriers. We need clear evidence like this to build fairer policies. Link below👇🏽
Our new research looks at how much workplaces explain ethnic pay gaps in Aotearoa NZ. The study finds where people work explains only a small part of the gap. Most differences come from pay gaps in the same workplace. Closing gaps inside workplaces is key to a fairer, more inclusive labour market.👇🏽
October 20, 2025 at 9:46 PM
Our new research looks at how much workplaces explain ethnic pay gaps in Aotearoa NZ. The study finds where people work explains only a small part of the gap. Most differences come from pay gaps in the same workplace. Closing gaps inside workplaces is key to a fairer, more inclusive labour market.👇🏽
House prices up 142%. Renters’ wellbeing down.
Motu research shows NZ’s housing boom deepened wellbeing inequality — renters feel it most.
Time to align housing and monetary policy with people’s wellbeing.
RNZ covered the research last week. Links below to article & research👇🏽
Motu research shows NZ’s housing boom deepened wellbeing inequality — renters feel it most.
Time to align housing and monetary policy with people’s wellbeing.
RNZ covered the research last week. Links below to article & research👇🏽
October 19, 2025 at 9:59 PM
House prices up 142%. Renters’ wellbeing down.
Motu research shows NZ’s housing boom deepened wellbeing inequality — renters feel it most.
Time to align housing and monetary policy with people’s wellbeing.
RNZ covered the research last week. Links below to article & research👇🏽
Motu research shows NZ’s housing boom deepened wellbeing inequality — renters feel it most.
Time to align housing and monetary policy with people’s wellbeing.
RNZ covered the research last week. Links below to article & research👇🏽
Our new research looks at how much workplaces explain ethnic pay gaps in Aotearoa NZ. The study finds where people work explains only a small part of the gap. Most differences come from pay gaps in the same workplace. Closing gaps inside workplaces is key to a fairer, more inclusive labour market.👇🏽
October 16, 2025 at 11:31 PM
Our new research looks at how much workplaces explain ethnic pay gaps in Aotearoa NZ. The study finds where people work explains only a small part of the gap. Most differences come from pay gaps in the same workplace. Closing gaps inside workplaces is key to a fairer, more inclusive labour market.👇🏽
House prices up 142%. Renters’ wellbeing down.
Motu research shows NZ’s housing boom deepened wellbeing inequality — renters feel it most.
Time to align housing and monetary policy with people’s wellbeing.
Bernard Hickey/Andrea Black covered it in The Kākā. Links below to podcast & research👇🏽
Motu research shows NZ’s housing boom deepened wellbeing inequality — renters feel it most.
Time to align housing and monetary policy with people’s wellbeing.
Bernard Hickey/Andrea Black covered it in The Kākā. Links below to podcast & research👇🏽
October 15, 2025 at 11:47 PM
House prices up 142%. Renters’ wellbeing down.
Motu research shows NZ’s housing boom deepened wellbeing inequality — renters feel it most.
Time to align housing and monetary policy with people’s wellbeing.
Bernard Hickey/Andrea Black covered it in The Kākā. Links below to podcast & research👇🏽
Motu research shows NZ’s housing boom deepened wellbeing inequality — renters feel it most.
Time to align housing and monetary policy with people’s wellbeing.
Bernard Hickey/Andrea Black covered it in The Kākā. Links below to podcast & research👇🏽
Quick! Applications close in 2 days for our Āheitanga Thesis scholarship (5pm, 15 Oct). See comments 👇🏽. Every year, Motu Research offers up to two $5k scholarships to enhance research capacity in our Māori community. Scholarships offered to uni students of Māori descent towards a post grad thesis.
October 12, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Quick! Applications close in 2 days for our Āheitanga Thesis scholarship (5pm, 15 Oct). See comments 👇🏽. Every year, Motu Research offers up to two $5k scholarships to enhance research capacity in our Māori community. Scholarships offered to uni students of Māori descent towards a post grad thesis.
Our new research looks at how much workplaces explain ethnic pay gaps in Aotearoa NZ. The study finds where people work explains only a small part of the gap. Most differences come from pay gaps in the same workplace. Closing gaps inside workplaces is key to a fairer, more inclusive labour market.👇🏽
October 8, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Our new research looks at how much workplaces explain ethnic pay gaps in Aotearoa NZ. The study finds where people work explains only a small part of the gap. Most differences come from pay gaps in the same workplace. Closing gaps inside workplaces is key to a fairer, more inclusive labour market.👇🏽
Delighted our Senior Fellow Stuart Donovan is a member of the Infrastructure Priorities Programme (IPP) review panel under NZ Infrastructure Commission Te Waihanga. The IPP brings rigour & transparency to how NZ picks infrastructure projects to back. Looking fwd to what this delivers for Aotearoa.🔗👇🏽
October 6, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Delighted our Senior Fellow Stuart Donovan is a member of the Infrastructure Priorities Programme (IPP) review panel under NZ Infrastructure Commission Te Waihanga. The IPP brings rigour & transparency to how NZ picks infrastructure projects to back. Looking fwd to what this delivers for Aotearoa.🔗👇🏽
⏰ Applications for Motu’s Āheitanga Thesis Scholarship close 5pm, 3 Oct 2025. Each year we offer up to two $5k scholarships to support Māori students. Past recipient Lara Greaves (Ngāpuhi) got an A+ for her Masters and is now an Associate Professor in politics at Victoria University. Details here 👇🏽
October 1, 2025 at 12:28 AM
⏰ Applications for Motu’s Āheitanga Thesis Scholarship close 5pm, 3 Oct 2025. Each year we offer up to two $5k scholarships to support Māori students. Past recipient Lara Greaves (Ngāpuhi) got an A+ for her Masters and is now an Associate Professor in politics at Victoria University. Details here 👇🏽