Guide for invited lecturers

Useful information about the seminars

Background and purpose

The Treasury is Government’s lead economic and fiscal advisor. As such, it has a wide mandate for advising the government on policy issues and expenditure that touch on all aspects of New Zealand society. Topics of interest range widely and include performance of services such as health, education, and justice, economic performance topics such as innovation, regulation and trade, and essential topics such as tax system design and monetary policy.

The purpose of this series, initiated in October 2000, is to invite leading academics from New Zealand and overseas to present a scholarly lecture to a Treasury audience. The speaker would be invited to provide a synoptic view of a theme, drawing on their own research and teaching. The speaker is strongly encouraged to draw out implications for policy formation and advice.

Through the Guest Lecture Series, the Treasury aims to foster debate and provide a source of intellectual stimulation on important issues that underpin its policy advice across these broad areas. We believe these objectives can be served by involving a wide spectrum of speakers from various disciplines, drawing on the wealth of academic scholarship and casting it in a way that helps inform the process of formulating policy advice.

Recently, we have taken a themed approach to the series. Themes usually align with the fiscal year and are broad to allow a diverse range of speakers and topics. Recent themes have included wellbeing, and productivity in a changing world.

Participation

All seminars are open to the public. The audience is typically diverse, including public servants, policy makers, academics, researchers, business community, NGOs, and many others. Treasury staff are automatically invited.

Format

Most lectures are held online using MS Teams. All registered participants receive a seminar joining link prior to the lecture. Occasionally we hold hybrid events, where the invited speaker presents their lecture in person and participants can join us personally at the Treasury or attend virtually.

The Guest Lecturer is invited to speak for around 40-45 minutes. At least 30 minutes is then allowed for questions, comments and discussion.

Slide sharing is welcome

In most cases, Treasury Guest Lectures are recorded and the recording, together with presenter’s slides are shared with all participants post-event. Recording and slides are also posted on the Treasury website.