The Institute was founded by former New Zealand Treasury researcher Dr David Skilling, with the expressed aim of "generating ideas, solutions and debate that will improve economic prosperity, social well-being, environmental quality and environmental productivity".
[1] In comparison with longer-established think-tanks such as the New Zealand Business Roundtable, it was envisaged as less doctrinaire.
[2] The Institute claimed to be "committed to political neutrality and evidence-based analysis.
"[1] The following people were involved with the Institute up to its merger: With the departure of founding director David Skilling, the organisation attracted a lower profile, until it was announced in 2011 that it would merge with the New Zealand Business Roundtable.
[4] The merger was officially completed in April 2012, with the new merged organisation known as the New Zealand Initiative.