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Corina Comendant

Senior Managing Economist

P: +64 9 909 5810

E: ccomendant@thinkSapere.com

Corina specialises in consulting on issues relating to the economic and governance outcomes of the low-carbon transition. She has advised on carbon markets design and reform, the circular economy, design of a green investment fund, and developing pathways to achieve low-emissions energy use. Corina has worked with policymakers to implement cost-effective instruments to reduce emissions, and with private businesses to build strategies for managing their carbon assets.

Corina also undertakes economic assessment of decisions other than those emissions-related. Recent projects have included assessing the socio-economic benefits of ultra-fast broadband, the equity impacts from the regional and national fuel tax, and the economic benefits of paraquat (herbicide) use in New Zealand.

Corina has a BA in Economics from Harvard University, and an MSc in Environmental Technology (specialising in Environmental Economics and Policy) from Imperial College London. She has also passed the CFA Level 1 exam.

My publications

Report for the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment The cost benefit analysis (CBA) of proposed changes to the Building Act to support waste and emissions reduction has now been released and the Bill to enable the changes introduced. The CBA was prepared by a Sapere team led by David Moore. We are pleased the ...

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Sapere Research Group were asked by the claimants to respond to the Waitangi Tribunal’s recommendation that a methodology be developed to measure the underfunding of Māori PHOs and providers. The Tribunal provides context to its recommendation: We recognise that there is a compensatory aspect to this process, in that it responds to acknowledged historical underfunding. ...

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International studies show that the fibre network has a lower carbon footprint than other broadband options, primarily due to energy savings. This paper provides a first assessment of the emissions footprint of the current New Zealand fibre network, with a focus on internet provision to households and small to medium-sized businesses. Fibre (GPON and XGS-PON) ...

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In this report, prepared for the BusinessNZ Energy Council, we consider whether the electricity sector is meeting five enduring public policy objectives that seem enduring for policymakers across countries and time. We consider whether the objective is being achieved today and whether it is likely to be achieved given emerging influences. The five policy objectives ...

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Sapere Research Group was commissioned by Trustpower to analyse, and explain the consequences of, the lack of joined up thinking in regulation and decision making across the energy, water, environmental nexus in New Zealand. Toby Stevenson, Dr Stephen Batstone and Corina Comendant look at why a lack of joined up thinking may reduce the contribution ...

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Sapere was commissioned by Transpower to investigate the potential value of Distributed Energy Resources (DER) in a New Zealand context. Transpower is seeking to advance the discussion about how the electricity industry and market may need to evolve with increased penetration of DER. This report broadly considers the value of DER to the New Zealand ...

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Sapere was engaged by Chorus to estimate in monetary values the benefits to consumers from Ultra Fast Broadband (UFB). The intent is to establish a baseline and stimulate further interest in an area that is under-researched. It is a contribution to the discussion and debate, rather than the final word. This report complements earlier work ...

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The Ministry for the Environment commissioned Sapere to analyse the current information provision in the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme. The report offers recommendations on what, how and when information needs to be provided to the market to improve its efficiency. ...

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Dr Stephen Batstone and Toby Stevenson spoke at the recent Downstream 2018 conference on “Transitioning to zero net emissions by 2050: Moving to a very low-emissions electricity system in New Zealand”. Stephen and Toby presented the findings of the work a team from Sapere have completed for the Productivity Commission. This work aims to identify ...

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Gary Blick and Corina Comendant were commissioned by the Sustainable Business Network to provide a view on the potential economic benefits of a circular economy for Auckland. Simply put, a circular economy involves keeping resources and products in use for as long as possible, extracting the maximum value from them while in use, and then ...

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Sapere was engaged by the Productivity Commission to investigate the potential for the electricity sector to contribute to the goal of a low-emissions future in New Zealand. Our paper was produced to support the Commission’s draft report on transitioning to a low-emissions economy. A final report will be presented to the Government in August 2018. ...

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This report documents the work undertaken within the land value workstream. It uses a total economic value framework to identify the plausible economic benefits from alternative uses of Auckland waterfront land under a scenario where the Ports of Auckland freight operations are relocated elsewhere. Please also refer to: Analysis of the Upper North Island Supply ...

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