Liberty International: Sir Roger Douglas Selected as Freedom Torch Awardee 2026

Liberty International is proud to announce that Sir Roger Douglas will receive the Freedom Torch Award 2026, in recognition of his enduring contributions to individual liberty, economic freedom, and public policy reform.

Sir Roger Douglas, Freedom Torch Awardee 2026

Sir Roger Douglas served as New Zealand's Minister of Finance from 1984 to 1988 and is widely recognized as the architect of the landmark economic reforms known as Rogernomics. These reforms fundamentally transformed New Zealand into one of the world's most open and competitive economies. Today, the country ranks 11th out of 184 in the Heritage Foundation's Economic Freedom Index, a powerful testament to the lasting impact of bold, liberty-oriented reforms initiated under Sir Roger Douglas' leadership.

His work reshaped New Zealand's economic landscape by liberalizing markets and opening up to free trade. As economist Steve H. Hanke once wrote, "Sir Roger took New Zealand from far-reaching state interventionism under an ostensibly conservative government (not a success) to one of the most free-market economies in the world." Among the most significant reforms were the removal of foreign-exchange controls, elimination or significant reduction in subsidies to agriculture and several industries, and substantial cuts in the marginal tax rate.

Such was the scope and success of these reforms that some academics have described Sir Roger Douglas as "the author of the most successful economic reform of the 20th century."

That's also the title of a book edited by Josef Šíma and Ján Pavlík dedicated to his legacy. In its opening essay, Jiří Schwarz underscores that "Rogernomics stands as a firm example of applicability of liberal paradigms into the practical economic policy."

Beyond New Zealand, Sir Roger Douglas has also influenced reform movements and policymakers around the world through his books, which include There's Got to be a Better Way!: A Practical ABC to Solving New Zealand's Major Problems (1980), Toward Prosperity (1987), Unfinished Business (1993), and Completing the Circle (1996).

Liberty International is honored to recognize Sir Roger Douglas with the Freedom Torch Award, which honors individuals whose ideas, leadership, and actions have advanced the cause of liberty worldwide. Previous recipients of the award include President Javier Milei (Buenos Aires, 2025), Tom Palmer (Texas, 2024), and Isabel Díaz Ayuso (Madrid, 2023).

US-based Liberty International is dedicated to promoting liberty, freedom and free markets worldwide.