Oliver Hartwich

Guest writer

Dr Oliver Hartwich is the executive director of the New Zealand Initiative. He drives a German car, has a Korean phone and likes Swiss chocolate.

Bürgen bread (Image: The Spinoff)

There was only one thing about Bürgen that was German and it was not the bread

Two dots above a vowel and a loaf of bread becomes continental.

By Oliver Hartwich | 23rd August, 2026