Anemic recovery

Written By: - Date published: 7:49 am, June 24th, 2013 - 113 comments
Categories: class war, economy, employment, national - Tags: , ,

Despite the heroic efforts of National’s spinsters (Hi Matthew!) the economic “recovery” remains anemic. Over the last few days we’ve had various reports. Let’s start here:

Economy grows just 0.3pc – half expected pace

The New Zealand economy grew at half the pace analysts were expecting in the first three months of the year as drought across the North Island sapped milk production and dragged the agriculture sector down. The kiwi dollar fell on the numbers.

Gross domestic product grew 0.3 per cent to $37.1 billion in the three months ended March 31, from a pace of 1.5 per cent in the December period, according to Statistics New Zealand. That’s half the 0.6 per cent rate predicted in a Reuters survey of economists and below the 0.5 per cent pace forecast by the Reserve Bank in its June monetary policy statement published last week.

The economy grew at annual 2.5 per cent, in line with expectations, and activity in the March quarter was 2.4 per cent higher than the same period a year earlier. …

“Today’s data confirmed the economy started 2013 on a mixed note, with recent quarterly volatility a reminder that the economy is navigating its way through various shocks. This volatility looks set to continue given the pending drought hit, with the required shift in resources to facilitate rising construction sector activity likely to create tensions,” said [ANZ economist] Smith.

“Moreover, the housing-induced uplift still looks difficult to sustain without a pronounced improvement in the labour market backdrop, and with pending fiscal tightening and a RBNZ prudential policy response.

We’re spending our houses again. Not good. And there’s cause for concern on jobs too:

Job ads not at economic recovery party

Job advertisements fell 1.7 per cent in May, reversing previous gains and indicating that the job market has yet to catch up with the economic recovery, ANZ says.

The latest ANZ New Zealand Job Advertisements report shows newspaper job ads fell 7.2 per cent in May, while internet job ads fell 0.7 per cent. This was despite strong gains in February and March.

Given that job advertising leads changes in unemployment data by six months, the new figures suggest a risk the unemployment rate will rise, the bank said.

When it comes to the big picture you simply can’t beat Bernard Hickey:

Reform tax to spread recovery fairly

…Stock markets around the globe slumped when US Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke threatened to turn off the money-printing drip by mid-next year. Long-term interest rates rose sharply. Most importantly for New Zealand, even China’s new leadership got in on the act, forcing up interest rates to their highest point in a decade. The NZ dollar fell three US cents to its lowest point in a year. Banks started raising fixed mortgage rates. Now we’ll see just how sustainable the economic recoveries in the US, China and NZ are. Will we see yet another false start before a relapse to medicated remission? …

NZ shares a big problem with the US and Europe. Our household sectors are still heavily indebted and incomes in the middle and lower income groups are barely above where they were five or six years ago.

Figures this week show NZ’s real per capita GDP is still 1.3 per cent below 2007’s. Most of the gains in any economic recovery have gone to the top few per cent of the population. Property owners in Auckland and owners of stocks have been the major beneficiaries.

A study of the US recovery from 2009 to 2011 found the incomes of the top 1 per cent rose 11.2 per cent, while the real incomes of the bottom 99 per cent fell 0.4 per cent, which meant the top 1 per cent captured 121 per cent of the recovery’s gains.

True economic rehabilitation requires reform to more heavily tax the incomes and assets of the wealthiest 10 per cent then redistribute that as income to the bottom 90 per cent. [My emphasis]

What recovery there is has been captured by the few – see also:
Economic growth still benefiting only a few
Times tough but not for Nats’ friends

As I’ve been saying for a long time now – we’ll dig ourselves out of the economic doldrums eventually, not because of the Nats’ policies, but in spite of them. All National have managed is to hold us back for four years.

113 comments on “Anemic recovery ”

  1. tc 1

    The top end of town is doing very nicely thanks and the farmers can do as they please with their land pretty much with juicy revenue generating assets on the block, job done in the NACT world.

  2. Colonial Viper 2

    Hmmmmm…any serious economic growth means more fossil fuel use and consumption of imported products. That’s the dilemma we find ourselves living in within the current system.

  3. The Auckland housing market is scary. Lemming like there are hordes of people wanting to buy houses signing more and more extreme contracts. It is pretty terrifying and people are going to get hurt.

    There is a political dynamic in play. People will not say it but as soon as the words “reduction in house prices” people do a quick calculation in their head and see how much they would lose. This makes fundamental change very difficult.

    The two ways of addressing it are on the table thought. Labour’s and Mana’s policies of mass new house construction will achieve a lot of good and a capital gains tax is way overdue.

    But watch as personal greed clashes with community good …

    • One Anonymous Knucklehead 3.1

      Won’t population growth (5M by 2026) offset a lot of the downward pressure on house prices?

      • ghostrider888 3.1.1

        this supply side issue could linger.

      • Draco T Bastard 3.1.2

        Not if the government builds enough homes. IMO, the government should ensure that there’s a 1 to 2 percent over supply of housing.

    • King Kong 3.2

      I don’t think you can describe not wanting to have (what is most peoples) only major asset half in value, as greed.

      Vilifying hard working home owners like that is mental. I can see the John Ansell billboards now,
      National – Homeowner, Labour – C**t.

      • Colonial Viper 3.2.1

        Except home ownership is dropping like a rock right now, dickwad.

        PS a house is not a speculative investment asset, it’s just a roof over your head. Or at least, thats what it needs to go to.

        • King Kong 3.2.1.1

          Going after existing homeowners is sure to be electoral gold because they are so insignificant in number now. Now that is the plan of a dickwad.

          It is not necessarily speculative, but property is an investment…at least it is on this planet.

          • vto 3.2.1.1.1

            what’s your solution then ?

            to get housing to the internationally accepted affordable level.

            • King Kong 3.2.1.1.1.1

              Personally I don’t think there is a problem as there is a good ammount of affordable housing available throughout the country.

              This tends to be more about young, first time buyers wanting stables and a boating lake on their new property but only wanting to pay entry price levels.

              Secondly, if there is a problem and houses are overvalued, then the market will sort it out.

              • vto

                “Personally I don’t think there is a problem as there is a good ammount of affordable housing available throughout the country.”

                I was asking what your solution to the problem is, not if there is a problem. i.e. “If X is a problem, how would you resolve it?”

                “Secondly, if there is a problem and houses are overvalued, then the market will sort it out.”

                Seriously KK, the market has completely failed to do this. Do you not see that?

                • King Kong

                  No it hasn’t.

                  The market will correct an over valuation but what it is telling you right now is that people are lining up in droves to hit the bid, so it is not over valued.

                  • vto

                    Show us the money kk

                    Where is the supply of affordable housing to meet the demand for affordable housing?

                    • King Kong

                      I suggest you contact Bomber Bradbury if you need a real estate agent however I will give you a clue…its not quarter acre sections in central Auckland.

                    • vto

                      no answer

                    • Colonial Viper

                      KK’s answer is “trust in the free markets”

                      What a dickwad

                    • King Kong

                      Certainly better than your solution of “trust in me and my benevolent lefty mates to dictate this shit”.

                    • vto

                      What, you mean like the original state housing scheme? That government failure?

                      And you still haven’t provided any evidence to back up your own assertion. Waiting …..

              • ghostrider888

                you forgot the golf-course and petting zoo.

              • Draco T Bastard

                Secondly, if there is a problem and houses are overvalued, then the market will sort it out.

                Something that the market has failed to do for at least two centuries.

          • BM 3.2.1.1.2

            Yep
            According to the 2006 census, over 1.5 million people in NZ own or partly own their own house.
            That’s a hell of a lot of voters to piss off.

            • Colonial Viper 3.2.1.1.2.1

              Well you’ve captured the problem in a nutshell right there. Both Labour and National Govts have it in their short and medium term electoral interests to keep blowing the house price bubble up and up and up. Until the ‘pop’ is loud enough to shatter everyone’s eardrums.

              • BM

                House prices can be brought down all you do is increase supply and you achieve that freeing up land cutting consent costs etc and then getting out of the way
                It has to be done without direct government intervention, let the market sought its self out and within a few years you’ll find prices starting to tail off.

                The aim should be getting as many spec builders as possible jumping into the market and flooding it with houses.
                Greed and stupidity will sink house prices not government intervention

                • Colonial Viper

                  Sadly, your method is designed to fail from the start, and to perpetuate unearned income gains by property and property development speculators.

                  1) Changes made to make it clear that housing is not an investment asset as there will be no real price growth in houses going forwards.

                  2) Private retail bank lending to be heavily constrained.

                  3) Population growth in Auckland to be discouraged and shifted out to secondary centres like Hamilton.

                  4) Speculative non occupier demand for houses to be crushed.

                  • BM

                    I disagree.
                    You seem to think we live in a dictatorship where no one gets to vote.
                    Any government that tried to put in place the policies you are proposing would be lucky to survive to the next election.
                    You’ve got to be realistic and try to work within the constraints of the current system because it’s not changing anytime soon.

                    • Colonial Viper

                      If it’s not changing any time soon, why do I hear denial and fear in your voice?

                    • Draco T Bastard

                      You’ve got to be realistic

                      LOL

                      What you’re suggesting is against reality.

                • Draco T Bastard

                  House prices can be brought down all you do is increase supply and you achieve that freeing up land cutting consent costs etc and then getting out of the way

                  Doing that will push the cost of living up and won’t actually bring the price of houses down. Driving the cost of living up will, without doubt, increase the amount of poverty in NZ. What you suggest will only benefit the land-banksters.

                  It has to be done without direct government intervention, let the market sought its self out and within a few years you’ll find prices starting to tail off.

                  The market is a social construct the regulations that the government set actually define it. Also, the market doesn’t work as the GFC just proved – again.

                  • BM

                    Only because the US government stuck its oar in and fucked everything up.
                    Should have just let everything crash and burn and then let things recover naturally.

                    Bailing out businesses with tax payer money was dumb beyond belief.

                    • ghostrider888

                      that is an interesting concession of yours we must remember BM; “crash and burn”. Yep, the US and the troika have just insulated the straw house for a little while longer.

                    • Draco T Bastard

                      Bailing out businesses with tax payer money was dumb beyond belief.

                      The only thing dumber was being capitalist in the first place.

                    • ropata

                      BM: we tried the “no regulations” approach and got leaky and cold untreated timber homes stapled together by dodgy operators who conveniently went out of business and left councils and homeowners with a $6 billion mess.

                      Housing would have been more plentiful and cheaper if builders weren’t spending so much time fixing up crazy Art Deco flat roofed leakers up and down the country

                    • ropata

                      BM: we tried the “no regulations” approach and got leaky and cold untreated timber homes stapled together by dodgy operators who conveniently went out of business and left councils and homeowners with a $6 billion mess.

                      Housing would have been more plentiful and cheaper if builders weren’t spending so much time fixing up crazy Art Deco flat roofed leakers up and down the country

      • One Anonymous Knucklehead 3.2.2

        Reality check: property will not halve in value; but it won’t treble, either, and that’s the point.

        • Colonial Viper 3.2.2.1

          In Auckland, nominal house prices have trebled in just 20 years.

          • One Anonymous Knucklehead 3.2.2.1.1

            So there should be plenty of room to reduce the rate of increase without devaluing existing property.

      • gsays 3.2.3

        an interesting question: what is greed?

        i would suggest it is having more than your fair share.

        in order to have more than you fair share then someone else must go without.

        this is at the root of all our problems.

        till we can learn to simply share ( not barter, not trade ), we are screwed.

      • Draco T Bastard 3.2.4

        The value hasn’t changed – just the price.

        Besides, the government could offer 0% interest loans so that the drop in price wouldn’t mean anything.

    • Colonial Viper 3.3

      MS – I’m going to run Bernard Hickey’s line – it’s not supply which is the main problem in Auckland, it is demand. Whether it’s locals looking for a 5th investment flat, or overseas Australians, Europeans or Chinese coming here with cheap money looking for asset price growth.

      • mikesh 3.3.1

        It seems to me that rationing of purchases in designated “shortage” areas would make a lot of sense.

    • vto 3.4

      This will melt down before the year’s out I reckon. It never melted down properly last time (post-GFC) and this will be a continuation of that previous meltdown.

      Politically, a bubble like this helps the incumbent government and vv a burst bubble harms them of course.

      Longer term, the ridiculous costs of building require a multi-faceted approach…

      Code and regs keep pushing requirments and costs up. Latest example – scaffold cf ladders = $4,000 per house.
      Government put GST up 2.5%
      Councils put up development contributions.
      Building supplies monopolies and duopolies such as cement. Total rort. Compare Aussie costs.
      Allowing foreigners to own our houses. Fucking dumb.
      Tax structures in NZ favaour making money via capital gains.
      Complete and utter failure of the ‘free market’ to supply a demand for affordable housing.
      Desire by every single government to get house prices rising due to its effect on voting patterns at general elections.
      Land supply limitations and controls (to a lesser extent than each of the above).
      ..

      on it goes.

      Muli-pronged. Some governments with big balls is needed to monster every single one of these issues all at once. But expect fight back from vested interests (banks and existing property owners).

      • Tim 3.4.1

        “Building supplies monopolies and duopolies such as cement. Total rort. Compare Aussie costs.”
        Agree absolutely.
        I’m amazed there hasn’t been an inquiry into the costs of building supplies. I mean FFS! We grow radiata pine here in abundance.
        I recently had to do some essential repairs and based my estimate on costs from a previous project some years ago + a margin for inflation (or so I thought).
        I was out by a mile!
        Rort is exactly what it is

    • AmaKiwi 3.5

      @ MickeySavage

      A mania is emotional, not rational.

      You’re absolutely right. When this real estate bubble bursts there will be widespread pain and blame.

      I have tried to convince friends to be cautious but it’s hopeless. Fear and greed are immune to reason.

      • Colonial Viper 3.5.1

        Yep, good friend has just leveraged to the hilt on his first home in Ellerslie this year. A real estate agent has said to him if he wanted to sell now he could walk away with $100K extra clean in capital gains. Except by the time he found another house he would likely be behind again…it’s madness.

        • vto 3.5.1.1

          Ha, yep you see that aint a gain at all is it. Unless your friend is going to step our of the housing market. This is the fallacy.

          Mind you its all good for the banks ……

          • Colonial Viper 3.5.1.1.1

            Well, you could step out of the Auckland housing market and move into the Bulls housing market…

  4. geoff 4

    If Japan is anything to go by then it won’t be long until the money printing fires up again.

    http://ourworld.unu.edu/en/japan-as-the-new-normal-living-in-a-constrained-economy/

    • Colonial Viper 4.1

      Money printing is not going to help Japan now. They aren’t illiquid, they are insolvent. The Japanese Govt now owes 1 quadrillion yen. Currently 25% of their tax revenues are spent on paying the interest on government debt.

      Take a look at this – Kyle Bass has Japan nailed.

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZY6IEpKRA7Y

      • geoff 4.1.1

        Some great sound bites from that vid (so far):
        (Speaking about the Japanese government) “They’re spending more than twice what they make for 5 years in a row”

        • Colonial Viper 4.1.1.1

          Japan has had 10 Finance Ministers in 5 years. That’s a bit of a clue there I reckon.

          • geoff 4.1.1.1.1

            So this Kyle Bass guy made his millions by shorting the sub-prime crisis. And now he runs a hedge fund and seems have a reputation as the guy who can pick when things are about to go belly up.

            What I find interesting about these kinds of guys, ie Bass, Max Keiser, etc who make lots of public statements about how such and such is going to go belly up, or gold is about to go through the roof etc, is that they seem to continually get it wrong.

            How many months did Keiser go on about the ‘paper apocalypse’ which, so far, hasn’t occurred? This Kyle Bass guy has been going on about Japan disintegrating since 2010 and yet still it hasn’t quite happened.

            I’m not saying I disagree with all of their analysis but you can’t help but roll your eyes a little when hear about the latest financial thing that is supposedly on the verge of imploding.

            • Colonial Viper 4.1.1.1.1.1

              Bass is a fiduciary and he successfully looked after the interests of his investors.

              Yes, Max Keiser has underestimated how long the powers that be can keep kicking the can down the road for.

              But you need to bear in mind a few things: for tens of millions of Americans who can no longer retire in the comfort they thought because their pension funds have been wiped out, financial armageddon has already come. For the tens of millions of Americans who have already suffered a home foreclosure, financial armageddon has already come. For the hundreds of thousands of Greek and Spanish small business owners who have closed down in the last few years, financial armageddon has already come.

              And for the rest of us, we’ve been saddled with massive debts directly and indirectly to pay for the rescue of insolvent financial institutions and banks.

              What I’m saying is this: shit hasn’t collapsed for most people in NZ yet, but let’s not ignore the fact that it’s definitely already happened to many and it is rolling around the world.

              Michael Burry on how he hated making millions from the subprime crisis:

              http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CLhqjOzoyE

              as for Japan – Bass says you can’t argue with the numbers. Japan is insolvent. The only variable now is the psychology of the market participants, and how long they will go along with kicking the can down the road. 10 finance ministers in 5 years. That says something.

              • geoff

                No argument from me on lots of those points. You’ve said it well with your ‘kicking the can down the road’ line in reference to Keiser but I can’t help but lump all the other predictions that are shorting the system, such as Bass’s, in with that analogy.

                Let’s assume that the main beneficiaries of the global economy have strong common interests and that if something as large as the Japanese economy collapses then they will all suffer (c.f the GFC). If that were the case then I think they would all work very hard together to stop that from happening.

                Remember it’s just a made up system, it isn’t like the laws of physics, so if the powers that be feel the need to change the rules for their own survival then they will simply change the rules.

                • Colonial Viper

                  if something as large as the Japanese economy collapses then they will all suffer (c.f the GFC). If that were the case then I think they would all work very hard together to stop that from happening.

                  Normally, yes. If all the other members of the G20 or the OECD were in rude financial health, with surpluses and reserves to spare.

                  But now, that is not the reality. I think we will find that national self interest, not systemic interest, is suddenly going to become more prominent.

                  • geoff

                    Nah, national self interest doesn’t exist, CV. Multinational corps rule and they’ll do as they please.

                    • Colonial Viper

                      Mostly true, although in reality it’s a few thousand corporate board members and institutional fund leaders (I suggest fewer than 10,000 people in total) who are in charge

    • ghostrider888 4.2

      “Reluctant to spend that money at home” in Japan
      http://www.ibtimes.com/japanese-foreign-direct-investment-fdi-japan-inc-seeking-growth-abroad-1318357
      promoting foreign direct-investment, hollowing out the domestic economy.

  5. ghostrider888 5

    and, moving Right along to the asset sales programme;
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10892418
    “Prospects Gloomy” (otherwise fine in the bay)
    -“MRP won’t pass $2.50 in next 12 months suggest 3 / 5 broker analysts”
    -“difficulties facing the float of Meridian and Genesis now even greater” even.

    Yeaup yeaup yeaup

  6. Jimmie 6

    Right so we can add ‘drought causer’ to the list of John Key’s sins.

    It could probably slot right in between ‘child eater’ and ‘rich prick’.

    Never mind that when Key has a policy of promoting the building of water storage dams to negate the effect of droughts he is dammed as a rich prick and out to help his rich farmer mates.

    Stupid is as stupid does.

    • One Anonymous Knucklehead 6.1

      John Key has a policy of building dams? He’s keeping damned quiet about it.

      New Zealand history shows that all Labour led governments have managed the economy better than your pack of clowns. Get over it.

      PS: now I get it; Key wants to sell the dams, not build them, you goose.

      • Jimmie 6.1.1

        Um Knucklenhead you dodo take off your one eyed blinker for a second and read the following link.

        http://www.national.org.nz/PDF_General/Primary_Sector_policy_.pdf

        I said water storage dams – helps promote irrigation use during dry summers – negates the effect of extended summer dry periods. Hard for Key to sell them when they are built yet.

        In regards to your comment about Labour led governments I assume that you fully support Roger Douglas’s reforms in the 1980’s then?

        • One Anonymous Knucklehead 6.1.1.1

          Really? Well I suggest you stop making an ass of yourself then.

          Anyway, regarding the National Party’s water policy plan to give handouts to farmers, do you know how much they charged their clients in the farming sector for it?

        • Te Reo Putake 6.1.1.2

          Tired old link, Jimmie. If only they were committed to doing something about it in a timely manner. Last I heard, they’d put a few million aside to do the investigation work, hire a few of their cronies, etc. but no actual earthworks. I guess they just aspirational.

        • Kevin Welsh 6.1.1.3

          Considering we are told that there is a dearth of great investment opportunities in NZ, here is the perfect vehicle for the well-heeled Jimmie. Time for farmers and the wealthy to put their money where their mouths are and invest in the likes of the Ruataniwha dam scheme… but we know they won’t when there is the perennial sucker called the tax payer waiting to front the cash and take the risk.

          • ghostrider888 6.1.1.3.1

            Yep, running around looking for other investors, including the ratepayer, kinda like flying choppers in to free snow-bound stock at a $1000+ an hour while pleading for volunteer assistance to save their wooly assets.

      • Melb 6.1.2

        Including in the run up to that 1990 election where they lied about the state of the government books?

  7. Winston Smith 7

    This is not good for Labour…

    The best the left can come up with is the economy not growing as quickly as expected (so its growing) even though NZs doing a lot better than most

    So your secret weapon is Bernard Hickey…better than Shearer I suppose

    • One Anonymous Knucklehead 7.1

      Yes, that’s the best. Unless you count NZ Power. And Kiwibuild. And closing charter schools. And abolishing National Standards, and returning some balance to employment law.

      There’s probably a few other things besides, so yes, I expect we can safely say that pointing out how shit the National Party is is about the tenth best thing or so. But you were close.

    • ghostrider888 7.2

      …and Brian Fallow, Brian Easton, Shamubeel Eaqub, Colin James, Kim Hill, Bryce Edwards…

  8. Richard Down South 8

    A free market doesn’t supply what’s needed, it supplies whats PROFITABLE

    • vto 8.1

      And therein lies one of many of its flaws.

      Lordy knows why people think the free market can solve everything. Whatever happenned to roger dougal, richard puddle, don crash, rodney don’t hide amd david farrart……….. why don’t they come out and explain where their theories have gone all awry?

      • Colonial Viper 8.1.1

        Well the simple fact is that there’s too much regulation and taxes are still too high, so if we were to get rid of just a bit more, we’d reach FMU (Free Market Utopia)

  9. Matthew Hooton 9

    Very disappointing GDP data, you are absolutely right. Only a bit over 1.8% for the six months to 31 March.

    May tourism stats look good though: http://m.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/population/Migration/IntTravelAndMigration_MRMay13.aspx. The minister must be doing a good job. Hopefully Q2 2013 GDP will be much better than Q1 2013 partly as a result.

    • Arfamo 9.1

      May tourism stats look good though: The minister must be doing a good job.

      How does that follow?

      • Matthew Hooton 9.1.1

        I was being ironic and baiting you. I don’t think ministers of particular industries do all that much to drive extra demand. But if anyone here wants to blame ministers for negative developments in their portfolio sectors, then obviously you must acknowledge the minister’s “success” in this case. Here’s to Mr Key, surely contributors here should be saying.

        • ghostrider888 9.1.1.1

          thats some chum!

        • Te Reo Putake 9.1.1.2

          “But if anyone here wants to blame ministers for negative developments in their portfolio sectors, then obviously you must acknowledge the minister’s “success” in this case.”

          Only where the success/failure can be directly linked to the Minister concerned.

          And don’t call me surely.

        • Arfamo 9.1.1.3

          I was being ironic and baiting you.

          Fair enough. You may be baiting someone, but not me. I’m just following the debate.

    • ghostrider888 9.2

      looking to change paymasters Matthew?

      • Matthew Hooton 9.2.1

        Strangely, I have this policy of saying, when GDP growth is strong, that that is good for the govt and, when GDP growth is weak or negative, that that is bad for the govt. There are no “paymasters”.

        • ghostrider888 9.2.1.1

          Bet, you’ve heard this song reflected upon in many a bar, from student beer-palace, to broad sports-bar to boutique cock-tail club;

          “You got to know when to hold ’em, know when to fold ’em
          Know when to walk away and know when to run.
          You never count your money when you’re sittin’ at the table.
          There’ll be time enough for countin’, when the dealin’s done.

          Now Ev’ry gambler knows, that the secret to survivin’
          Is knowin’ what to throw away and knowin’ what to keep.”

          Kind Recards.

        • KJT 9.2.1.2

          Good spin Hoots (With laughter).

          Spin all you like, but the fact is in NZ history the more right wing the Government the lower the economic growth. 30% less GDP growth under right wing governments, on average.

          They cannot even do well by their own favourite measurements.

          Of course by almost any other measure, National, is, a national disaster!

          And. Without the “hospital pass”, for National, of Christchurch reconstruction, migration, Auckland housing booms and artificially high interest rates attracting offshore loan money. GDP growth would be well into the negative.

    • felix 9.3

      Bahahaha Hooton you’re such a retard.

      Do you seriously think anyone is going to fall for you suddenly measuring in 6 month increments?

      Quarters, dick.

  10. Adrian 10

    My understanding is that the CHCH rebuild growth contribution was greater than the .03% which would make negative growth for the last however long. Mike King today in an analysis of Chch byelection reckoned 12000 at one stage had left there for Auckland, as some are now getting their payout it would be nice to see some research to see how much this influx is having on demand.

    • vto 10.1

      Exactly Adrian.

      Strip away the Christchurch rebuild (which is a bloody broken-window situation anyway) and the economy will surely have shrunk.

      • Winston Smith 10.1.1

        That maybe but the point is it hasn’t shrunk…

        You lefties like to make excuses rather than face up to your failings:

        “Nationals only popular because: A John Key B MSM C Money from business owners D people are sheple”

        Way not face up to the major issues in your own parties, fix them and give NZ a credible opposition and stop making excuses

        • ghostrider888 10.1.1.1

          you be preaching to the converted.

        • Pascal's bookie 10.1.1.2

          How was vto ‘making excuses’?

          Excuses for what?

          The problem with you righties is that you make no damn sense at all.

          The fact is that rebuilding chch is adding a few points to the gdp figures, unless we have a city destroying earthquake every few years then it’s not really a sustainable f=growth plan. English said he was going to rebalance the economy. When he going to do that/ The tax changes were supposed to do the trick. But they didn’t.

          English also used to talk about the fact that the property boom under labour created a ‘fake economy’ and that the jobs weren’t ‘real’. He’s not saying that now that property is ranking up again is he? But at least under Labour there were jobs.

          • Rosetinted 10.1.1.2.1

            Apparently a unit in the middle of a block, valued at about $350,000, went for near $700,000 in Auckland not long ago. This is total hearsay. Apparently also people are just about crying when they go to auctions of places that they expect to be within their reach.

      • Colonial Viper 10.1.2

        Remember: along with debt levels, GDP per capita is the important measure

  11. ghostrider888 11

    “Chinese economy in free-fall” (relative)
    http://www.ibtimes.com/chinas-economy-free-fall-manufacturing-contracts-again-shibor-climbs-higher-1315953
    while the SHIBOR climbs. hmmm. How those trade-winds turn.

    • Colonial Viper 11.1

      thank goodness we haven’t been relying on shit tonnes of coal and iron ore exports to China to support our economy. This slow down might cause us real trouble otherwise. Oh wait…

  12. ghostrider888 12

    “Developed economies ‘steady’, emerging markets disappoint”
    http://www.ibtimes.com/global-economic-growth-modest-emerging-markets-disappoint-developed-economies-hold-steady-barclays
    Get thee to Malaysia, or Mexico and the Phillipines.

  13. Poission 13

    now lets see since the GFC the loan servicing ( interest) of household debt has decreased by around 4.5 billion a year, and still GDP is in the 3 sigma error range,It is time for either the RB or treasury to provide some simplistic reasons.
    [Bunji: fixed typo in name]

  14. Mark 14

    The cost of building a house in Nz is so far over the top that there has to be price fixing somewhere in the chain. I am in Perth at the moment on business and for $175,000 numerous home building companies will build you a new house with 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, double garage, landscaped and fully furnished on your section. Real eye opener compared to Nz. Land and house packages start at $280,000 and they are really nice. Something is rotten in the Nz housing market.

  15. Mark 15

    The cost of building a house in Nz is so far over the top that there has to be price fixing somewhere in the chain. I am in Perth at the moment on business and for $175,000 numerous home building companies will build you a new house with 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, double garage, landscaped and fully furnished on your section. Real eye opener compared to Nz. Land and house packages start at $280,000 and they are really nice. Something is rotten in the Nz housing market.

  16. Mark 16

    The cost of building a house in Nz is so far over the top that there has to be price fixing somewhere in the chain. I am in Perth at the moment on business and for $175,000 numerous home building companies will build you a new house with 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, double garage, landscaped and fully furnished on your section. Real eye opener compared to Nz. Land and house packages start at $280,000 and they are really nice. Something is rotten in the Nz housing market.

  17. vto 17

    The cost of building a house in Nz is so far over the top that there has to be price fixing somewhere in the chain. I am in Perth at the moment on business and for $175,000 numerous home building companies will build you a new house with 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, double garage, landscaped and fully furnished on your section. Real eye opener compared to Nz. Land and house packages start at $280,000 and they are really nice. Something is rotten in the Nz housing market.

  18. vto 18

    The cost of building a house in Nz is so far over the top that there has to be price fixing somewhere in the chain. I am in Perth at the moment on business and for $175,000 numerous home building companies will build you a new house with 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, double garage, landscaped and fully furnished on your section. Real eye opener compared to Nz. Land and house packages start at $280,000 and they are really nice. Something is rotten in the Nz housing market..

  19. vto 19

    The cost of building a house in Nz is so far over the top that there has to be price fixing somewhere in the chain. I am in Perth at the moment on business and for $175,000 numerous home building companies will build you a new house with 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, double garage, landscaped and fully furnished on your section. Real eye opener compared to Nz. Land and house packages start at $280,000 and they are really nice. Something is rotten in the Nz housing market…

    • Colonial Viper 19.1

      I believe the classical term for it is “rape and pillage”

      However do take into account that NZ workers are paid much more than their Aussie construction counterparts. Oh wait…

      • vto 19.1.1

        hmmmpphh… we will only know after it’s been raped and pillaged

        one must take ones own comfort ….

  20. Whatever next 20

    Yep, ” cooking the books” and a ” shiter future”

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • EV road user charges bill passes
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the passing of legislation to move light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the road user charges system from 1 April.  “It was always intended that EVs and PHEVs would be exempt from road user charges until they reached two ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago
  • Bill targets illegal, unregulated fishing in international waters
    New Zealand is strengthening its ability to combat illegal fishing outside its domestic waters and beef up regulation for its own commercial fishers in international waters through a Bill which had its first reading in Parliament today. The Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2023 sets out stronger ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago
  • Reserve Bank appointments
    Economists Carl Hansen and Professor Prasanna Gai have been appointed to the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is the independent decision-making body that sets the Official Cash Rate which determines interest rates.  Carl Hansen, the executive director of Capital ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    13 hours ago
  • Stronger protections for apartment owners
    Apartment owners and buyers will soon have greater protections as further changes to the law on unit titles come into effect, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Act had already introduced some changes in December 2022 and May 2023, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    15 hours ago
  • Travel focused on traditional partners and Middle East
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Egypt and Europe from this weekend.    “This travel will focus on a range of New Zealand’s traditional diplomatic and security partnerships while enabling broad engagement on the urgent situation in Gaza,” Mr Peters says.   Mr Peters will attend the NATO Foreign ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    15 hours ago
  • Keep safe on our roads this Easter
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown is encouraging all road users to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. “Road safety is a responsibility we all share, and with increased traffic on our roads expected this Easter we ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago
  • Cost of living support for over 1.4 million Kiwis
    About 1.4 million New Zealanders will receive cost of living relief through increased government assistance from April 1 909,000 pensioners get a boost to Superannuation, including 5000 veterans 371,000 working-age beneficiaries will get higher payments 45,000 students will see an increase in their allowance Over a quarter of New Zealanders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago
  • Tenancy reviews for social housing restart
    Ensuring social housing is being provided to those with the greatest needs is front of mind as the Government restarts social housing tenancy reviews, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. “Our relentless focus on building a strong economy is to ensure we can deliver better public services such as social ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago
  • Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary plan halted
    The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary will not go ahead, with Cabinet deciding to stop work on the proposed reserve and remove the Bill that would have established it from Parliament’s order paper. “The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill would have created a 620,000 sq km economic no-go zone,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago
  • Cutting all that dam red tape
    Dam safety regulations are being amended so that smaller dams won’t be subject to excessive compliance costs, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on reducing costs and removing unnecessary red tape so we can get the economy back on track.  “Dam safety regulations ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • Drought support extended to parts of North Island
    The coalition Government is expanding the medium-scale adverse event classification to parts of the North Island as dry weather conditions persist, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “I have made the decision to expand the medium-scale adverse event classification already in place for parts of the South Island to also cover the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • Passage of major tax bill welcomed
    The passing of legislation giving effect to coalition Government tax commitments has been welcomed by Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill will help place New Zealand on a more secure economic footing, improve outcomes for New Zealanders, and make our tax system ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Lifting economy through science, tertiary sectors
    Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds today announced plans to transform our science and university sectors to boost the economy. Two advisory groups, chaired by Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, will advise the Government on how these sectors can play a greater ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government announces Budget priorities
    The Budget will deliver urgently-needed tax relief to hard-working New Zealanders while putting the government’s finances back on a sustainable track, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says.  The Finance Minister made the comments at the release of the Budget Policy Statement setting out the Government’s Budget objectives. “The coalition Government intends ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government to consider accommodation solution
    The coalition Government will look at options to address a zoning issue that limits how much financial support Queenstown residents can get for accommodation. Cabinet has agreed on a response to the Petitions Committee, which had recommended the geographic information MSD uses to determine how much accommodation supplement can be ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government approves extension to Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care
    Cabinet has agreed to a short extension to the final reporting timeframe for the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care from 28 March 2024 to 26 June 2024, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says.                                         “The Royal Commission wrote to me on 16 February 2024, requesting that I consider an ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • $18m boost for Kiwis travelling to health treatment
    The coalition Government is delivering an $18 million boost to New Zealanders needing to travel for specialist health treatment, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says.   “These changes are long overdue – the National Travel Assistance (NTA) scheme saw its last increase to mileage and accommodation rates way back in 2009.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM’s Prizes for Space to showcase sector’s talent
    The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealand’s growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister’s Prizes for Space today. “New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Concerns conveyed to China over cyber activity
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government.     “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity, attributed to groups sponsored by the Chinese Government, targeting democratic institutions in both New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry
    Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry Education Minister Erica Stanford today announced the appointment of three independent reviewers to lead the Ministerial Inquiry into the Ministry of Education’s School Property Function.  The Inquiry will be led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully. “There is a clear need ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Brynderwyns open for Easter
    State Highway 1 across the Brynderwyns will be open for Easter weekend, with work currently underway to ensure the resilience of this critical route being paused for Easter Weekend to allow holiday makers to travel north, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Today I visited the Brynderwyn Hills construction site, where ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Speech to the Infrastructure Funding & Financing Conference
    Introduction Good morning to you all, and thanks for having me bright and early today. I am absolutely delighted to be the Minister for Infrastructure alongside the Minister of Housing and Resource Management Reform. I know the Prime Minister sees the three roles as closely connected and he wants me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Parliamentary network breached by the PRC
    New Zealand stands with the United Kingdom in its condemnation of People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-backed malicious cyber activity impacting its Electoral Commission and targeting Members of the UK Parliament. “The use of cyber-enabled espionage operations to interfere with democratic institutions and processes anywhere is unacceptable,” Minister Responsible for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • NZ to provide support for Solomon Islands election
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced New Zealand will provide logistics support for the upcoming Solomon Islands election. “We’re sending a team of New Zealand Defence Force personnel and two NH90 helicopters to provide logistics support for the election on 17 April, at the request ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • NZ-EU FTA gains Royal Assent for 1 May entry to force
    The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand’s ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union.    “I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • COVID-19 inquiry attracts 11,000 submissions
    Public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has concluded, Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden says.  “I have been advised that there were over 11,000 submissions made through the Royal Commission’s online consultation portal.” Expanding the scope of the Royal Commission of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Families to receive up to $75 a week help with ECE fees
    Hardworking families are set to benefit from a new credit to help them meet their early childcare education (ECE) costs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. From 1 July, parents and caregivers of young children will be supported to manage the rising cost of living with a partial reimbursement of their ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Unlocking a sustainable, low-emissions future
    A specialised Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) tasked with preparing and publishing independent non-binding advice on the design of a "green" (sustainable finance) taxonomy rulebook is being established, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says.  “Comprising experts and market participants, the ITAG's primary goal is to deliver comprehensive recommendations to the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Chief of Army thanked for his service
    Defence Minister Judith Collins has thanked the Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell, DSD, for his service as he leaves the Army after 40 years. “I would like to thank Major General Boswell for his contribution to the Army and the wider New Zealand Defence Force, undertaking many different ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders
    25 March 2024 Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders Small Business, Manufacturing, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly will travel to Australia for a series of bi-lateral meetings and manufacturing visits. During the visit, Minister Bayly will meet with his Australian counterparts, Senator Tim Ayres, Ed ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Government commits nearly $3 million for period products in schools
    Government commits almost $3 million for period products in schools The Coalition Government has committed $2.9 million to ensure intermediate and secondary schools continue providing period products to those who need them, Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced today. “This is an issue of dignity and ensuring young women don’t ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Speech – Making it easier to build.
    Good morning, it’s great to be here.   First, I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors and thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning.  I would like to use this opportunity to outline the Government’s ambitious plan and what we hope to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Pacific youth to shine from boost to Polyfest
    Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti has announced the Government’s commitment to the Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, more commonly known as Polyfest. “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a longtime supporter of Polyfest and, as it celebrates 49 years in 2024, I’m proud to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • 2024 Ngarimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarships announced
    ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Speech to Breast Cancer Foundation – Insights Conference
    Before moving onto the substance of today’s address, I want to recognise the very significant and ongoing contribution the Breast Cancer Foundation makes to support the lives of New Zealand women and their families living with breast cancer. I very much enjoy working with you. I also want to recognise ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Kiwi research soars to International Space Station
    New Zealand has notched up a first with the launch of University of Canterbury research to the International Space Station, Science, Innovation and Technology and Space Minister Judith Collins says. The hardware, developed by Dr Sarah Kessans, is designed to operate autonomously in orbit, allowing scientists on Earth to study ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Speech to the New Zealand Planning Institute
    Introduction Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today and I’m sorry I can’t be there in person. Yesterday I started in Wellington for Breakfast TV, spoke to a property conference in Auckland, and finished the day speaking to local government in Christchurch, so it would have been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Support for Northland emergency response centre
    The Coalition Government is contributing more than $1 million to support the establishment of an emergency multi-agency coordination centre in Northland. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced the contribution today during a visit of the Whangārei site where the facility will be constructed.  “Northland has faced a number ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Celebrating 20 years of Whakaata Māori
    New Zealanders have enjoyed a broader range of voices telling the story of Aotearoa thanks to the creation of Whakaata Māori 20 years ago, says Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka. The minister spoke at a celebration marking the national indigenous media organisation’s 20th anniversary at their studio in Auckland on ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Some commercial fishery catch limits increased
    Commercial catch limits for some fisheries have been increased following a review showing stocks are healthy and abundant, Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The changes, along with some other catch limit changes and management settings, begin coming into effect from 1 April 2024. "Regular biannual reviews of fish ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-03-28T15:30:18+00:00