Denial

Written By: - Date published: 10:27 am, May 19th, 2014 - 112 comments
Categories: uncategorized, you couldn't make this shit up - Tags:

Key was on morning report today to talk about the latest from the OECD, which is that NZ now has the most over-valued houses in the developed world.

Audio

Key’s responses are dire. In a bored voice, Key channels Muldoon and flatly denies there is a problem and claims the OECD have got it wrong.

This guy is completely out of touch.

112 comments on “Denial ”

  1. Tom Gould 1

    Mindless spin and tortured factoids have worked for 6 years, and the media lap it up, so what makes today any different? There’s no housing crisis because their hero says there’s none. End of story. It took Muldoon 9 years to run out of scapegoats and big promises before unbridled power sent him crazy. How long will it take Key?

    • jpwood 1.1

      And the Herald does Mr Key’s job for him –

      http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11257861

      Headline “Housing crisis worse under Clarke’s government”

      A pretty important statement to put into a headline, so you would assume that somewhere in the article somebody would have perhaps researched this. No. It was simply Mr Key’s claim that the housing crisis was worse under Labour. There was no fact checking, just blithe acceptance.

      Even within the article the reason that the claim the housing crisis was worse seems tenuous, that because net migration was higher in a few years, but that was is not challenged.

      • geoff 1.1.1

        That’s pathetic….Key’s excuse of ‘but previous Labour government!!’ is going to get old really quickly if that’s all he’s got.

        Instead of looking for solutions to help NZ in the future he resorts to a feeble blame-game. What a joke.

      • Tracey 1.1.2

        did they spell her name with an “e”?

  2. fisiani 2

    Every time Labour claims there is a crisis then a few weeks later the figures emerge showing the claims are nonsense. There are more houses being built today than at at any other other time in NZ history. There are more consents granted for building at any other time in history. Yet Labour wants to severely limit immigrants including builders. The housing problem is that local Labour dominated councils have placed restrictions on building sites. Thankfully National have forced Len Brown to allow more houses to be built. Its called supply and demand. More and more people want to live in prosperous New Zealand and National wants them to have affordable houses. Builders want to build. Come on Councils get moving.

    • geoff 2.1

      Absolutely, fisiani.

      Nothing to see here, move along…

    • fender 2.2

      ” There are more houses being built today than at any other time in NZ history. There are more consents granted for building at any other time in history”.

      That’s weird, it’s as if thousands of homes got wrecked somewhere and need replacing…

      • Roy 2.2.1

        There you go, putting things in context again! Don’t you know fisiani hates that?!

      • You_Fool 2.2.2

        But if that was the case then the government would be stepping in to help out by making sure that the fixes that were needed were being done and sorting out any disputes over values of repairs and such like.

        • fender 2.2.2.1

          Fortunately not everyone is stranded in the desert of inaction, but the speed (or lack of) is very concerning.

    • You_Fool 2.3

      Ahh national, replacing housing affordability with transport costs!

    • Steve Withers 2.4

      It’s a bit more complicated than that. The houses they are building in Auckland are typically way out on the fringes. HUGE commutes to get to work. The Ellerslie-Panmure and Greenlane East motorway monsters will choke the cars for an hour / day minimum.

      It’s impossible to cross the city cheaply or quickly to get to work – by car or by public transport (thanks to National dragging their heels on the Central Rail Link).

      I won’t be buying a house in Pokeno or Kumeu to get to work in Te Atatu. (for example). The homes being built will have serious problem retaining any value…..and here’s the thing: They certainly won’t be cheap to buy. That defeats the whole purpose of the exercise. Where is the sense in building more homes people either don’t want to buy at all or they can’t afford the entry price?

      We’ll find out in a few years when there are “ghost” suburbs ringing Auckland…..homes no one wants, empty at any price…..and the people who bought them first end up taking a bath.

      Who wins? The land-banking Nat donors pushing for this stupid policy so they make their quick buck .

      • Colonial Viper 2.4.1

        Trying to fit 1/3 of the country’s population in 0.3% of the space is the major problem.

        • Steve Withers 2.4.1.1

          Agreed. It’s a problem all large cities face. Clearly, there is both a need and a demand for intensification. More people in a given area. Aging Kiwis who grew up on quarter acre sections or on farms might not like that much, the hundreds of thousands who recently immigrated from countries where such lifestyles are the norm have few problems with it. But they have little in the way of a political voice.

          The other problem NZ faces is its horrendous regulatory environment around apartments. The whole concept of a body corporate being imposed by the developer – for profit – is a terrible model. It hands all the risk to the “owners” who have no control over any of it as they had no part in the building of the place. The classic Kiwi “build and walk-away” approach……exemplified by the “leaky home” fiasco.

          So who wants to intensify when body corporate fees are 5 times the rates on the same property…and you haven’t paid your mortgage yet? Crazy stuff. All fixable…..but keep the inner-suburb BMW drivers the hell away from the decision making.

        • Psycho Milt 2.4.1.2

          Trying to fit 1/3 of the country’s population in 0.3% of the space is the major problem.

          It’s only a problem because we make it one. I lived in Hamburg during the 90s, a city of upwards of a million people occupying a far smaller land area than Auckland. How it worked, of course, was that no-one expected to live in a house with a garden within 5km of the city centre unless they were fabulously wealthy. We lived in 4- or 5-story walk-up apartment buildings and used public transport to get around. No ordinary person in Hamburg had lived in a house with a garden inside the city walls for centuries, which is why Auckland has a big problem – it hasn’t been around for centuries. The only way out of this is going to be demolishing inner-city houses and building proper urban dwellings, ie apartment blocks – whether the private sector does it or the government does it, somebody is going to have to do it and Aucklanders who demand the lifestyle of a house and section near the centre of a large city need to raise the cash to fund it.

      • lprent 2.4.2

        Yeah, you’d have to be completely desperate to want to live out there and to work anywhere but very close. No public transport and the arterial roads are full because we don’t have decent public transport.

        I live in Grey Lynn/Newton because I’m right next to the transport nexuses so I can choose where I work based on what I want to work on rather than transport lengths. I’ve been job hunting for the last few weeks and noticing the new do nots. As each job comes up, the first thing I look at it how easy it is to get there via public transport vs car from my relatively good location.

        I’ve pretty well eliminated going down the southern way unless the job is right next to a train station. The jams are pretty continuous at ellerslie/greenlane and so far have happened on at least one leg of every trip to interviews during the working day. Since that particular greenlane bend issue has been there since I worked at manakau back in the early 90’s I suspect it is unresolveable. The buses look like they suffer the same issues because there is no dedicated lane(s) on the motorway. They don’t appear to have set up decent feeders from the train line.

        North eastern is ok these days because they put the northern busway in. Dropped the traffic volumes. I used the bus for a job at Takapuna 4 years ago and rather enjoyed my device reading to and from work. Certainly a lot easier than when I was driving to Albany each day pre-busway.

        Haven’t seen anything out west. But that looks pretty clogged except on the train.

        The onehunga area is looking more viable these days due to the train at Newmarket.

        Train is definitely the best – except without the central loop, it looks like it is heading to capacity in the next year or two

        My optimal is to work around the CBD area in walking or inner Link distance …

        • karol 2.4.2.1

          Yep. And it’s a major bottle-neck getting to or from New Lynn in peak periods, whatever direction you go. Train is best to the CBD at peak times. Bus is fine in off-peak times. But I can’t see it getting better – especially with the intensification of residential areas in New Lynn.

          I’m looking to move in the medium to longer term.

          When Key was talking about lots of houses under $400,000 in Auckland – I imagine they are on the outskirts of Auckland where transport poverty rules.

          • lprent 2.4.2.1.1

            When Key was talking about lots of houses under $400,000 in Auckland – I imagine they are on the outskirts of Auckland where transport poverty rules.

            I’m working in Freemans Bay, living in Newton. Currently I fill the tank in my car once between 6-8 weeks. It costs ~$100-110. I put $50 on my Hop card every 3 months.

            If I was living in Kumeu, it is ~25km each way by car and at least 25 minutes each way by car (but at the rush double hours more like 45 minutes). I’d have to fill the car at least once every week (and have a much higher maintenance cost). ~$100-150pw would be my guess. By bus it’d cost $9-$10 each way ~= $100pw and take a bit over an hour each way if the traffic was ok and probably longer at rush hour. And that is to Kumeu centre. There are no buses to where the housing estates are.

            Either way it’d suck. There are also two of us and we have frequently have radically different schedules and we are on different side of the CBD (it takes 20 minutes to go from one side of the CBD to the other in the rush hours by car). So I’d double it.

            Extra cost per week ~$200-$300pw and a unpaid time cost of maybe 10 hours each. That is why I live in Newton rather than out in bubolic Kumeu. I’d only get to see the place on the weekends and it’d cost a bomb. The house prices there simply aren’t low enough to tempt me to pay the extra weekly costs.

            It is no wonder that people are choosing to live close to where they work and why many Aucklanders are desperate for better public transport. I think that these estates in the sticks are just going to be dumping grounds.

            • karol 2.4.2.1.1.1

              Yep. Dumping grounds in the sticks. And Key touts the housing development in his electorate at Hobsonville, while living in Parnell.

              I have the advantage of working part time. My preference would be to live closer to the CBD. But I don’t hold much hope of a rental that is reasonable. On the other hand, I could be OK living further out given my workplaces. But, that means I’d also probably visit the CBD even less.

              I’m torn.

        • Tracey 2.4.2.2

          and in mt eden, not in ags zone, a 3/4 bedrm townhouse, leaking since 1995, inside is appalling too, sold for 744k. before any repair. so theres one of fuzzies building consents, but its not an affordable house.

          house prices highest since 2008.

    • hoom 2.5

      There is no housing afordability crisis in New Zealand
      we can all keep perfectly calm…
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HVogejKx_c

    • Rex 2.6

      Labour isn’t actually the OECD. Face the possibility that “people you don’t like” may not be a single organisation.

  3. ianmac 3

    That interview was astounding. Mr Key’s denial is typical of him but fancy the OECD report being so wrong when Mr Key, the brilliant Economist and successful business man clearly is so right. What a good man to buy a car from or maybe the Auckland Harbour Bridge is in the Key portfolio. My Hero is John Key. Give that man a knighthood. Swoon!

    • geoff 3.1

      Yeah it was astonishing, yet unsurprising as well.

      I was trying to think of a phrase that get used when a politician has like a watershed moment (but not watershed) where they have an issue that skewers them. Not a ‘Nixon moment’ or ‘jumping the shark’ but something along those lines. Anyone know which phrase I mean??

      It feels like housing could be that issue for Key because the problem cant be solved without strong state intervention and he seems totally against that.

      • Clemgeopin 3.1.1

        [I was trying to think of a phrase that get used when a politician has like a watershed moment (but not watershed) where they have an issue that skewers them.]

        Guzzumped
        Bummed out
        Caught out
        Epiphany
        Elephant in the room
        Damascus moment
        Kingkey has no clothes?
        Sh*t hitting fan

        • geoff 3.1.1.1

          Thanks Clem but none of those are sticking out as the one I think I’m thinking of. I could be just going bonkers and there is no such phrase.
          Maybe I’ll just make one up for the occasion, a ‘Muldoon moment’. hmm kinda sounds like a biscuit…’I’ll just nip down to the dairy and buy a pack of Muldoon moments’

          • Anne 3.1.1.1.1

            Trumped?

          • fender 3.1.1.1.2

            How about: Key has painted himself into a corner where the spotlight has exposed him to be “found wanting”.

            Personally I just think Key is bereft of ideas, and is too “comfortable” to be motivated to do anything; he’s got several homes so what’s the problem…

            • You_Fool 3.1.1.1.2.1

              This is probably it, Key and his ministers don’t see the housing problem because they have houses and have no issues buying new ones if they want

          • Lanthanide 3.1.1.1.3

            Crossing the rubicon?

            I think I know what you’re alluding to but can’t put my finger on it either.

            • geoff 3.1.1.1.3.1

              This has the right smell to it, but it doesn’t have the meaning I was going for. I relly do think I’m conflating some phrases in my head and the phrase I’m thinking of probably doesn’t exist.

          • Clemgeopin 3.1.1.1.4

            Burst balloon
            Cat among the pigeons

            Anyway, Geoff, here are some political phrases, quotes and moments from IRELAND for your amusement:

            An Irish solution to an Irish problem – Charles Haughey
            A Protestant Parliament for a Protestant People – James Craig
            "The sort of smug know-all commentator... I suppose if anything annoys me, that annoys me... I could instance a load of fuckers whose throat I'd cut, and push over the nearest cliff, but there's no percentage in that." – Former Taoiseach Charles Haughey speaking to Hot Press writer John Waters in 1984.[97]
            "I am absolutely pissed off..." – Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams, 1998
            "No problem" – Brian Lenihan
            "On mature recollection..." – Brian Lenihan during the 1990 Irish presidential election
            "Let them, fuck it, we'll say no more." – Minister for Defence Michael Smith, while deputising for the Tánaiste one Thursday morning.[97]
            "I am sick of answering questions about the fucking peace process." – Taoiseach John Bruton famously upsetting a local radio reporter in Cork for which he later apologised.[97]
            "Crap, total crap." – Taoiseach Albert Reynolds to dismiss claims that he never spoke to his coalition partner from the PDs, Des O'Malley. Described as a slip of the tongue by press secretary, Sean Duignan, when initially used in an interview with the Sunday Tribune, but later revived for RTÉ and elsewhere.[97]
            "With all due sincerity and in the most unparliamentary language, fuck you Deputy Stagg, fuck you." – Green Party TD Paul Gogarty's outburst directed at Labour Party TD Emmet Stagg during an Irish Budget debate.
            "We have turned a corner." – Fianna Fáil TD and Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan, Jnr's comment on the Irish economy during the Irish Budget debate.
            I suppose I'm going a bit too far when I say this but I'd like to ask Mr. Quinlivan is the brothel still closed?[98] - Minister of Defense Willie O'Dea February 2009 accusation against a local election candidate Maurice Quinlivan. In less than a year, O'Dea would be forced to resign as Minister after submitting an affidavit denying he made the remarks.
            "There was a confluence of events" – Taoiseach Brian Cowen defending his poor performance during a radio interview on the morning of a Fianna Fáil pre-parliamentary event on 14 September 2010.
            "There was a hoarseness in my voice" – Taoiseach Brian Cowen defending his performance on the same occasion.
            "Fiction" – Fianna Fáil TD Dermot Ahern denying rumours of an European Union/International Monetary Fund bailout of Ireland in late 2010. The bailout occurred shortly after Ahern made his denial.

          • McFlock 3.1.1.1.5

            Jumping the shark?

            • geoff 3.1.1.1.5.1

              That is the pretty much what I’m meaning but I thought there must have been an older idiom that captured that.
              Key definitely has jumped the shark on housing now though.

              • Brendon Harre

                I have used the ‘Emperor has no clothes’ analogy in the comment stream here

                http://www.interest.co.nz/news/68945/variety-politicians-and-industry-leaders-have-quickly-responded-first-rise-interest-rates

                “The Emperor has no clothes….. When we stop pretending to see the finery and see the actual facts on the ground….”

                Is that close to what you mean Geoff?

                • geoff

                  That’s close to the meaning of what I was looking for but I was sure there was a line with the word ‘moment’ in it, as in ‘Key’s insert word here moment’.

                  Oh well.

                  • Clemgeopin

                    ‘FOOT IN THE MOUTH moment’

                    ‘Usual LYING BS moment’

                    ‘TROTY moment’

                  • Brendon Harre

                    The ‘Emperor has no clothes moment’ or the ‘John Key has no clothes moment’ kind of captures the idea from the voters perspective.

                    Housing being the issue that has exposed the ‘reality’ facts on the ground not matching John’s glib words, toothy smile and no problem here… That John is not the ‘charismatic’ leader that many claim he is.

                    What it doesn’t capture is how housing imposes an impossible predicament on John. It is his ‘perfect storm moment’ with waves coming from the economics and politics of the situation that cannot be weathered.

      • ffloyd 3.1.2

        Defining moment.??
        Point of no return???

      • sabine 3.1.3

        i think you were looking for this phrased used in 1950’s during the lovely and very entertaining McCarthy area…:)

        “Have you no sense of decency, sir? At long last, have you left no sense of decency?”

        and no he has not.

        It is also not important that he is “out of touch”, he has a house and he can afford it. So you see there is no house crisis, no affordable home crisis, no 3 hours commute crisis, no income crisis, no child poverty crisis, no crisis at all, cause he got his, hers and yours too.

      • Tracey 3.1.4

        met his waterloo?

  4. Awww 4

    Waiting for Campbell Live to send an undercover reporter + kids on the hunt for a rental property as a follow up to their story on house purchasing which demonstrated that it is only realistic for a very limited number of buyers, and often requires parental help.

  5. fender 5

    For a minute there I thought Espiner was going to hold firm and insist Key face reality, but in the end he just let the weasel continue to spin his BS.

    It is great though that Key managed to achieve a downturn in Australia resulting in fewer kiwis going there to live.

    “This guy is completely out of touch”

    Of course he is, his hands are too busy down his y-fronts..

    • Roy 5.1

      He can grope all he wants, he won’t find any balls.

    • Paul 5.2

      Yup, Espiner was useless.
      Never questioned the 53 000 who went to Australia. Just let Key waffle on.
      No wonder Key’s happy to go back on RNZ again.

  6. tricledrown 6

    The only ones winning in the housing market are the speculators and the big banks who Key sucks up to .
    Spin and paper shuffling is the only policy National have come up with.
    A few small bandaids to cover a gaping wound and add plenty of spin.
    Even Key said a few weeks ago said it would be 20 years to fix.

    • geoff 6.1

      You’ll hear near the end of the interview, Key sends some soothing words to the house owning people whose vote he wants, he says something along the lines of “don’t worry, your house prices wont deflate”

      My guess is that he knows the younger, poorer half of the country that is being disproportionately effected by the housing crisis is much less likely to vote in the election, so he can shit on them with his policies and it won’t cost him politically as much as it should.

      He is playing a repugnant political game.

      • Draco T Bastard 6.1.1

        Key is artificially keeping house prices high so that people don’t suddenly find themselves paying a debt greater than their houses are worth. Doing anything about large housing bubbles tends to end governments as people have got used to the massive gravy train that massively rising house prices provide.

        Of course, keeping them high doesn’t benefit NZ at all.

      • DH 6.1.2

        “My guess is that he knows the younger, poorer half of the country that is being disproportionately effected by the housing crisis is much less likely to vote in the election”

        Unfortunately it’s not the poorer half Geoff, if it was we’d likely have a genuine left Govt.

        Latest Census figures say 64.8% of NZ households own their own home and the remaining 35.2% rent or live rent free.

        Even on a population basis 49.8 percent of people aged 15 years and over own or partly own the home they live in. The 50.2% who don’t own include children living with the parents, elderly in rest homes etc etc so the percentage of genuine renters who want to rent long term or buy their own home is probably only around 35-40% there too.

        Can reasonably assume that around 60% of voters own property and 40% don’t .

        From the National Party perspective there is no housing crisis. For the average Nat voter in the main cities it’s a housing bonanza, they’re making a fortune out of it. Property owning politicians are doing very nicely for themselves too.

        To be fair to Labour they’re caught between a rock and a hard place. If they put themselves in a position where National can accuse them of lowering property values they’ll lose the election, it’s a vote killer for as as long as property owning voters outnumber renter voters. But to win the low income vote they need to do something concrete about the cost of housing, how to do that without losing the property owning vote is the $64k question no-one really has the right answers to.

        • Draco T Bastard 6.1.2.1

          One way or another the bubble will pop. We have the choice of doing it the hard way or the other hard way.

        • geoff 6.1.2.2

          Well you’re probably right but even 40% of the population is a huge number of people to be playing a political game with. It’s sounds like something Mitt Romney would do.

          And of course that ignores how many of the 60% who do own homes have significant mortgages. Mortgages that will become more difficult to service as interest rates increase and who fail to see increases in their wages.

  7. aj 7

    If I had a nett worth of $50m I wouldn’t think housing prices were a problem either.

  8. John Key is worried about an entirely different set of issues. First of all, like China albeit on a somewhat smaller scale, the housing bubble is the only thing that keeps this economy ticking over. Hence the need for foreign buyers who inflate and bubble the house prices with their fake fiat currency like they do in New York, London, Sidney and other places kicking the can of economic and financial collapse down the street just long enough to complete the looting before the next election. Just in time to blame labor for the demise of this country.

    The Petro dollar is on the way out with the China Russia trade agreement in the making and if Russia decides to accept payment in anything but the dollar as the biggest gas and oil exporter that will mean the collapse of the US. The collapse of the US will mean the end of the banking system which by the way holds most of John Key’s paper wealth. He is a man who with his banker palls keeps an awful lot of plates twirling on very fragile sticks. One of them breaks all of them go.

    I tried to find out what a house costs in one of the provinces of Holland not so long ago. A house which in Auckland would cost anywhere between $800.000 to $1.5 million. A solid stone dwelling 4 bedrooms and a garden in a quiet burb close to all the amenities you could wish for costs around about $300.000-$ 400.000. This is in a country with 17 million inhabitants last time I looked on a piece of land the size of Northland. Now that is a population to put pressure on the resources!

    Kiwi’s are gullible suckers who think we need face recognition in all the streets of our fair cities for fear of a “terrorist”. They don’t get that assholes like John Key, his puppet masters and his psycho minions want that shit in place for when the sheeple get how much they’ve been screwed up the arse by their dear leaders

  9. karol 9

    Geoff, your audio file in the post doesn’t play. Hmmm. If I recall correctly the best way to make it work is to type something – anything, then highlight it and add the mp3 link as a link.

    • geoff 9.1

      Ah, cheers karol, I’ll have a go at that.

    • geoff 9.2

      Thanks karol, the audio seems to be working now.

      • karol 9.2.1

        Great. Thanks, geoff. I’ve had that problem beofre with posts.

        Key uses his “I don’t agree with that” and “let’s take a step back” ploys, plus says Labour did worse…

        But Key’s government has let the problem continue to get out of hand. Interesting that, the crucial last section of the video, as you indicate in your post: Key debunks the OECD report by saying they used a particular measure. In contrast, Key uses his own selective measure, based on him having lived in London, Singapore, visited Melbourne, etc, and he (the millionaire) didn’t notice that houses were more affordable there than in Auckland.

  10. Mr Oh Well 10

    What if you take into consideration mortgage rates as well…. (do you get tag teamed by the financial boys and girls i.e. over inflated house prices and higher mortgages……)

    No idea if this inference from these sites is correct (i.e. averaged/don’t know if comparing apples with apples), Anyone?

    New Zealand
    http://www.interest.co.nz/borrowing
    6-7%

    UK
    http://www.money.co.uk/mortgages/first-time-buyer-mortgages.htm
    3.6% -%5 APR

    USA
    Circa 4.1% APR-5%
    http://www.bankrate.com/mortgage.aspx

    Australia
    http://www.ratecity.com.au/home-loans/best-mortgage
    circa 4%-5%

  11. Mr Oh Well 11

    Travellerev……..

    “tried to find out what a house costs in one of the provinces of Holland not so long ago. A house which in Auckland would cost anywhere between $800.000 to $1.5 million. A solid stone dwelling 4 bedrooms and a garden in a quiet burb close to all the amenities you could wish for costs around about $300.000-$ 400.000. This is in a country with 17 million inhabitants last time I looked on a piece of land the size of Northland. Now that is a population to put pressure on the resources!”

    I think your on the money.

    Funny we have state forests, defunct lumber mills (and workers) + unemployed + the possibility of utilizing the latest prefabricated building technologies…. Now what could you do with that? The solution’s are limitless, the legislation and market protection unfortunately are too.

    You have to keep people in debt to control them

    I so love being part of Keys Nuuuuu Zullaand

    Also, look at this: Is the World Ready for a Radical, Low-Cost Housing Boom?
    http://bigthink.com/endless-innovation/is-the-world-ready-for-a-radical-low-cost-housing-boom

    The next housing boom will be far more radical than the last housing boom. Instead of moving middle-class families into McMansions they can’t possibly afford, this next housing boom will be radical because it will take low-income families from developing markets and move them into affordable, modular housing at a price point close to $2,000 per home. (Yes, that’s the total cost of the house, not the monthly mortgage nut). Imagine every family in the world – even those making less than $2 per day – suddenly having potential access to sturdy, affordable housing. Oh, and did I mention that this housing will be powered by the sun? Eventually, these innovations from developing markets will find their way into developed markets, and that will lead to a radical re-think of what’s possible for the lowest strata of American society.

    • Tracey 11.1

      today an item said the average proice of a property in london is now 500,000 pounds… so about a million NZD…

      twice or 3 times Auckland’s population, a key internatoional city…

      Auckland’s average just hit 700,000 didn’t it?

      • Travellerev 11.1.1

        The thing is the Chinese are building entire empty cities to keep the bubble going, in London one 1500 m2 flat just sold for more than NZ$ 278,212,942.30 (That’s right that is more than a quarter billion dollars NZ) and in New York and Sidney the same is happening.

        This has nothing to do with an accidental housing bubble or a dramatic need for more houses. This is how the money printing and bailing out of banks done in the US, China and all the other countries even if they don’t tell you (including NZ) they’re doing it comes back to bite us the 99% in the ass.

        The rich including John Key are making a mint out of this while we are forced out of our houses via rates, forced into coffin houses because our money is worthless.

        How do they do it? Here is Max Keiser introducing the term interest apartheid

        This will only stop if we stop calling it a crisis (Hint for David Cunliffe here) and start calling it what it is: Criminal Fraud on a truly apocalyptic scale with the sole purpose of transferring our heard earned wealth to the parasitical class; The class John Key belongs to, the bankster class!

        Hence the necessity of opening up our borders to rich greedy and above all corrupt Chinese rich people to mention just one group but I could name rich Greedy Americans with lots of dosh made through monopolizing creativity with copyright too.

        It will only stop when we take back control of our currency and our government becomes once again for and by the people.

        Mind you there is no conspiracy here. They would not do that to us. Our government! No sir

  12. anker 12

    Not sure that people are buying your spin Mr Key.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/lightbox/national/politics/10059314?KeepThis=true&TB_iframe=true&height=500&width=680

    This from Stuff about housing affordability/crisis.

  13. Colonial Viper 13

    Interestingly, plenty of people in the top 20% i.e. earning $60K to $80K p.a. know for damn sure that there is a major housing affordability problem in NZ. If not for themselves, then they see their kids facing it acutely.

    So I hope Key keeps his flat out denials out there in the media, it’s very useful to the Opposition parties.

    • Macro 13.1

      Exactly – I have met a number of people over the past couple of weeks travelling about the country and almost always their first opening point of conversation is “house prices” and the affordability of such. With the figures Polity has provided over the past few days as concrete evidence the only way you can say – things are fine is if you are in complete denial of reality as Key is shown to be constantly.
      We are not well served by our msm at present but the reality, as opposed to the fiction of the beltway, is being felt by more and more people.

  14. infused 14

    There seems to only be a problem in Auckland and Christchurch.

    Where I live, there are a ton of houses for sale for 220k-300k. These are 3bdrm places in nice areas.

    People need to stop going to Auckland.

    • lprent 14.1

      The interesting jobs are in the bigger centres. Where you are living sounds like a retirement centre.

      • Phil 14.1.1

        The interesting jobs are in the bigger centres.

        That’s true, and is probably a major part of the problem.

        With my work I was recently travelling through some of the medium sized cities in the NI for meetings – Hamilton, Rotorua, Tauranga, Palmerston North, New Plymouth etc.

        As we were coming in to land at a lot of these places, it was painfully obvious that we have a metric fuck-ton of free land to build houses on; but none of it is in Auckland. Part of the solution to Auckland’s housing affordability issues needs to be expansion and development of industry and services to the rest of the provinces.

        • lprent 14.1.1.1

          There is a BIG reason these days why Auckland is a centre of jobs. The most interesting jobs are generally related directly or indirectly to the export of intellectual property of one form or another. There are few international airports further south of Auckland International Airport anywhere in the world. Only Christchurch really has a pile of long-haul flights right around the world.

          So the intellectual property firms cluster in those two cities where the airfreight from suppliers, airfreight to customers, and travel to markets is easy.

          The firms that surround those firms with services are here as well, because while in theory it is easy to have a graphic designer in Whanganui to do artwork for you, in practice it is a hell of a lot easier when you can go over it on a desktop in Auckland after they travel for minutes rather than hours. Extend that out by the massive numbers of services that non-commodity export firms need.

          Meanwhile the other export economy is around farming and forestry. Largely selling commodities with relatively few employees. Most of their interesting jobs in Auckland or ChCh to have access to the services of every other exporter.

          Somehow I really don’t think this is a pattern that is going to change a lot for quite some time.

        • Draco T Bastard 14.1.1.2

          Best thing you could do for pretty much all city centres would be to get rid of the wasteful large sections with a single over-sized house on it and build decent apartment buildings. Build up industrial zones around the edge with lots of parkland in between.

      • infused 14.1.2

        Hutt valley. Hardly a retirement centre.

        What’s more interesting is a lot of Wellington businesses are moving out here. The govt has already put a lot of govt agencies out to the wider Wellington region.

        • Colonial Viper 14.1.2.1

          A $250K house in the Hutt Valley? Sure, if you are keen on living a stones throw from the Rimutakas…

          • infused 14.1.2.1.1

            Look yourself.

          • alwyn 14.1.2.1.2

            There are plenty of 3 bedroom houses for under $250,000 in Wainuiomata.
            That would be 20-25 minutes from the Wellington CDB.
            I don’t quite understand the reference to “living a stones throw from the Rimutakas” though.
            The whole of the Hutt Valley fits that description of course and the Rimutaka Range runs all the way to Cook Strait at Baring Head. The range is NOT just the bit north of Upper Hutt as many people seem to assume. It includes the ranges visible from Wellington that are behind Eastbourne just across the harbour.

        • lprent 14.1.2.2

          One of those places I haven’t been around since the early 80s. I have no idea what it is like these days.

          What’s more interesting is a lot of Wellington businesses are moving out here.

          However when the businesses move into a zone, then you can expect to see shifts in housing prices.

    • Macro 14.2

      they would if they could – you have work for hundreds in your area?

      • karol 14.2.1

        The Auckland situation would be improved with a major upgrade of public transport, plus related revitalisation of some regional or provincial centres.

    • The Al1en 14.3

      Using Waikato as an example, the median price in Hamilton increased to $375,000, up on prices a year ago by $41,000, or 12.3 per cent, but Hamilton sales volumes for the month were down on a year ago by 21.9 per cent.

      http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/business/9816589/Waikato-house-sale-figures-slip-in-February

      So loads of houses at the right price is questionable, but even if you were correct, people still can’t afford to buy them.

      • Colonial Viper 14.3.1

        $375K is 9x the country’s median full time wage, for a couple with 2x full time minimum wage jobs it is a mere 6.5x – still incredibly unaffordable.

        • The Al1en 14.3.1.1

          I got my paltry $115k mortgage back when kiwibank first started 100% home loans for first time buyers. I can safely say, without that loan, there’s no way I could ever get in to a home today.

          Like the title says ‘Denial’.

  15. Will@Welly 15

    “There is no housing crisis.”
    More of the traitor’s lies.

  16. Richard@Down South 16

    Of course there is no crisis… if you own investment properties you are making out like a bandit (and not getting taxed on it either), so of course… nothing to see here, move on people

  17. Papa Tuanuku 17

    Three phrases for the left. J Key is:

    out of touch
    not one of us
    ‘too comfortable’

  18. tc 18

    Compare this to OZ where the liberals cynical budget, which broke many promises, has gains for high/middle income earners and business has been comprehensively and accurately slammed with Abbott now polling below Rudds levels when he got knifed.

    And they’re still pulling out the weeds from the detail and running fresh stories whereas here….

    The denial is plausible as we have an msm chock full of popinjays and associated govt cheerleaders who just give shonkey and his wrecking crew a soapbox for whatever BS they’re peddling today.

    Key wouldn’t have lasted much beyond tranzrail if we actually had an independant media striving for the truth, accountability and those higher standards the nact give lip service to on a regular basis.

    He does it because he knows he’ll never get called on it especially at TVNZ who has been an obedient servant, especially on the land their mates at SkyCity wanted.

  19. dave 19

    a land of milk and honey strawberry fields for ever he,s on planet key and the rest of us are not invited to the party mates only.

  20. Ecosse_Maidy 20

    I can only assume that for our Prime Minister there is no housing crisis because he’s got one if not more than one.
    I don’t suppose if you look at the figures out about building consents given etc that those people see a problem either..lots of consents.
    I am sure that a lot of people who invest in property aren’t complaining either what with collecting the rent
    The trouble lies in the affordability of said housing.Where the average bloke with a family and working his arse off to pay the rent etc cant afford to buy one.Where many young couples have not got a hope of ever buying one especially in Auckland.
    Housing effects all of us in New Zealand .National state “Problem What problem”?
    Come on Labour.!! Grab this by the horns and make this THE election issue.

  21. hoom 21

    Oh. My. God.
    I just actually listened to that.

    Really Key lives on some completely bizzaro loony world utterly out of touch with the reality that most of us live in.

    I am just gobsmacked with the absolute utter completely wrongness of everything he said.

    And I think Espiner did a decent job of challenging it replete with incredulous WTF tone.

    Auckland needs affordable housing near public transport & other facilities aka Kiwibuild.
    Building shitloads of new $600k+ McMansions out in the sticks with maybe 3 buses per day will do absolutely 0 to help the real issue.
    It’ll make a bunch of Nat donor land bankers who have been sitting on that land pretty friggin happy though & doubtless get them some nice New Year honors too.

  22. Just Julie 22

    Here’s your starter for 10. Who am I ? ” Yes, but Laaaabooour…..”

  23. felix 23

    Note that the OECD stats are based on a price to wages ratio ie affordability.

    Key responds to mention of this report by saying ‘Well I’ve lived in London and New York and I’ve been to Singapore and houses in Auckland are cheaper than those places’ or similar.

    ie answering a completely different question, one that was not asked. ie a strawman.

    Also note Guyon’s rebuttal, which was non-existent because Guyon is a turnip.

  24. Clemgeopin 24

    Come on Labour.!! Grab this by the horns

    How about legislating that the annual rent is not allowed to be more than 4 times the annual council rates, with the added proviso that councils cannot raise rates by more than the annual official inflation rate.

    For example,
    For a dwelling with annual council rate of say,…

    $2,000, Max rent per year=$8,000=$154/week
    $2,500, Max rent per year=$10,000=$192/week
    $3,000, Max rent per year=$12,000=$230/week
    #3500, Max rent per year=$14,000=$269/week
    $4,000, Max rent per year=$16,000=$308/week
    $4,500, Max rent per year=$18,000=$346/week
    $5,000, Max rent per year=$20,000=$385/week

    $10,000, Max rent per year=$40,000=$769/week
    $20,000, Max rent per year=$80,000=$1,538/week
    $40,000, Max rent per year=$160,000=$3,077/week
    $60,000, Max rent per year=$240,000=$4,615/week

    • Clemgeopin 24.1

      The proviso could even be that councils cannot raise rates by more than TWICE the annual official inflation rate.

      Is there any merit in my proposals? I am keen to hear your views on this idea.

      • Ecosse_Maidy 24.1.1

        Of course it has merit..At least you are giving the situation thought and coming up with a new way to see things and to make the whole thing fairer than it is right now.I think for this particular govt you might also need to factor in what a caravan site rates are too.Seeing as how that’s where Paula Bennett houses a lot of people in this country.Which when you think about it isn’t a lot better than living in a garage or a shed (and there are quite a few living in them too).Of course it leaves the state houses empty and ready to be sold.

        Problem?What Problem?…John Keys Quote of the year!!(and hopefully one that is remembered come election day.)

        • Clemgeopin 24.1.1.1

          Thanks for your comment. I was a little weary of my idea thinking it might be a completely nutty idea and not knowing if i had missed some consequences.

          I think this idea will work well if there is also a CGT on sale of houses except the primary home.

          The 3 provisions I indicated i.e,
          (a) The max rent limit (b) The council rate increase restriction (c) CGT on secondary houses, will together discourage using houses for capital enhancing speculation purposes,
          Also will keep council rates, rents and general inflation in control.

          The councils too will be prevented from crazy or extravagant schemes and will force councils to manage work and wages efficiently unlike now! [I may be wrong but from memory, I remember reading that Auckland council has MORE than 1,000 officers earning MORE than $100,000 each plus perks per year]

          i am really interested in more discussion on this. Like to hear all the good and bad consequences of this scheme and if bad, how it may be improved.

          • Clemgeopin 24.1.1.1.1

            Oh dear! Isn’t any one else here interested to comment or examine my (nice and original) idea??

    • Tracey 24.2

      Interesting idea Clem. I’m not a numbers person, so you will need others to do deeper analysis than I can provide…

      I do know that a homeowner should set aside on average 3-5000 a year to deal with the maintenace issues which inevitably arise from the house needing a repaint, to plumbing issues, replacement of weatherboards or part/whole roof etc. Most homeowners DO NOT keep this aside and so when the time comes they whack it on the mortgage.

      So that is also a figure you need to factor in.

      I suspect the biggest problem is meeting the mortgage of the owner. Most people I know who own rentals are 100% mortgage in the beginning.

      • Clemgeopin 24.2.1

        Thanks.
        The house owners will have enough set aside for repairs, mortgae and rates as they can charge 4 times the rates.

        Besides, if they are buying houses for capital gains, it is speculation and they should be aware of investment risks. We don’t need to carry their burden. They have insurance and their primary home as stand by anyway.
        Cheers

  25. hoom 25

    So I had a look at Trademe for places under $350k in Auckland, came up with these popular suburbs: Port Waikato, Tuakau, Orere Point, Rakino Island, Parakai, Helensville, Warkworth…

    Some apartments in CBD but a lot are either ones where Key will have bigger bathrooms or where the leasehold charge is 5 digits per annum.

    Take those out of the results & there is not a lot.

  26. Charlieboy 26

    Keys responses over six years have been relaxed,languid, and now truly banal. His crushing of the Hopes of the McGeehan Place end of town he cruelly used on his way to the top,verges on being cynically evil.
    As Paul Kelly said “the monstrous has become mundane”.

  27. Clemgeopin 27

    The OECD report re unaffordable housing is ACTUALLY POSITIVE!, says housing Minister!! UNBELIEVABLE Stuff!

    Prime Minister Key DENIES there is a housing crisis, and the Labour Party calls his views “OUT OF TOUCH!”

    http://www.3news.co.nz/Nick-Smith-on-NZs-house-price-crunch/tabid/1837/articleID/344883/Default.aspx

    AND YET……..

    The following poll indicates other than what these ministers saying. I think that both John Key and Nick Smith are actually ostriches with their small heads buried deep in the sand!

    POLL RESULT:

    Are NZ house prices far too expensive?
    Yes – and the Govt isn’t doing anything meaningful about it
    404 votes, 33.4%

    Yes – but the Govt is tackling it
    45 votes, 3.7%

    Yes – we need controls on foreign buyers
    225 votes, 18.6%

    Yes – we need a capital gains tax
    155 votes, 12.8%

    Yes – but it’s just a sign of a rising economy
    122 votes, 10.1%

    No, if you’re already on the property ladder it’s fine
    35 votes, 2.9%

    No, the problem’s limited to Auckland
    222 votes, 18.4%

    Total 1208 votes

    Here is the link for the article and the above poll:
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/money/10057761/End-of-brain-drain-to-hit-house-prices

  28. hoom 28

    Apparently the way to fix this is to simply crank up rents so that the ratio between House cost & rent is more normal…
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/10062393/Overvalued-houses-could-force-rents-up

    New Zealand Property Investors Federation executive officer Andrew King said the report would prompt landlords to raise rents. “Rents are actually undervalued and should be higher.”

    The average rent, he said, was $350 a week – at least $40 below what it should be – and tenants should expect increases soon.

    “We’re trying to get them used to the idea . . . and hopefully they’ll be a bit more planned and prepared for those rent increases when they do come.”

    Even though its pretty obvious that rent is constrained by the lack of renter income increases
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/money/10059830/Homes-too-dear-Only-in-Auckland-and-Christchurch

    It was not clear why rents had not kept up, unlike during the 1990s when both rents and house prices increased rapidly.

    “Maybe it’s an income constraint – incomes haven’t grown enough,” he said.

    “If that’s the case it places even more emphasis on the housing affordability issue.”

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    TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ Herald Thomas Coughlan Simeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • How Did FTX Crash?
    What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
    Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
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    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it:  We want our country to be a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
    The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
    See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    4 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    5 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    5 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    5 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    5 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • There’s a name for this
    Every year, in the Budget, Parliament forks out money to government agencies to do certain things. And every year, as part of the annual review cycle, those agencies are meant to report on whether they have done the things Parliament gave them that money for. Agencies which consistently fail to ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • Echoes of 1968 in 2024?  Pocock on the repetitive problems of the New Left
    Mike Grimshaw writes – Recent events in American universities point to an underlying crisis of coherent thinking, an issue that increasingly affects the progressive left across the Western world. This of course is nothing new as anyone who can either remember or has read of the late ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Two bar blues
    The thing about life’s little victories is that they can be followed by a defeat.Reader Darryl told me on Monday night:Test again Dave. My “head cold” last week became COVID within 24 hours, and is still with me. I hear the new variants take a bit longer to show up ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 13
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Angus Deaton on rethinking his economics IMFLocal scoop: The people behind Tamarind, the firm that left a $500m cleanup bill for taxpayers at Taranaki’s Tui oil well, are back operating in Taranaki under a different company name. Jonathan ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week.  “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
    The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee.  “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
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    5 days ago
  • Government delivering on tax commitments
    Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today.  “The Amendment Paper represents ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
    Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
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    5 days ago
  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
    Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
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    5 days ago
  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
    The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced.  “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level.   “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
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    5 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
    Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
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    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Fresh produce price drop welcome
    Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024.  “Lower fruit and vege ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Statement to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
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    6 days ago
  • Speech to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68)
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government backs rural led catchment projects
    The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
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    6 days ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction.   Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
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    7 days ago
  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
    Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
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    1 week ago
  • Government lowering building costs
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    1 week ago
  • Trustee tax change welcomed
    Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
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    1 week ago
  • Minister’s Ramadan message
    Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness.  It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister appoints new NZTA Chair
    Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
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    1 week ago
  • Speech to Life Sciences Summit
    Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology.  It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Progress continues apace on water storage
    Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government agrees to restore interest deductions
    Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister to attend World Anti-Doping Agency Symposium
    Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Pacific Language Weeks celebrate regional unity
    This year’s Pacific Language Weeks celebrate regional unity and the contribution of Pacific communities to New Zealand culture, says Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti.  Dr Reti announced dates for the 2024 Pacific Language Weeks during a visit to the Pasifika festival in Auckland today and says there’s so ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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