National gets a smacking on the housing crisis

Written By: - Date published: 7:21 am, April 20th, 2016 - 59 comments
Categories: class war, housing, national - Tags: , , , , ,

Fair to say that Simon Bridges’ claim that there is no housing crisis has – not gone down well. Duncan Garner:

Crisis? What crisis?

Government Minister Simon Bridges says Auckland is not facing a ‘housing crisis’. He’s woefully out of touch.

Instead, Bridges prefers to call it a ‘top tier issue’, what ever than means — I prefer to call his position ‘bollocks’.

Government moves to slow the price rises have been pathetic. Indeed they have stoked the fire by allowing record immigration levels.

Entry level in Auckland is now $600,000 plus. You need a $120,000 deposit to enter the market. There are 59 $1 million-plus suburbs in Auckland.

Normal, working people, are priced out or have become slaves to 40-year mortgages. They have mountains of debt.

Simon Bridges and his mates are asleep at the wheel. He showed he was out of touch yesterday. He says it’s a top tier issue. I say that’s a meaningless side-step of the real issue. It’s slimy spin for crisis.

Ouch. Followed by Lachlan Forsyth:

Auckland’s housing market is broken and it’s a lie to deny it

I’m so sick of the dishonesty in this argument. The lies. The short-sightedness. The incompetency.

Younger generations are having their chance of home ownership snatched away, and those who have let it happen are doing bugger-all.

Too many critics choose to focus on the perceived failings and unrealistic expectations of those trying to enter the market, rather than acknowledging the teetering Ponzi scheme that is the New Zealand housing market.

Anyone denying it’s now harder to buy a house is lying, stupid, or quite possibly both.

Older generations, you know, the ones who received free healthcare, education, and superannuation for their ENTIRE LIVES, now sit snug in their homes, enjoying tax-free, triple-digit capital gains; while subsequent generations are being left out in the cold, watching helplessly as their home ownership dreams dissipate into the air.

Auckland is broken. And as younger people flee the city in search of a better life, of somewhere they can afford to live, prices around New Zealand will start to climb. It’s already started.

We have failed future generations. And our Governments, our councils, our decision-makers, continue to do sweet sod-all.

It is obscene.

Ouch! Concern and anger about housing is not going to go away. Hello National – you have a problem.


On the Nats’ pathetic attempts so far and Nick Smith’s massive fail in Auckland, late to the party but always worth waiting for, see Rob Salmond’s mysteriously titled Flaccid balloon, mite-ridden bees.

59 comments on “National gets a smacking on the housing crisis ”

  1. TepidSupport 1

    Yep. If nothing else, “middle NZ” will vote according to their pocket.
    Home ownership is a massive thing in NZ (or lack of) and when the govt is slow to act or doesn’t respond to threats to this ‘dream’ they will suffer.
    Even traditional Nats voters affected will be vying for a credible alternative…
    Right now, Nats seem arrogant due to lack of a strong opposition that presents a threat to them and it’s a real shame.
    This may be a catalyst for these voters to start to shift

    • Keith 1.1

      Sorry to say but a fair proportion of those who vote love this shit. They can’t get enough of this fools paradise because they are all right Jack, fuck anyone else. They may even placate themselves with the fantasy they can help out the youngins’ but in Auckland that is bullshit not unless you are in the Key bracket of wealth and not unless you want to saddle your relatives with horrific debt at the low tide end of the interest rate cycle. There is going to be economic carnage if interest rates even double!

      Anyway wait for a Nick Smith gleeful media release telling us he has freed up a diused traffic island for a block of flats. Or some benny bashing policy to distract. Oh and John Key has sold our souls to China with one of his rancid trade deals. Whats the bet Chinese citizens who have no ties to NZ will be guaranteed unfettered access to play in our property market under this idiots negotiation skills!

  2. AsleepWhileWalking 2

    At least Bridges didn’t make the “people need to lower their expectations”. Surprised he didn’t actually.

    • Sabine 2.1

      There is a hole raft of people not being able to buy a house.

      The first home buyers.
      the middle aged home buyers that have lost a home previously to divorce, job loss or illness
      the old ones that would like to down size but can’t because we are not building anything in their range.

      Coupled with the selling of our State Houses and the subsequent gentrification by stealth it has – at least for me – become quite apparent that there are a lot of people in this country that the National Party considers hopeless, and thus don’t need to be taken into account.

      • Heather Grimwood 2.1.1

        To Sabine at 2.1 : Though obviously caring and being an activist for those younger, I belong to your third bracket and indeed it is my personal Waterloo. Any warm two bedroom units ( I need a workroom and space for visitors) being built are far too pricey…..so much for retirement plans!

      • D'Esterre 2.1.2

        Sabine: “the old ones that would like to down size but can’t because we are not building anything in their range.”
        Indeed. This affects us; we’re stuck in a house too big for us because we can’t find anything in our area of a suitable size. Move out, you say? Nothing suitable elsewhere in the city; besides, we have long-established professional links which would be difficult or impossible to re-establish. We can tell you many tales of people in this area who’ve retired to satellite towns, but can’t get on a GP list in those places, and must come back to the city for health care.

  3. maui 3

    There is no crisis if you’re a Wotton and can make 100 thou on a house in weeks on reality tv. The viewership probably agrees.

    • Sabine 3.1

      The guys that participated in the Hunger Games errrr My first Home errr My first flipper 🙂 did not make that much. At least the ones in my street. After buying costs and expenses for renovation if they come out with 10.000 after taxes they would have done well. The only other ones making money on the Hunger Games NZ Edition are Barfoot and Thompson and the TV Station.
      The one that made 70.000 in three month was the guy who bought the house and sold it to the Hunger Game Contestants. Bought it for 580.000 and sold it for 650.000. I am sure that guy also declared his earnings in NZ before leaving this fair island to elsewhere.

      • save NZ 3.1.1

        +1 Sabine

        And another interesting thing, is that it cost each couple approx $100,000 just to renovate within the existing building without the profit. Yep folks, the cost of building materials just to upgrade a 2- 3 bedroom state house type to modern living is costing big bucks.

        Nobody seems to care about the monopolies and ‘agreements’ operating within the building industry. You might be able to get that money back in Auckland, but other cities – not sure.

        Housing is made up of multiple issues, and one is, the exorbitant cost of basic building materials, that we often produced within our own country.

        • Sabine 3.1.1.1

          and then of course finding rotten floor boards do not help.
          Wanting to put in double glazed windows etc etc is not helping either.
          if they just wanted to do the cosmetic renovation i.e. a coat of wash and wear pooh vomit brown and cheap as fuck n ugly curtains (standard rental outfit) they would have made a some money.

          the house in my street at least went to a family that is going to live there. They will have given up on lifestyle, but are in close proximity to town, so don’t have to spend four hours a day commuting, have bus transport/train available and have a few decent schools in the neighborhood.

          But for what its worth, the house should not have gone for almost a million buckeroos. But then desperation will make people do weird things, deal with having to move every six month cause your rental is up for sale, live in a ditch or loan a million bucks. Decisions decisions decisions.

          Disclaimer, i am an unashamed labour supporter and call Helen Clark Aunty. But i know full well that under Labour everything was worse and then some. So fucking Burn me!

          • save NZ 3.1.1.1.1

            I agree with you again Sabine, but the same people complaining about disgusting damp rentals then complain about increasing rents when they need big bucks spent on them to make them dry warm homes.

            Apartments cost more per square meter to build than a detached home in most cases, so that old chestnut needs a lot more scrutiny.

            If wages were raising the same level as housing and building materials then the problem would be solved.

            And if there were proper taxes on flipping then the person who did nothing to the house but increased the price $70,000 were disincentivised to do so then again it would help solve the crisis.
            As you commented the person probably has already left the country so good luck IRD on collecting the taxes. The new speculator taxes sound pretty easy to evade anyway as it is not a set tax but I think something about your taxable income. Anyone with any info?

            And for those that are on a benefit, we used to have state houses!

            • Sabine 3.1.1.1.1.1

              but the rentals are disgusting and damp are not fixed are not renovated and still go up in price, in my area now you will be hard pressed to find anything below the 600 per week for your standard 3 bedder shitter.

              I have yet to meet a Landlord who would spend 120.000$ on his million dollar dump to upgrade this property before it is being rented out.
              I have rented in AKL ever since i lived here, and had everything from singing electricity (nothing like a bit of do your own wiring), to slugs in the kitchen/bathroom after a rainy day/night, to water running down the walls in winter, to windows that can’t be properly closed/opened, to duct tape holding together a roof, to the linoleum lifting from the floor on a windy day. All these houses were rented to ‘market’ value, non of them were renovated and frankly some should have been condemned.

              I spoke to a housing inspector at AKL Council some years ago in regards to a property that i was renting that started cracking down the walls , with a door coming of the door frame and ‘growth’ on the roof. I was told that if they would condemned all the houses that are beyond repair and actually unfit for human consumption we would loose about half of all of AKLs housing stock.

              So maybe i am thinking instead of creating a human standard fro habitat, we could just take the standard that we accord our dogs and their kennels. Maybe then we would create decent housing.

              My distrust of builders and the likes in NZ stems from the Ducttaped roof. I have pictures of it. Seriously half of the roof is held together with silver tape. Someone did that. Someone signed up on it. Someone got paid for it. And that someone who did this calls himself a roofer and a trades person. I call that person a fuckwit, but then i am not a roofer/builder/tradesmen.

              • Rocco Siffredi

                “I have yet to meet a Landlord who would spend 120.000$ on his million dollar dump to upgrade this property before it is being rented out.”

                Capital improvements to rentals are no longer tax deductible. Any surprise this has an impact?

                • Sabine

                  Well i have lived in AKL for 20 years. I have seen a lot of houses ‘renovated’ with second hand carpet, and pooh brown wash and wear.

                  i don’t think that is an issue, it just means that if they now renovate their own houses they have to pay for it.

                  • Rocco Siffredi

                    Which, of course, clearly means they don’t. They don’t need too, the demand is there regardless.

      • maui 3.1.2

        Interesting, thanks Sabine. “My first flipper” lol!

      • save NZ 3.1.3

        And if you have a look at what would work the best for collecting taxes in this example, a stamp duty would work.

        The $70k guy who was the previous owner, would pay stamp duty, (immediate) real estate fees (immediate) and (hopefully) get caught by the speculator tax and pay tax on that too. Therefore it would probably not have been worth their while.

        Therefore when the my first home couple bought the property it would be valued at $580,000 not $650,000.

        It is the ‘flipping’ causing the most short term damage to Auckland property and people legitimately trying to buy.

        • save NZ 3.1.3.1

          And now I think the house is valued at $805,000. So approx 6 months ago the house was worth $580,000 and gone up approx 39% in approx 6 months over 2 owners. That is why Auckland is so unaffordable.

        • Molly 3.1.3.2

          Stamp duty has not reduced speculation in the UK. Houses are put in the name of a company ie. “50 Paratai Drive Limited” and then the sale of the house is accomplished with the sale of the shares.

          The ones who pay the stamp duty every time, are genuine house buyers/residents.

          The loss of secure state housing adds to the debacle, along with the government subsidy of accommodation supplements to landlords.

          Additional changes that would immediately have an effect: restricting the sale of residential houses to NZ residents or citizens, and a higher tax on companies or trusts that deal in residential homes.

          • save NZ 3.1.3.2.1

            I totally agree with you Molly

            “Additional changes that would immediately have an effect: restricting the sale of residential houses to NZ residents or citizens, and a higher tax on companies or trusts that deal in residential homes”

            My point about stamp duty is at least if a government were to put in a property tax, have one a tax that can not be evaded by the rich and raises real money that can be used for social spending. Think how much money could be raised. The problem with capital gains is that it is easy to evade (if you have enough money) and is a nightmare to administer and collect (especially from the rich with very good accountants).

            I just like the speed and fairness of the stamp duty as a tax, those who are buying a 10 million dollar house or a 100 million dollar farm pay a lot more than an average joe buying a $300,000 home but they can’t evade the tax as it is paid on title transfer.

            However I am not advocating Labour putting one in, because I think it will take away votes at election time, and I want a change of government.

            However stopping the sale of residential houses and farms to overseas investors will be a vote winner from Labour supporters in my view. BUT under the China free trade agreement I do not think a NZ government can even do this. That is how f**Ked these trade agreements are! Apparently in the fine print it says Chinese investors must be treated the same as Kiwis, therefore Kiwis can’t buy land in China (like Chinese as Chinese are not allowed to own land in China only the government) BUT the NZ government can’t stop Chinese owning land in NZ. Typical Kiwi blunder on the fine print.
            Anyway someone else here might have a lot more info, of whether under a Labour government they can ban foreigners buying up our land or if it will violate the free trade conditions in the China agreement. God knows how many other rights have been given away in these free trade agreements.

            • Molly 3.1.3.2.1.1

              “I just like the speed and fairness of the stamp duty as a tax, those who are buying a 10 million dollar house or a 100 million dollar farm pay a lot more than an average joe buying a $300,000 home but they can’t evade the tax as it is paid on title transfer.”

              My point is that stamp duty is easily avoided by putting the ownership of the property in a company.

              The title transfer doesn’t take place, as it is the company that changes hands.

              In the UK this has been the method of choice for speculators, and high turnover property developers to quite legally avoid stamp duty.

        • D'Esterre 3.1.3.3

          Save NZ: “It is the ‘flipping’ causing the most short term damage to Auckland property and people legitimately trying to buy.”
          It is this activity which will fall foul of the “bright line” test. Details on IRD website. You can’t dodge it either: you have to give your tax number as part of the conveyancing process! I know this, having recently sold a property – not in Auckland, as it happens.

      • D'Esterre 3.1.4

        Although there aren’t any silver bullets to fix the housing crisis,bthere is something we can all do: call out real estate agents when they talk up prices. I’ve begun doing this, and I’m delighted to find that others are too. Do it at open homes, in front of other people: you might be surprised…
        Just because an agent tells you that other sales in the area are x, it doesn’t at all follow that this property you’re looking at has to go for a similar price. Ask for RV, insist on them telling you. You don’t have to offer RV: you can start lower. The agent can put forward such offers: it’s the vendor’s choice whether to accept. Challenge those agents!

  4. dv 4

    How about designating some problem housing areas like Auckland as special.

    In those areas
    Have a differential interest rate say +1% payable for infrastructure
    Increased deposit say 40%
    Only residents allowed to own residential property.
    Allow non residents to new build, and charge a transaction tax about say same size as a cc charge

    • CoroDale 4.1

      yep, and to top it off. All new-build after the about-to-crash-market, should be on a govt state-housing-scheme. Paid with normal long-term loan of Sovereign Money, 0% lending from Reserve Bank NZ, that’s what its for. Pay back our future good selves, at fair rent price, stabilising against UBI and net work rate.

      • dv 4.1.1

        Yes like that too- interest free loan for new build low income families, and pay as a mortgage

        • s y d 4.1.1.1

          Maaaate, it’s a supply side problem.
          Come on down to the sunny bay, you’ve never seen so many white vans….we got this shit covered.
          We got special housing areas all over – boom times I tell ya, can’t go wrong.
          You can get work easy as, building houses to house all the people who are building houses. Can’t get em up quick enough.
          Fucken council wankers holdin us back tho. Luckily we’ve rolled those losers and they’re letting us self inspect and self certify so sweet as.
          Simon and Todd, top blokes.

  5. esoteric pineapples 5

    That photo of a man under an umbrella is from Supertramp’s “Crisis,What Crisis” album – arguably their best album. After that they became much more commercial. Given that we are on the verge of environmental catastrophe, the title seems more appropriate than ever.

  6. CoroDale 6

    good comments, yeah I’ll never be able to buy a house, even after the brutal crash (less so in NZ than internationally). Will have to acquire my home, like all the other “people” (/corporations).

    Had calculated that “housing myth” was Nationals last lag. Gona be cold down there at the bottom, poor Nats.

  7. Lanthanide 7

    I think Bridges is suggesting it’s not a crisis, because no-one’s life is in danger, and it’s a medium to long term problem, not an acute short-term problem.

    If that is indeed what he meant, he should have said that, instead of calling it a “top-tier issue”.

    • Sabine 7.1

      or maybe he is just suggesting that it is not a crisis, as the ones that are important to him, his career and the well being of his party are the ones that are profiting handsomely of the ‘non’ crisis.
      And the others can get fucked. They would not vote National anyways, so why care.
      And if they can’t afford to pay the high rents National will subsidize the landlord with the Accommodation Supplement, so again, you see no crisis. Business, as usual, the market fixing and stuff.

      Incompetence is incompetence the first time, the second time one is a slow learner, the third time one could say its intentional. After 8 years of refusing to see a crisis and do something about it, maybe we can just simply say that National does not give a fuck about Kiwis that can’t afford to buy or rent a house anywhere in this country.

      Maybe Mr. Bridges should go into Ditch Rental. I think that would have a future.

  8. Ad 8

    The city home owners, who are getting rich, vote.

    It’s up to the Opposition to mobilize the young renters into voting.

    The harvest is great, the workers few.

    • adam 8.1

      So what are you doing?

      Seeing as you oppose any other form of democracy.

    • TC 8.2

      Exactly but short snappy slogans not long nerdy waffle from the likes of twyford.

      Style over substance, brevity over boring and get some emotion into it and stop behaving like the troughers you seem to be so voters are motivated to remove team shonky

      • maui 8.2.1

        Twyford knows his stuff and is clear in getting the housing issue points across. He just needs more air time, which probably won’t happen in our media environment. After watching this, its hard for me to see who could do a better job really.
        https://youtu.be/QxUh9Tic4po

        • TC 8.2.1.1

          So if he continues in this style and will not get his ponts across due to the lack of airtime, how does that help ?

          He is the best person but where’s the media training so he can cut through with catchy soundbites.

          Folk who read this site are not the target audience if labour want govt back.

    • Gangnam Style 8.3

      Rent controls like they have in places like Ontario? Would be nice to have rental house WOFs too. I am in my 40s, still rent, the house is crap but it’s home & our landlords are OK. The city we live in still has pretty cheap houses to buy, but both my wife & I have jobs that won’t exist in 10-20 years, been trying to get our shit together & get more qualifications/training. I have good super & wife has Kiwisaver so we going to give home ownership a go but neither of us are too hopeful or fussy or greedy, so should be interesting to see how we go. Wish us luck!

  9. NZJester 9

    I saw this in the NZ Herald

    Reserve Bank tipped to toughen rules for borrowers.
    The Reserve Bank could expand mortgage lending restrictions or take even more radical measures in an effort to head off the housing boom as it rolls down the country, economists say.
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11625346

    That will just make it harder for kiwi’s as a lot of the money the foreign buyers are using to get the houses is coming form overseas banks at much lower rates than available for borrowers here.
    Far from stopping the crisis it will just lock more locals out from the bidding.

    • In Vino 9.1

      I thought the same – this favours the rich investors, and penalises only the the less rich hoping to buy their first home.

  10. TC 10

    Bridges arrogance reflects national perfectly.

    This market is performing exactly as they expected as they deliberately set it to run this course.

    Its their brighter future folks and if you cant be involved then tough shit get another job and aspire some more.

  11. Expat 11

    Auckland house prices have seen large jumps in the past, my mother bought a unit in Browns Bay in the late 80’s, and then decided she didn’t want live in Auclkand and wanted to return to Waiheke, she paid $84k for the unit in May and sold it for $140k in Sept of the same year, I, myself bought a home in the upper north shore in the early 90’s (93) and paid $150k for it, in 1997 I sold it for $320k.

    The difference then, was wages were keeping up with cost of living, but the last 8 years has seen wages eroded significantly through typical punitive right wing policies to keep wages low, NZ has the lowest avg incomes in the OECD and the highest CPI.

    A few nights ago on the news there was an article about Chinese investment in the Sydney property market, nearly 7000 new homes or units were bought at a cost of $6b, and a further 3000 existing homes bought at an avg of $1.3m ($4b), and that’s just one group, the state Govt reaped $6b in stamp duty from the market in one year and are happy for things to continue, but, like in NZ, it priced most locals out of the market, particularly first home buyers, and a lot have conceded they will never own their own home.

    Unfortunately, investment in property is currently the best investment with the greatest returns, and until that changes, speculation in the market will continue, I’m in favor of the German way, oversupply and regulate speculation out of the market through excessive TAX on profits, every person needs a roof over their head, and it should be affordable, it’s an absolute necessity of life.

  12. Keith 13

    The Herald are helpfully directing Aucklands genuine home buyers FAILED by this government to “affordable” locations around NZ. It’s really really helpful and a neat alternative where these buyers who work in this city can seek refuge. It’s a kind of PR soft soap that tells the Muppets that they can simply up sticks and move to Taihape and own their own home. The obvious trouble is moving away from gainful employment solves nothing and these “alternatives” that I assume National want conveyed in the most part will never fly. And there is no evidence the government are doing anything to develop the region’s to fit this scenario.

    Putting on the happy face to this crisis with this kind of useless journalism helps National but few else.

  13. Hami Shearlie 14

    Immigration is what has caused the housing crisis as in Vancouver. Twenty years ago we built a house on our back section after cross-leasing – there was no shortage of houses then and they were not the prices they are now, they were about a third or less of today’s prices – interest rates were much higher but young people could afford a small place to start off. Since then we have seen massive immigration mostly to Auckland, huge numbers of Chinese and Indians on top of the usual people from Europe and the Pacific Islands etc – they all want to come to Auckland so this is why we have the problems now – the Nats keep bringing in these immigrants because they will all vote for them. Simple politics.

    I don’t agree with Lachlan Forsyth re the old people – who does he think paid for all the roads and schools and hospitals etc – those old people went through the Second World War and had a hell of a life early on, that is, if they actually survived the war. They got superannuation when they retired after working hard from their teens on. They got education free sure, but the country could easily afford that then – because very few of those people went to University – only the really academically gifted or wealthy kids went there – the rest of the “old people” went straight out to work from school or into an apprenticeship – not like today where nearly every kid is at Uni whether they deserve to be there or not academically. My old mother knew of very few people who went to University – mainly teachers and perhaps people studying science or medicine etc. I don’t think that many people realise that the taxpayer still picks up about three quarters of the cost of a university education – the kids pay about a quarter – maybe they should try going to the USA and see how much they pay over there?

    • Lanthanide 14.1

      Firstly, the ‘old people’ he is mostly talking about are Baby Boomers, ie those born after WW2

      Secondly, although university was free, few people went to it. There are many reasons for that, but the primary ones are that the entrance requirements were much higher, and most importantly, YOU DIDN’T NEED A TERTIARY EDUCATION TO GET A WELL PAYING JOB.

      Saying that kids today are ‘privileged’ because they ‘get’ to go to university is asinine. Kids today HAVE to go to university (or further training such as apprenticeships / polytech) if they want to get a well-paying job.

      • jcuknz 14.1.1

        But as is increasingly happening today that even with a tertiary qualification there is no certainty of a well paid job. The young end up owing thousands and little income … a right con IMO. Not to mention the many more thousands it has cost the taxpayer to keep the universities in work along with borrowing the money to fund the student loans..

    • Anno1701 14.2

      “the kids pay about a quarter – maybe they should try going to the USA and see how much they pay over there?”

      classic

      pay no attention to the person shafting you, look at the other guy over there getting shafted harder, see you dont know how good you have it that other guy is in REAL pain , now bend over a liiiitle further…

  14. millsy 15

    The only solution to this crisis is a massive increase in state housing.

  15. Jenny 16

    The Question:

    How many Aucklanders are just one illness (or job loss) away from starvation?

    A young Tuakau couple who find themselves in this very situation ask the same question.

    “We don’t drink, we don’t gamble, we aren’t drug addicts, we don’t have heaps of debt… We are thinking about other people in the community who might be struggling as well.”

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/79090356/3-left-for-weekly-food-leaves-Tuakau-couple-starving

    Take into account that Tuakau is a small rural, (supposedly) low rent town at the very furtherest reaches of South Auckland.

    My guess is that are a hell of a lot working poor in Auckland that barely manage to meet their weekly rents.

    The slightest downturn in the economy, resulting in job losses, especially in the Auckland region could see a Tsunami of these working poor out in the street, or starving.

    And what about the middle class who have been investing in property to bolster their falling incomes by syphoning income from the low income renters?

    What happens to these middle class investors, when the high rents they have been demanding to cover the mortgages they took out for their investment properties are no longer sustainable?

    Will they be driven into the ranks of the working poor?

    What about the 1 percenters at the top of the heap?

    Or the upper Middle class National voters that support them?

    Will they still be partying it up?

    Time for another flag referendum?

    Or maybe a new sports stadium?

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11605561

    Meanwhile at the bottom, the whole creaky edifice is in danger of collapsing.

    A spectre is haunting Auckland, that spectre is the property market.

    • s y d 16.1

      Remember, we’re on the cusp of something special.
      Also a crisis is also a good way to really get the programme going.

      The last sacred cows will be sacrificed on the altar on TINA.

      We will eat next seasons seed.

    • Sabine 16.2

      not just Aucklanders.

      We really need to stop making this an “Auckland” problem.
      This is a problem that is everywhere all over the country. Heck, a year ago Tuakau was Tuakau and not a suburb of Auckland.

      And fwiw, these guys have a rental (and not even an expensive one), what is doing them in is a Welfare system that does not help cover the basics while sick and unable to provide for themselves. And that is what the Welfare system should do especially considering that these guys did pay taxes.

      And the bottom has already collapsed, it is just now that others that previously thought it would only happen to the ones that make bad lifestyle choices like having kids, working in a dying industry, or smoking, are not getting hit by it. And it becomes more and more visual. Hence the ‘should we outlaw begging” screams from certain people in certain councils.

      It would be nice to know what happened to the 750+ Fonterra staff that lost their jobs last year. A. how many have found jobs, b. how many are still on the benefit, c. how many are in the process of loosing their homes, d. how many only hold on their homes by pawning off any and all possessions they may have.

  16. jcuknz 17

    *100 Jenny
    And everybody from the politicians upwards are shaking in their boots for fear the whole edifice will crumble. 160% debt level we hear this morning.

  17. jcuknz 18

    Once upon a time I had a dream after reading ‘The Responsible Society’ and was currently paying four pounds a week rent out of income eleven pw. for half a flat.

    The dream was that there would be a warm and dry place for everybody who wanted it … nothing flash but what they actually NEEDED .. like the single mens accomodation at Trentham with communal abulution block upwards as they got married and a further move to accomodate children if they arrived. Rent based on your income.
    If you wanted better then go to the private sector.

    A dream just as far away now as when it came to me in the 1950’s.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

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    6 days ago
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    6 days ago
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
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    6 days ago
  • There’s a name for this
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    6 days ago
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    6 days ago
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    6 days ago

  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
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    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 hours ago
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    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
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    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
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    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
    24 hours 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government lowering building costs
    The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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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