Let it Be

Written By: - Date published: 8:44 am, December 12th, 2018 - 56 comments
Categories: class war, Economy, housing, infrastructure, labour, phil twyford, poverty, tenants' rights, workers' rights - Tags: ,

Rejoice! The Labour led Government has just removed a completely unfair tax on accommodation renters, ending the practice of rental firms ripping off tenants by charging a bogus upfront ‘letting’ fee. No doubt the Taxpayers Onion will be overjoyed.

Until today, most property management firms charged new tenants a fee for, er, doing nothing. The letting fee, usually equivalent to a weeks rent, was simply a tax on the vulnerable and powerless, levied out of greed.

Tenants already struggling to find bond in advance, usually before any previous bond was returned, will be relieved that the financial burden has been lessened. It is possible that some rents will increase to cover the supposed loss to the agents, however that is still preferable to paying upfront for a non existent service.

Renters United spokesperson Robert Whitaker is in favour:

“The first thing is, they can actually compare apples with apples in the rental market and not have to worry about letting fees being piled on top of all of their other moving costs.”.

Barfoot and Thompson director Kiri Barfoot says they run a business and provide a service, and it doesn’t worry them who pays for it.

“There are costs to find tenants for a property and someone has to pay for it, so if we can’t charge the tenants, landlords will be looking to pay.”

Which raises an interesting legal question. If the tenants pay for this service, doesn’t that establish a commercial relationship between the agent and the tenant? Doesn’t it follow that the agent has an immediate conflict of interest, because they are clipping the ticket both ways?

Minister Phil Twyford’s is upbeat about the change:

“The previous way that these letting fees were handled was totally unfair to tenants. They were hit with one week’s rent plus GST at the very time they could least afford it. When they were having to pay rent in advance and bond and all the costs of moving.”

Minister Twyford doesn’t think tenants will end up paying more.

“Landlords are already charging as much as they can within supply and demand. So it’s not at all clear that because the small minority of landlords who use property managers want to pass on those fees through rent, it’s not at all clear that they’ll be able to.”

The Misery Party’s Judith Collins cheerfully lied about the dropping of the charge, with a bizarre claim about CGT:

“Now that this government is coming in with even more things like a capital gains tax, there’s not a lot of money in it – so that’s why they have to pass it on.”

In the real world, there are no plans to extend CGT, though it is part of the Tax Working Group’s discussions.

All in all, this is a small, but welcome step in the Government’s overall housing plan. Bringing fairness to the rental market by removing a significant financial hurdle for tenants shows that Labour is taking a global view of our accommodation needs and not just relying on the market to self regulate.

With Kiwibuild underway, house prices rises steadying and Housing NZ revitalised, this is the first Government in 40 years to seriously tackle our housing crisis. In fact, this may be the first Government in a generation that does not actively make the problem worse.

 

56 comments on “Let it Be ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Andre 1
    12 December 2018 at 9:18 am

    The cost of attracting customers is usually borne by whomever is selling and is part of being in business. Would petrol stations be able to charge a “forecourt fee” just to pull up to the pump, or could a supermarket charge a “door fee” to cover their various expenses?

    I’m having trouble coming up with other examples of private businesses being able to charge a fee before you even start using any of their service or product. Mostly it’s former or current government monopolies that can get away with “lines charges” or similar.

    And if it costs landlords to lose their existing tenants and get new ones, maybe they will become more interested in longer tenancies.

    • Muttonbird 1.1
      12 December 2018 at 9:32 am

      +1 on the last one para.

      There were instances in Christchurch where the agent was charging a new letting fee for rolling over the lease. That’s the stuff of Satan.

      I don’t think rents will rise across the board. Rental owners don’t raise the rent every time they fix a tap.

    • Blazer 1.2
      12 December 2018 at 10:27 am

      Auckland airport charges taxi drivers a $2 fee for dropping passengers off!!

    • KJT 1.3
      12 December 2018 at 7:01 pm

      Banks do it all the time.

  2. Ankerrawshark 2
    12 December 2018 at 9:28 am

    I know this will likely incur the Roth of puckish but Judith is becoming more trump Like by the day, with lies, quoting fake news and personal attacks (young KiwiBuild buyers)

    • Clive Macann 2.1
      12 December 2018 at 9:38 am

      Trump like? The opposition there is just as bad or worse. Are you suggesting it’s the same here in NZ?

      • ankerawshark 2.1.1
        12 December 2018 at 12:12 pm

        Clive, what I meant was Judith’s tactics are beginning to look Trump like. eg quoting a fake news website about the age of consent in France and asking Jacinda to comment on it. Implying that a CGT was already a done deal, criticizing the young Kiwibuild couple on their social media (or her social media)………

    • Puckish Rogue 2.2
      12 December 2018 at 10:40 am

      Blasphemy! You bad, evil doer. Get down on your knees, repent and ask our lord for her forgiveness!

      Our Jude, who art in heaven,
      hallowed be thy Name,
      thy government come,
      thy will be done,
      on earth as it is in caucus.

      Give us this day our daily postings.
      And forgive us our trespasses,
      as we forgive those
      who trespass against us. (That’s reference to you)

      And lead us not into socialism,
      but deliver us from communism.

      For thine is the kingdom,
      and the power, and the glory,
      for ever and ever. Amen.

      • ankerawshark 2.2.1
        12 December 2018 at 10:45 am

        Pukish, I am glad you feel able to forgive me. But I realized in posting what I did could cause some upset for you. That was not my intent. And I almost hate to say this but stand by my statements.

        I also have to say I admire your tenacity and devotion to your cause.

        • Puckish Rogue 2.2.1.1
          12 December 2018 at 10:51 am

          “I also have to say I admire your tenacity and devotion to your cause.”

          Its not hard, I mean when you meet a goddess its as natural as breathing to worship them

    • Cinny 2.3
      12 December 2018 at 11:53 am

      trump like judith…. nek minute she’ll be endorsing mike hosking for the UN.

  3. Robert Guyton 3
    12 December 2018 at 9:31 am

    Pucky’s Roth?
    David Lee?

  4. Siobhan 4
    12 December 2018 at 10:01 am

    Personally I always found the only “significant financial hurdle” I faced as a tenant was paying ever increasing rents.

    But sure, its some nice optics I guess. Give National voting landlords another excuse to feel like the commies are at the door and up the rent (as if they need one), and allow Labour supporting landlords to feel they are nobly taking a presumably ‘significant financial’ hit for the greater good (and upping the rent, but for entirely unrelated reasons I’m sure).

    (On my fb this article appears with the classic photograph of Savage delivering the breakfast table to a new State House.
    That would have to be the most misused photo in the History of New Zealand Labour Party.
    Why on earth do people insist on matching current Labour policy around housing, especially rental stories, with a picture of a family, a single income, tram drivers family, no less, moving into their own home?
    If there is a connection between renting and State houses then It would be more relevant to match these articles with something more current…like a picture of Jacinda delivering a mandarin tree to the nice professional couple moving into their kiwibuild. I wonder if that image will ever become iconic in the struggle of the working classes?)

    • te reo putake 4.1
      12 December 2018 at 10:24 am

      Re: the photo of the Blessed Mickey, the last paragraph of the post explains all:

      With Kiwibuild underway, house prices rises steadying and Housing NZ revitalised, this is the first Government in 40 years to seriously tackle our housing crisis. In fact, this may be the first Government in a generation that does not actively make the problem worse.

      • Antoine 4.1.1
        12 December 2018 at 10:54 am

        What we really need is City Councils to seriously tackle our housing crisis

        It’s largely their problem to solve

        A.

      • Siobhan 4.1.2
        12 December 2018 at 11:30 am

        No, it doesn’t.

        “In fact, this may be the first Government in a generation that does not actively make the problem worse”.

        ..for life time renters that statement may seem a touch…lackluster. And its certainly not the sort of sentiment that got Savage voted in.

        “Vote for us…we’re better than that bunch of psychos and at least we won’t make things worse, at least not actively, though we will keep to their genius financial constraints” jeez, that’s not really getting me fired up

      • Infused 4.1.3
        12 December 2018 at 7:58 pm

        None of that is doing anything. Prices are steadying because Auckland been booming for the last 7 years.nits dipping now Wellington is still cranking and rents are getti g higher.

  5. Antoine 5
    12 December 2018 at 10:53 am

    All I can say is that if my property manager ups their %, it’s going straight to the tenant, who will pay.

    A.

    • Cinny 5.1
      12 December 2018 at 11:55 am

      Why do you use a property manager please Antoine?

      We ditched ours and it’s worked out so much better for all. Highly recommend it if you’ve got good long term tenants.

      • David Mac 5.1.1
        12 December 2018 at 12:14 pm

        If an owner is out of the country longer than 3 months it is illegal for the owner to manage their own property.

        We have lots of overseas owners.

        If a comfortable drive away and a strong working understanding of the residential tenancy act I think there is a strong case for an owner to mange their own rental.

        If my deceased Grandma left me a house in Kaitaia and I lived in Christchurch, I think I would be foolish not to appoint a manager.

        • Antoine 5.1.1.1
          12 December 2018 at 1:35 pm

          Some good points there David

          A.

        • Brigid 5.1.1.2
          12 December 2018 at 8:57 pm

          “If an owner is out of the country longer than 3 months it is illegal for the owner to manage their own property.”
          I don’t think there is any legislation that governs property management. If I’m wrong, could you provide a link that shows there is?

        • Cinny 5.1.1.3
          13 December 2018 at 7:37 am

          Thanks David, I didn’t know that re overseas for 3mths rule.

          Our rental is in Welly, so it’s pretty easy to get there from Motueka/Nelson.

          Good point re location.

          We had a bad experience with Quinovic, so ditched them, it’s worked out better for us all. For example, tenants advise if they are going on holiday, and we head over there and do improvements. Mum has always said, if we don’t want to live in the rental, why should we expect anyone else to. As a result have always kept the property in good condition and updated it regularly.

          Are lucky enough to have primo tenants that have been there for years now. They look after the place and we look after them, the rent is low compared to market rates and we give them a week rent free at Christmas.

          Good communication is key.

      • Tricledrown 5.1.2
        12 December 2018 at 9:29 pm

        No profit if you pay a property manager and most of them just take the money and do nothing not even regular check ups.

        • Antoine 5.1.2.1
          12 December 2018 at 9:48 pm

          All false there tricldrown, there is still profit and at least some of them demonstrably do stuff

          • Tricledrown 5.1.2.1.1
            12 December 2018 at 9:59 pm

            If you are an investor you want 6% return on capital minimum if you are landlord paying a mortgage /rates /insurance/maintenance/upgrades to meet new regulations. There is no profit or return on capital if you have to pay a property manager most are just ticket clippers. Antione I work in the building industry and know what happens. Most landlords don’t do regular maintenance they just do patch up jobs to placate tenants that’s the only way they can make a profit.

            • Antoine 5.1.2.1.1.1
              13 December 2018 at 4:49 am

              I have a rental property, use a property manager, make a profit, and they do regular checkups and provide photographic evidence among other things.

              A.

    • ankerawshark 5.2
      12 December 2018 at 12:15 pm

      Antoine are your profit margins so tight on your rental that you have to do this???? I know that is a personal question and I respect that you may not want to answer it.

      I just don’t believe that profit margins are tight at all for landlords. I was one myself a few years back. Unless landlords have over extended themselves in which case my advice is get out of the business.

      • indiana 5.2.1
        12 December 2018 at 1:06 pm

        There was a time when a Labour government introduced LAQC – Loss Attributing Qualifying Companies. Property investors used this legally and government encouraged avenue to negatively gear themselves so that they could reduce their taxable income. Effectively, the idea was not to be making a profit, but a loss.

      • Antoine 5.2.2
        12 December 2018 at 1:38 pm

        >Antoine are your profit margins so tight on your rental that you have to do this?

        I’m honestly not sure what my profit margin is, but I’m not inclined to reduce it!

        A.

  6. Mr Marshy 6
    12 December 2018 at 11:56 am

    Lol, this reporter really has zero economic nous if he thinks its worth rejoicing. A landlord fee is coming and that will simply be passed on to the tenant. Its called business. You dim socialists really shouldn’t comment on anything business related as your clouded ideology just shows your ineptitude. Report back in a years time when rental stock has shrunk as landlords sell up, and rents rise. See if you are rejoicing then …

    • ankerawshark 6.1
      12 December 2018 at 12:18 pm

      Actually Mr Marshy, you are making grave assumptions here. I am a business owner and have been a landlord. I have always factored in fairness to tennant customers, and I am doing very well thank you very much. I feel more than entitled to comment on such thing. So actually, and I don’t usually say this sort of thing, shut up.

    • Red Blooded One 6.2
      12 December 2018 at 12:55 pm

      Wow, so angry with your dim socialists comment Mr Marshy. My property managers have advised that I will be paying a weeks rent if they secure me a tenant in the future. It is not going to be a regular charge (hopefully) as I would much rather my tenants are happy enough to stay long term. The charge will only transfer through to tenants if/when market rent rises occur. If you see a one week charge once in a blue moon as an excuse for you or other landlords to wail, moan and sell up, I suggest you do. The rental market is obviously not conducive to your ethics or lack of.

    • Draco T Bastard 6.3
      12 December 2018 at 1:03 pm

      If a person is paid by both the landlord and the tenant then who’s he working for?

      • David Mac 6.3.1
        12 December 2018 at 1:11 pm

        The house.

        Property managers represent the house. Good ones are in the business of creating lovely places to live. Their meagre income comes in from all over the place. Some of the GST on that packet of long grain rice you bought this morning is in a PM’s pocket.

        • Draco T Bastard 6.3.1.1
          12 December 2018 at 1:16 pm

          If that is true then we don’t need the landlord. The landlord just represents an unnecessary layer of bureaucracy.

          • David Mac 6.3.1.1.1
            12 December 2018 at 1:35 pm

            Yep, we get how it would work in the Dracosphere.

            The fact remains, there is a layer of landlords because their rental house is a little business and history hurts landlords that don’t approach ownership as a little business.

            • Draco T Bastard 6.3.1.1.1.1
              12 December 2018 at 2:24 pm

              Yep, we get how it would work in the Dracosphere.

              It’d be cheaper, less expensive and have better results.

              The fact remains, there is a layer of landlords because their rental house is a little business

              That’s not actually a fact. It’s a misunderstanding of history and capitalism.

              If housing was provided by the state then there wouldn’t be any capitalist business available. It is only through the changing of laws (such as the Inclosure Laws etcetera) that allowed rentier capitalism to bloom. Of course, the feudalism that came before was worse but not by much.

  7. David Mac 7
    12 December 2018 at 12:01 pm

    Property Management is a crap vocation for the greedy. The margins are tiny in that business. They’ve become dependent on letting fees to keep their mouths above the water line.

    Property management income is generally split 50/50 between the franchise holder and the ‘in the field’ property managers. They generally charge about 8% of the rental income. So if a house is returning rent of $300 per week, there’s $24 income for the office. Split 50/50, the property manager is making $12.

    An average roll of 50 rentals x $12 = $600 per week for the manager. Often contractors, they have to pay for their extensive car and phone usage from their $600 per week, then their taxes. Even if managing 100 rentals, that would be a 65 hours a week job to do properly, after overheads, the money is still pretty ordinary.

    For the greed inclined, begging outside a shop pays better than residential Property Management. I don’t think PM’s are looking for letting fee replacements because they’re greedy, I think they’re doing it so that they don’t starve to death.

    • Draco T Bastard 7.1
      12 December 2018 at 1:08 pm

      For the greed inclined, begging outside a shop pays better than residential Property Management. I don’t think PM’s are looking for letting fee replacements because they’re greedy, I think they’re doing it so that they don’t starve to death.

      I was doing better as a contract pizza delivery driver.

      If your figures are correct then PMs shouldn’t actually exist as they’re not getting enough income to cover their expenses.

      • David Mac 7.1.1
        12 December 2018 at 1:38 pm

        Ha, yeah exactly, as business models go, the margins are super model skinny.

        • Wensleydale 7.1.1.1
          13 December 2018 at 3:19 pm

          If it’s such a shit gig, why does anyone do it? Genuine question. What do they get out of it other than stress and a meagre income?

    • Infused 7.2
      12 December 2018 at 8:02 pm

      My fee is 3%. Landlords need to learn how to negotiate

  8. Draco T Bastard 8
    12 December 2018 at 12:25 pm

    Minister Twyford doesn’t think tenants will end up paying more.

    “Landlords are already charging as much as they can within supply and demand. So it’s not at all clear that because the small minority of landlords who use property managers want to pass on those fees through rent, it’s not at all clear that they’ll be able to.”

    I think the Minister needs to be appraised of Steve Keen’s work on supply and demand. This short article at Unlearning Economics is probably a good place to start:

    The second reason is to show that, despite economist’s assertions to the contrary, it cannot be proved that a market economy will necessarily maximise social welfare, as, even on their own terms, it is logically possible to have multiple equilibria, some of which are more socially desirable.

    All in all, this is a small, but welcome step in the Government’s overall housing plan. Bringing fairness to the rental market by removing a significant financial hurdle for tenants shows that Labour is taking a global view of our accommodation needs and not just relying on the market to self regulate.

    The market has never self-regulated. When left to their own devices the capitalists become Robber Barons.

    IMO, it is the regulations that define the market and make it fair and even workable. It is only through proper regulation that all costs can be properly accounted for.

    • David Mac 8.1
      12 December 2018 at 12:53 pm

      Unfortunately I don’t think rents are as high as the market will absorb.

      Any rental anywhere, 1000’s of Trademe views, 100’s of email enquiries, scores of application forms presented.

      Rental listings don’t stick around long, up one week, gone the next. Any rental listing that is up longer than a month is a white elephant.

      I think rental asks are about 25-35% cheaper than what the market is currently dictating. Demand is stomping all over Supply.

      Additional forces come into play: In times of abundant rentals, a $25 rent rise notice might prompt a search for a new place. In these times of rental scarcity we’re more likely to cop a $50 rise on the chin.

      I wouldn’t be holding your breath if you’re waiting for regulators to enforce how much someone can make from their private legitimate business Draco.

      Damn, I’d love to visualise a happy ending to ‘The next decade of rental housing in NZ’ but I struggle.

      • Draco T Bastard 8.1.1
        12 December 2018 at 1:14 pm

        I wouldn’t be holding your breath if you’re waiting for regulators to enforce how much someone can make from their private legitimate business Draco.

        I’m not.

        Regulations are there to cover fairness, health and safety and to ensure costs are properly accounted for and that the right person is paying them.

        It’s supposedly competition that will reduce profit to zero and that’s never going to work as there simply isn’t enough resources or competition.

      • Antoine 8.1.2
        12 December 2018 at 1:37 pm

        > Unfortunately I don’t think rents are as high as the market will absorb.

        Clearly not.

        We cannot really fix the rental situation until we improve the supply demand balance. All the power is on the supply side (landlords) and little tweaks like the letting fees thing will not really change anything.

        A.

  9. Pete 9
    12 December 2018 at 1:44 pm

    I heard various grizzlers yesterday on about how the rental market would collapse because of the change. And that renters will see their rents go soaring. And I’m sure I heard someone intimate the world would end.

    • Muttonbird 9.1
      12 December 2018 at 10:26 pm

      I heard Hades himself was to ride forth from the underworld on a chariot of babies’ skulls upon the passing of this law.

      I’ve been checking outside but still nothing.

      • Antoine 9.1.1
        13 December 2018 at 4:51 am

        I don’t think anyone is saying that this law is a disaster or will make things much worse. What we are saying is that it will not improve the situation substantially for renters, in some cases may make them worse off. We are rejecting TRP’s spin that this is something to ‘rejoice’ over.

        A.

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    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff Masters and Bob Henson Those who’ve trawled social media during heat waves have likely encountered a tidbit frequently used to brush aside human-caused climate change: Many U.S. states and cities had their single hottest temperature on record during the 1930s, setting incredible heat marks ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • Throwback Thursday – Thinking about Expressways

    Some of the recent announcements from the government have reminded us of posts we’ve written in the past. Here’s one from early 2020. There were plenty of reactions to the government’s infrastructure announcement a few weeks ago which saw them fund a bunch of big roading projects. One of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Thursday, July 25 are:News: Why Electric Kiwi is closing to new customers - and why it matters RNZ’s Susan EdmundsScoop: Government drops ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • The Possum: Demon or Friend?

    Hi,I felt a small wet tongue snaking through one of the holes in my Crocs. It explored my big toe, darting down one side, then the other. “He’s looking for some toe cheese,” said the woman next to me, words that still haunt me to this day.Growing up in New ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • Not a story

    Yesterday I happily quoted the Prime Minister without fact-checking him and sure enough, it turns out his numbers were all to hell. It’s not four kg of Royal Commission report, it’s fourteen.My friend and one-time colleague-in-comms Hazel Phillips gently alerted me to my error almost as soon as I’d hit ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Thursday, July 25, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day were:The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry published its final report yesterday.PM Christopher Luxon and The Minister responsible for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • A tougher line on “proactive release”?

    The Official Information Act has always been a battle between requesters seeking information, and governments seeking to control it. Information is power, so Ministers and government agencies want to manage what is released and when, for their own convenience, and legality and democracy be damned. Their most recent tactic for ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • 'Let's build a motorway costing $100 million per km, before emissions costs'

    TL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:Transport and Energy Minister Simeon Brown is accelerating plans to spend at least $10 billion through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to extend State Highway One as a four-lane ‘Expressway’ from Warkworth to Whangarei ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Lester's Prescription – Positive Bleeding.

    I live my life (woo-ooh-ooh)With no control in my destinyYea-yeah, yea-yeah (woo-ooh-ooh)I can bleed when I want to bleedSo come on, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)You can bleed when you want to bleedYea-yeah, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)Everybody bleed when they want to bleedCome on and bleedGovernments face tough challenges. Selling unpopular decisions to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Casey Costello gaslights Labour in the House

    Please note:To skip directly to the- parliamentary footage in the video, scroll to 1:21 To skip to audio please click on the headphone icon on the left hand side of the screenThis video / audio section is under development. ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    3 days ago
  • Why is the Texas grid in such bad shape?

    This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Headline from 2021 The Texas grid, run by ERCOT, has had a rough few years. In 2021, winter storm Uri blacked out much of the state for several days. About a week ago, Hurricane Beryl knocked out ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on a textbook case of spending waste by the Luxon government

    Given the crackdown on wasteful government spending, it behooves me to point to a high profile example of spending by the Luxon government that looks like a big, fat waste of time and money. I’m talking about the deployment of NZDF personnel to support the US-led coalition in the Red ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:40 am on Wednesday, July 24 are:Deep Dive: Chipping away at the housing crisis, including my comments RNZ/Newsroom’s The DetailNews: Government softens on asset sales, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • LXR Takaanini

    As I reported about the city centre, Auckland’s rail network is also going through a difficult and disruptive period which is rapidly approaching a culmination, this will result in a significant upgrade to the whole network. Hallelujah. Also like the city centre this is an upgrade predicated on the City ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    3 days ago
  • Four kilograms of pain

    Today, a 4 kilogram report will be delivered to Parliament. We know this is what the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care weighs, because our Prime Minister told us so.Some reporter had blindsided him by asking a question about something done by ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Wednesday, July 24, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Beehive: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced plans to use PPPs to fund, build and run a four-lane expressway between Auckland ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Luxon gets caught out

    NewstalkZB host Mike Hosking, who can usually be relied on to give Prime Minister Christopher Luxon an easy run, did not do so yesterday when he interviewed him about the HealthNZ deficit. Luxon is trying to use a deficit reported last year by HealthNZ as yet another example of the ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago
  • A worrying sign

    Back in January a StatsNZ employee gave a speech at Rātana on behalf of tangata whenua in which he insulted and criticised the government. The speech clearly violated the principle of a neutral public service, and StatsNZ started an investigation. Part of that was getting an external consultant to examine ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Are we fine with 47.9% home-ownership by 2048?

    Renting for life: Shared ownership initiatives are unlikely to slow the slide in home ownership by much. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:A Deloitte report for Westpac has projected Aotearoa’s home-ownership rate will ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Let's Win This

    You're broken down and tiredOf living life on a merry go roundAnd you can't find the fighterBut I see it in you so we gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsWe gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsAnd I'll rise upI'll rise like the dayI'll rise upI'll rise unafraidI'll rise upAnd I'll ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Waimahara: The Singing Spirit of Water

    There’s been a change in Myers Park. Down the steps from St. Kevin’s Arcade, past the grassy slopes, the children’s playground, the benches and that goat statue, there has been a transformation. The underpass for Mayoral Drive has gone from a barren, grey, concrete tunnel, to a place that thrums ...
    Greater AucklandBy Connor Sharp
    4 days ago
  • A major milestone: Global climate pollution may have just peaked

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Global society may have finally slammed on the brakes for climate-warming pollution released by human fossil fuel combustion. According to the Carbon Monitor Project, the total global climate pollution released between February and May 2024 declined slightly from the amount released during the same ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Tuesday, July 23 are:Deep Dive: Penlink: where tolling rhetoric meets reality BusinessDesk-$$$’s Oliver LewisScoop: Te Pūkenga plans for regional polytechs leak out ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Tuesday, July 23, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Health: Shane Reti announced the Board of Te Whatu Ora- Health New Zealand was being replaced with Commissioner Lester Levy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • HealthNZ and Luxon at cross purposes over budget blowout

    Health NZ warned the Government at the end of March that it was running over Budget. But the reasons it gave were very different to those offered by the Prime Minister yesterday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon blamed the “botched merger” of the 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) to create Health ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • 2500-3000 more healthcare staff expected to be fired, as Shane Reti blames Labour for a budget defic...

    Long ReadKey Summary: Although National increased the health budget by $1.4 billion in May, they used an old funding model to project health system costs, and never bothered to update their pre-election numbers. They were told during the Health Select Committees earlier in the year their budget amount was deficient, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    4 days ago
  • Might Kamala Harris be about to get a 'stardust' moment like Jacinda Ardern?

    As a momentous, historic weekend in US politics unfolded, analysts and commentators grasped for precedents and comparisons to help explain the significance and power of the choice Joe Biden had made. The 46th president had swept the Democratic party’s primaries but just over 100 days from the election had chosen ...
    PunditBy Tim Watkin
    5 days ago
  • Solutions Interview: Steven Hail on MMT & ecological economics

    TL;DR: I’m casting around for new ideas and ways of thinking about Aotearoa’s political economy to find a few solutions to our cascading and self-reinforcing housing, poverty and climate crises.Associate Professor runs an online masters degree in the economics of sustainability at Torrens University in Australia and is organising ...
    The KakaBy Steven Hail
    5 days ago
  • Reported back

    The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on National's Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill. The bill sets up water for privatisation, and was introduced under urgency, then rammed through select committee with no time even for local councils to make a proper submission. Naturally, national's select committee ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Vandrad the Viking, Christopher Coombes, and Literary Archaeology

    Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On The Biden Withdrawal

    History is not on the side of the centre-left, when Democratic presidents fall behind in the polls and choose not to run for re-election. On both previous occasions in the past 75 years (Harry Truman in 1952, Lyndon Johnson in 1968) the Democrats proceeded to then lose the White House ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    5 days ago
  • Joe Biden's withdrawal puts the spotlight back on Kamala and the USA's complicated relatio...

    This is a free articleCoverageThis morning, US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race. And that is genuinely newsworthy. Thanks for your service, President Biden, and all the best to you and yours.However, the media in New Zealand, particularly the 1News nightly bulletin, has been breathlessly covering ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    5 days ago
  • Why we have to challenge our national fiscal assumptions

    A homeless person’s camp beside a blocked-off slipped damage walkway in Freeman’s Bay: we are chasing our tail on our worsening and inter-related housing, poverty and climate crises. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Existential Crisis and Damaged Brains

    What has happened to it all?Crazy, some'd sayWhere is the life that I recognise?(Gone away)But I won't cry for yesterdayThere's an ordinary worldSomehow I have to findAnd as I try to make my wayTo the ordinary worldYesterday morning began as many others - what to write about today? I began ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • A speed limit is not a target, and yet…

    This is a guest post from longtime supporter Mr Plod, whose previous contributions include a proposal that Hamilton become New Zealand’s capital city, and that we should switch which side of the road we drive on. A recent Newsroom article, “Back to school for the Govt’s new speed limit policy“, ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Monday, July 22 are:Today’s Must Read: Father and son live in a tent, and have done for four years, in a million ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Monday, July 22, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:US President Joe Biden announced via X this morning he would not stand for a second term.Multinational professional services firm ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #29

    A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, July 14, 2024 thru Sat, July 20, 2024. Story of the week As reflected by preponderance of coverage, our Story of the Week is Project 2025. Until now traveling ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago
  • I'd like to share what I did this weekend

    This weekend, a friend pointed out someone who said they’d like to read my posts, but didn’t want to pay. And my first reaction was sympathy.I’ve already told folks that if they can’t comfortably subscribe, and would like to read, I’d be happy to offer free subscriptions. I don’t want ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • For the children – Why mere sentiment can be a misleading force in our lives, and lead to unex...

    National: The Party of ‘Law and Order’ IntroductionThis weekend, the Government formally kicked off one of their flagship policy programs: a military style boot camp that New Zealand has experimented with over the past 50 years. Cartoon credit: Guy BodyIt’s very popular with the National Party’s Law and Order image, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • A friend in uncertain times

    Day one of the solo leg of my long journey home begins with my favourite sound: footfalls in an empty street. 5.00 am and it’s already light and already too warm, almost.If I can make the train that leaves Budapest later this hour I could be in Belgrade by nightfall; ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • The Chaotic World of Male Diet Influencers

    Hi,We’ll get to the horrific world of male diet influencers (AKA Beefy Boys) shortly, but first you will be glad to know that since I sent out the Webworm explaining why the assassination attempt on Donald Trump was not a false flag operation, I’ve heard from a load of people ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • It's Starting To Look A Lot Like… Y2K

    Do you remember Y2K, the threat that hung over humanity in the closing days of the twentieth century? Horror scenarios of planes falling from the sky, electronic payments failing and ATMs refusing to dispense cash. As for your VCR following instructions and recording your favourite show - forget about it.All ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for the week to July 20

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts being questioned by The Kākā’s Bernard Hickey.TL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 20 were:1. A strategy that fails Zero Carbon Act & Paris targetsThe National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government finally unveiled ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Pharmac Director, Climate Change Commissioner, Health NZ Directors – The latest to quit this m...

    Summary:As New Zealand loses at least 12 leaders in the public service space of health, climate, and pharmaceuticals, this month alone, directly in response to the Government’s policies and budget choices, what lies ahead may be darker than it appears. Tui examines some of those departures and draws a long ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Flooding Housing Policy

    The Minister of Housing’s ambition is to reduce markedly the ratio of house prices to household incomes. If his strategy works it would transform the housing market, dramatically changing the prospects of housing as an investment.Leaving aside the Minister’s metaphor of ‘flooding the market’ I do not see how the ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • A Voyage Among the Vandals: Accepted (Again!)

    As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā's Chorus for Friday, July 19

    An employee of tobacco company Philip Morris International demonstrates a heated tobacco device. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy on Friday, July 19 are:At a time when the Coalition Government is cutting spending on health, infrastructure, education, housing ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 8:30 am on Friday, July 19 are:Scoop: NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. The minister has ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Roundup 19-July-2024

    Kia ora, it’s time for another Friday roundup, in which we pull together some of the links and stories that caught our eye this week. Feel free to add more in the comments! Our header image this week shows a foggy day in Auckland town, captured by Patrick Reynolds. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: A market-led plan for failure

    TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. A discussion recorded yesterday is in the video above and the audio of that sent onto the podcast feed.The Government released its draft Emissions Reduction ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Tobacco First

    Save some money, get rich and old, bring it back to Tobacco Road.Bring that dynamite and a crane, blow it up, start all over again.Roll up. Roll up. Or tailor made, if you prefer...Whether you’re selling ciggies, digging for gold, catching dolphins in your nets, or encouraging folks to flutter ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Trump’s Adopted Son.

    Waiting In The Wings: For truly, if Trump is America’s un-assassinated Caesar, then J.D. Vance is America’s Octavian, the Republic’s youthful undertaker – and its first Emperor.DONALD TRUMP’S SELECTION of James D. Vance as his running-mate bodes ill for the American republic. A fervent supporter of Viktor Orban, the “illiberal” prime ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 19, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:The PSA announced the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) had ruled in the PSA’s favour in its case against the Ministry ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago

  • Joint statement from the Prime Ministers of Canada, Australia and New Zealand

    Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue.  We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago
  • AG reminds institutions of legal obligations

    Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago
  • More young people learning about digital safety

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views.  “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago
  • Speech to the Conference for General Practice 2024

    Tēnā tātou katoa,  Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Employers and payroll providers ready for tax changes

    New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts.  “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

    An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Funding confirmed for regions affected by North Island Weather Events

    The Coalition Government has confirmed the indicative regional breakdown of North Island Weather Event (NIWE) funding for state highway recovery projects funded through Budget 2024, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Regions in the North Island suffered extensive and devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Floods, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Indonesian Foreign Minister to visit

    Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.   “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Strengthening partnership with Ngāti Maniapoto

    He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Ngāti Maniapoto, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to Te Nehenehenui Trust – Ngāti Maniapoto for bringing their important kōrero to a ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Transport Minister thanks outgoing CAA Chair

    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Test for Customary Marine Title being restored

    The Government is proposing legislation to overturn a Court of Appeal decision and amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act in order to restore Parliament’s test for Customary Marine Title, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says.  “Section 58 required an applicant group to prove they have exclusively used and occupied ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Opposition united in bad faith over ECE sector review

    Regulation Minister David Seymour says that opposition parties have united in bad faith, opposing what they claim are ‘dangerous changes’ to the Early Childhood Education sector, despite no changes even being proposed yet.  “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, has led ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Kiwis having their say on first regulatory review

    After receiving more than 740 submissions in the first 20 days, Regulation Minister David Seymour is asking the Ministry for Regulation to extend engagement on the early childhood education regulation review by an extra two weeks.  “The level of interest has been very high, and from the conversations I’ve been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government upgrading Lower North Island commuter rail

    The Coalition Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines as part of a funding agreement with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils to deliver more reliable services for commuters in the lower North Island, Transport Minister Simeon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government moves to ensure flood protection for Wairoa

    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced his intention to appoint a Crown Manager to both Hawke’s Bay Regional and Wairoa District Councils to speed up the delivery of flood protection work in Wairoa."Recent severe weather events in Wairoa this year, combined with damage from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 have ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM speech to Parliament – Royal Commission of Inquiry’s Report into Abuse in Care

    Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.  At the heart of this report are the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges torture at Lake Alice

    For the first time, the Government is formally acknowledging some children and young people at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital experienced torture. The final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care “Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light,” was tabled in Parliament ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges courageous abuse survivors

    The Government has acknowledged the nearly 2,400 courageous survivors who shared their experiences during the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care. The final report from the largest and most complex public inquiry ever held in New Zealand, the Royal Commission Inquiry “Whanaketia – through ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Half a million people use tax calculator

    With a week to go before hard-working New Zealanders see personal income tax relief for the first time in fourteen years, 513,000 people have used the Budget tax calculator to see how much they will benefit, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “Tax relief is long overdue. From next Wednesday, personal income ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Paid Parental Leave improvements pass first reading

    Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says a bill that has passed its first reading will improve parental leave settings and give non-biological parents more flexibility as primary carer for their child. The Regulatory Systems Amendment Bill (No3), passed its first reading this morning. “It includes a change ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Rebuilding the economy through better regulation

    Two Bills designed to improve regulation and make it easier to do business have passed their first reading in Parliament, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. The Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Bill and Regulatory Systems (Immigration and Workforce) Amendment Bill make key changes to legislation administered by the Ministry ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • ‘Open banking’ and ‘open electricity’ on the way

    New legislation paves the way for greater competition in sectors such as banking and electricity, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Competitive markets boost productivity, create employment opportunities and lift living standards. To support competition, we need good quality regulation but, unfortunately, a recent OECD report ranked New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Charity lotteries to be permitted to operate online

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says lotteries for charitable purposes, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, and local hospices, will soon be allowed to operate online permanently. “Under current laws, these fundraising lotteries are only allowed to operate online until October 2024, after which ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
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  • Accelerating Northland Expressway

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